NFL MVP Betting: The NFL preseason has officially kicked off and sports bettors had their first full weekend of action with the Week 1 schedule (the Monday night games are still pending).

The game that received the most betting action was the match up between the Patriots and the Eagles. It was Tom Brady’s first snaps since injuring his knee in his first start last season. Brady looked good with the first team unit, and then made way for the backups to play the rest of the way. The result was a solid win for those who bet on New England as a 3-point underdog, as they won straight up. The new and innovative sports betting social networking and cutting edge media site BetRepublic.com covered this game extensively on their Thursday Night Prime Time betting TV show. Both host Sonny Palermo and contributing handicapper Greg Dempson liked the Patriots in this one. They had a nice winning night with their picks on Thursday’s live streaming TV broadcast. Check them out this week on Wednesday and Thursday night as the BetRepublic.com TV shows will highlight more NFL picks.

But speaking of Brady, one of the prop bets that is getting more attention at online sportsbooks is “Who will win the NFL MVP?” Good question and it can be a fun betting option to have in your pocket throughout the season…but please don’t wager too much on these types of bets, they should only be for fun.

Let’s have a look at the options this season:

Peyton Manning (5-1 odds):

Manning capped a great regular season by winning his third league MVP. Unfortunately that didn’t translate into winning in the post season as the Colts were upset by the Chargers. Manning will once again be in the MVP mix this season but with the many changes to the Colts organization, he will be content to just guide the Colts to a successful season with solid game management rather than producing an all-out offensive aerial attack.

Tom Brady (5-1 odds):

The additions the New England Patriots made to their offense will give a repaired Tom Brady a good shot at breaking a number of records, which makes him the preseason favorite at the online sportsbooks to win the MVP. This will be a high-octane offense that will post huge numbers. WR Randy Moss could have another record-breaking season putting him in the mix for MVP consideration.

Donovan McNabb (12-1 odds):

The Philadelphia Eagles did a lot in the offseason to give Donovan McNabb more weapons to help the Eagles compete in the NFC. The controversial signing of Michael Vick adds another playmaker to the roster. How Andy Reid will use Vick and how long it takes him to round into form will potentially give McNabb another weapon to elevate his game. McNabb has come into camp in better shape having dropped some weight and with a new contract, will allow him to solely focus on being the Eagle leader.

Adrian Peterson (8-1 odds):

Vikes running back Adrian Peterson is poised to put up some huge numbers in his third season and if he can get Minnesota to the playoffs he will deserve some strong recognition. If they get a decent passing game going and can back off defenses from stacking the line, then Peterson will challenge Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing mark making him an MVP favorite.

Tony Romo (15-1 odds):

My dark horse is Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo (15-1). He gets to run the show without Terrell Owens, which should make Romo a more relaxed and focused player. If Romo leads the Cowboys to NFC East division title then he will be a favorite to win the MVP.

Aaron Rogers (28-1 odds):

Here’s a bigger longshot that has a real chance. Rodgers is rounding into a top quarterback and has a great set of receivers with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. The running game is solid with workhorse Ryan Grant providing a balanced offensive attack for the Pack. Rogers passed for more than four thousand yards and 28 touchdowns and will have a chance to improve on those numbers. Definitely worth a look as a longshot. .

Drew Brees (12-1 odds):

Brees, who made an assault on Dan Marino’s record of most passing yards in a season, is another solid candidate as is his former teammate. He should be in the mix all year for this award.

Defensive Players:

DE Mario Williams of the Houston Texans and the Jets LB Bart Scott will be two defensive names that will dominate the headlines this season. DeMarcus Ware and Justin Tuck are two other defensive players that can be very disruptive and depending on their teams success will be worthy of consideration. Ball-hawking safeties, Ed Reed of the Ravens and Steelers Troy Polamalu, are redefining their position and are as dominate in the game as almost any offensive player. It’s rare for a defensive player to win the MVP but these players will be game changers.

There’s not much value on Manning or Brady, so you might want to look further down the list at either Peterson, Romo or even Rodgers for a bigger payday.

Enjoy all the action and remember to visit BetRepublic.com for innovative sports betting TV shows, social networking with other bettors and much more.