Patrick Mahomes’ Injury Impacts AFC Championship Game And Super Bowl MVP Odds

Patrick Mahomes’s ankle injury is affecting odds across the board heading into Sunday’s AFC Championship game rematch between the Chiefs and Bengals (6:30 p.m., CBS).

“Kansas City would have opened as a 2-point favorite, however after the injury the game opened as a pick ‘em,” said John Lester of bookmaker.eu

“The public was not deterred by the injury and the line was immediately bet up to -1.5. The Super MVP race between Mahomes and [Eagles quarterback Jalen] Hurts has been neck-and-neck up until Hurts injury. Since then Mahomes has been a 28-1 favorite, and even with the injury it’s unlikely his odds will decrease.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday the team isn’t certain whether they will be able to go with Mahomes or have to use veteran backup Chad Henne at quarterback.

“He’s worked hard in the treatment and is doing OK,” Reid said of Mahomes, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Saturday’s divisional round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“He mentioned it that he’s going to play. That’s his mindset, and then we’ll just take it day by day and see how he does.”

The Chiefs’ first practice is on Wednesday. Reid said he wasn’t sure whether Mahomes would be available to practice.

Super Bowl MVP odds are incredibly tight, and have been impacted by Mahomes’ injury, as well.

Last week, Mahomes was a +375 favorite for MVP. He’s still favored, but it is extremely close at the top of the board.

In the NFC, the Eagles opened as 3.5-point favorites, but the spread immediately moved to -2.5.

Here are the full odds below:

Super Bowl LVII MVP

Patrick Mahomes +300

Jalen Hurts +350

Joe Burrow +400

Brock Purdy +450

George Kittle +1100

Christian McCaffrey +1200

Travis Kelce +1200

Deebo Samuel +2000

Ja’Maar Chase +2500

AJ Brown +3300

Nick Bosa +3300

Devonta Smith +5000

Super Bowl LVII

Kansas City Chiefs +250

Cincinnati Bengals +255

Philadelphia Eagles +270

San Francisco 49ers +280