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Although there are no professional sports going on in the country for gambling sites to take wages on the outcome, various prop bets on awards and statistics are available for the 2020 season. According to the oddsmakers at BetOnline, T.J. Watt is in line to be a finalist once again for Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
Currently at 11/1 odds just like his older brother J.J., Watt comes in only behind the Rams’ Aaron Donald (7/1) and 49ers’ Nick Bosa (9/1). Interestingly enough, T.J. Watt outperformed both Donald and Bosa in almost every major stat category in 2019. With more tackles, quarterback hits, and sacks than both players, it would be difficult to argue that Watt did not have a superior 2019. Add to the fact he had more forced fumbles, fumble recovery‘s, and interceptions than both Bosa and Donald combined, taking T.J. Watt at 11/1 odds could be a wise bet.
As for the 2019 defensive player of the year, Stephon Gilmore came in at 16/1 odds.
In the nearly 80 players listed all the way down through 200/1 odds, the Pittsburgh Steelers have four players on the list. Behind Watt was Minkah Fitzpatrick at 33/1 odds tied with players such as Darius Leonard, Jalen Ramsey, Tyrann Mathieu, Tre’Davious White. Devin Bush also made the list at 150/1 with a large group of other players such as C.J. Mosley, Darius Slay, and Gerald McCoy. Rounding out the rest of the list was Cameron Heyward at 200/1 along with others such as Malcolm Jenkins and Dont’a Hightower.
While it is intriguing to see where some of our favorite Steelers lie in regards to their chances be Defensive Player of the Year for 2020, it is merely an individual award given to a player who usually is not also raising a Lombardi Trophy. As much as the award would mean to any of the Steelers, winning the Super Bowl next February is ultimately the higher priority. But if one of our beloved Steelers were to win DPOY on their way to Tampa in February, it would be icing on the cake of a great 2020 season.