NFL MVP Odds: C.J. Stroud Seeks Rookie History in MVP Race After Upset of Bengals
The 2023 NFL MVP race is stacked with top quarterback talent, but one of them is not like the others. Texans star C.J. Stroud is now smack in the middle of the race, trying to go where no rookie QB has ever gone. Can the first-year talent be the first rookie MVP winner since 1957? Let's take a look at the MVP odds ahead of Week 11.
Peter Alexis - November 13, 2023, 1:36 PM EST
5 minNFL MVP Odds: C.J. Stroud Seeks Rookie History in MVP Race After Upset of Bengals
C.J. Stroud is on a tear for the Houston Texans, and is seeking to become the first rookie to win the NFL MVP award since 1957.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-around athletes of all time, multi-sport star Jim Brown took home the league's one and only MVP award as a rookie in 1957. Now all of a sudden, C.J. Stroud is looking to join the elite company, and he's not that far away.
C.J. Stroud has announced his arrival on the scene in spectacular fashion, leading the Texans on back-to-back game winning drives as time expired.
It was impressive enough when he did it against the Buccaneers at home in Week 10, but he far surpassed that just one week later. Stroud had the Texans offense rolling on the road against the red-hot Cincinnati Bengals, and the game was not as close as the score indicated.
The rookie took the Texans into scoring range on seven straight drives across the first three quarters, and should have come away with more points than they ended up with. Still, they led for almost the entirety of the game, before a few late blunders allowed the Bengals to tie it.
Stroud was not affected by the adversity, but instead stepped up and drove the Texans to a walk-off field goal on the road in "The Jungle," notching his most impressive win yet.
2023 NFL MVP Odds
Player | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
Patrick Mahomes | +270 | 27% |
Jalen Hurts | +300 | 25% |
Tua Tagovailoa | +600 | 14.3% |
Lamar Jackson | +600 | 14.3% |
Josh Allen | +1400 | 6.7% |
C.J. Stroud | +2000 | 4.8% |
Joe Burrow | +2000 | 4.8% |
Christian McCaffrey | +3000 | 3.2% |
Dak Prescott | +3000 | 3.2% |
Brock Purdy | +3000 | 3.2% |
Stroud has earned the right to the sixth-best odds in the NFL MVP race, and the second most passing yards in the league.
Stroud sat with longshot odds for this award just a few weeks ago, and has now skyrocketed to the top-10 almost overnight. He was back with +15000 odds before his double game-winners, and has now catapulted to only +2000.
He has thrown for over 800 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games, and the Texans have acquired a winning record because of it. Stroud has also taken care of the football, throwing for 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
Texans Season Outlook Odds
On top of it all, the Texans are now rapidly climbing in the AFC South standings. Initially thought to be locked up for the Jacksonville Jaguars a few weeks ago, it is now a two-horse race with Houston only one game back.
They have already beaten the Jags once in dominating fashion, and will have another crack at them at home in just two weeks time. Their schedule is extremely favorable down the stretch, and they could easily overtake the Jags if Stroud and his offense can stay hot.
In light of the final stretch, the Texans have now climbed up to +275 odds to win the AFC South division, while Jacksonville maintains the top position at -225. Both teams have it fairly easy in the second half of the year, so it will come down to that second matchup on November 26, as well as who can avoid slip-ups to inferior teams.
Even if they are unable to overcome Trevor Lawrence and the Jags, Stroud's team still has a decent shot to make the playoffs. Currently sitting with a 5-4 record, the Texans are +105 to make the playoffs, and -125 to miss. That will likely change if they can beat the Cardinals in Week 11, but is also dependent on the stacked AFC field around them.
It's already hard to miss his incredible performances, but make sure to watch C.J. Stroud and the Texans down the stretch. If he can keep taking home exciting victories and throwing well over 300 yards, the Houston rookie will be in contention to make history with the MVP award in his first year.
NFL Odds
