Chiefs vs. Bucs Super Bowl 55 odds, trends: Shaquil Barrett, Tyrann Mathieu have shortest MVP prices among defensive players; Barrett taking most action of any

A defensive player has won the MVP Award in just nine of the previous 54 Super Bowls, so it's obviously unlikely it happens on Sunday's Super Bowl 55 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, bettors at William Hill Sportsbook have been quite heavily wagering Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett on that prop to the point he now has the shortest MVP odds of any defensive player along with Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu. Both are +4000 on the moneyline (i.e., win $4000 on $100 bet).

Actually, 10 defensive players have won Super Bowl MVP, but that's because Dallas Cowboys end Harvey Martin and tackle Randy White shared honors in Super Bowl 12 when the Cowboys beat Denver 27-10 in New Orleans. An MVP tie hasn't happened since.

The past two defensive MVP winners were linebackers, most recently the Broncos' Von Miller in a Super Bowl 50 upset of the Carolina Panthers. Miller was spectacular with 2.5 sacks of league MVP Cam Newton, including two game-changing forced fumbles. Miller also had six tackles, two quarterback hits and a pass defensed.

For a defensive player to win MVP in these offensive days, he's going to have to put up obscene numbers and/or score a touchdown – which is what Seahawks linebacker and game MVP Malcolm Smith did in Seattle's 43-8 win over Denver in Super Bowl 48 in recording 10 tackles, recovering a fumble and returning an interception 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Bucs' Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks during the 2019 regular season (also had an interception) but slipped to eight this year in 15 games. Barrett is tied with Buffalo's Jerry Hughes with the most sacks this postseason with 3.0. That Barrett has a sack Sunday is -105 with no at -115 at William Hill. He did have one in the Week 12 loss to the Chiefs.

Kansas City will be down both offensive tackles due to injury in Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, so perhaps that's why bettors at William Hill are hammering Barrett on this prop – he had been +6000. A total of seven percent of all tickets sold to win MVP at the book are on Barrett, behind only Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill and Bucs QB Tom Brady (both 11 percent). On money wagered, Barrett is taking four percent, behind favored Patrick Mahomes (17), Hill (13), Brady (12), Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins (nine) and field/any other (8).

For what it's worth, when the Bucs won their first and only Super Bowl following the 2002 season, a defensive player won MVP: Safety Dexter Jackson. He and the Dolphins' Jake Scott (SB 7) are the only safeties to win MVP. It may not be fair to call Mathieu a safety because he will move all over, but it's the primary position of the "Honey Badger."

The Arizona Cardinals picked Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of LSU when current Bucs coach Bruce Arians was in his first year as Cards head coach. "My favorite draft choice of all time," Arians said this week.

In 15 regular-season games, Mathieu had 61 tackles, nine passes defensed and six interceptions (third in NFL), including one returned for a touchdown Oct. 5 vs. New England. In two playoff games, he has 11 tackles and one pick, coming against Cleveland. Mathieu is given an Over/Under of 4.5 tackles Sunday and priced +310 for a pick. 

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