Buffalo Bills quarterback, and former University of Wyoming Cowboy, Josh Allen is currently favored to be named this year’s “Most Valuable Player” by the NFL.
According to sports gambling sites BetOnline and BetMGM, Josh Allen has now overtaken Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray as the favorite to be named MVP this year.
Yahoo football writer Frank Schwab said Allen’s elevation to the top spot was not surprising in light of the Bills’ big win over Kansas City on Sunday.
“MVPs usually get a bump when they play great games against marquee opponents in prime time,” Schwab said. “That pattern probably will never change. And Allen just led an impressive win over a team that has made the past two Super Bowls.”
The season is young and depending on the week, odds will shift but if the Bills continue to win decisively and Allen maintains his performance, he’ll have a strong chance, Schwab said.
“If the Bills end up as the AFC’s best team and Allen keeps playing near the level he has been at, he’ll have a very good case. He helped his case with a marquee performance on Sunday night,” he said.
Oddsmakers have Allen, Murray, and the ageless Tom Brady filling the top three spots thus far with Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert close behind.
Bills’ fans, of course, have already crowned Allen the champ. Upon returning to Buffalo early Monday morning, supporters were lined up outside of the airport chanting “MVP!”.
It’s been a good year for the former University of Wyoming quarterback. Last month, Allen had the nation’s top-selling jersey as the NFL headed into the fall season.
The jersey doesn’t come cheap, with both the blue and white jerseys of Allen’s costing around $120. However, a couple of his Nike-related jerseys are a little less costly, at $90.
Despite being the darling of Buffalo, New York right now, Allen has not forgotten his time in Wyoming.
Last week, before the Bills game against the Houston Texans, Allen was spotted wearing a Wyoming state hat, which then led to a number of Google searches connecting the football player with the state.
“Josh Allen is a popular public figure and a Wyoming success story. Any time he showcases his connection to Wyoming is welcome visibility, both for the University and for our state,” Gov. Mark Gordon’s spokesman Michael Pearlman told Cowboy State Daily last week. “You can see the web search activity pick up after that clip and photos of him wearing the Wyoming hat aired.”