The College Football season is just days away, but it is never too early to look at who the sportsbooks think is the best player in the country. The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in sports and it should be a great race between a loaded QB class.
As usual, this is a QB award and seven of the top 10 odds sit at that position.
2022 Heisman Trophy Betting Odds:
| Player |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams | +400 | +550 | +500 | +400 | |
| Maye | +1000 | +1000 | +1200 | +1000 | |
| Nix | +1200 | +1600 | +1400 | +1200 | |
| Travis | +1200 | +1000 | +1000 | +1200 | |
| Penix Jr. | +1200 | +1200 | +1400 | +1200 | |
| McCord | +1600 | +1600 | +2200 | +2000 | |
| Hartman | +1800 | +1600 | +1500 | +1500 | |
| Klubnik | +2000 | +2000 | +3000 | +2500 | |
| Allar | +2000 | +2500 | +2200 | +2000 | |
| Daniels | +2000 | +1600 | +2000 | +2000 | |
| Milton | +2000 | +2200 | +1800 | +2000 | |
| Ewers | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 | +2500 | |
| Vandagriff | +2500 | +2500 | +3500 | +4000 | |
| McCarthy | +2500 | +2500 | |||
| Simpson | +3000 | +3000 | +4000 | +4000 | |
| Corum | +4000 | +4000 | +3000 | +3000 | |
| Beck | +4000 | +2000 | +2500 | +4000 | |
| Gabriel | +4000 | +4000 | +3000 | +4000 | |
| McCarthy | +4000 | +4000 | +3000 | ||
| Sanders | +4000 | +4000 |
Heisman Trophy Betting Preview
The Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, the probable top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft are the two favorites to lift the Heisman trophy and the top two favorites to win the National Championship. Bryce Young, Alabama’s QB, is looking to become just the second person to ever win the Heisman twice. Archie Griffin won this trophy in 1974 and 1975 when he was dominating on the ground for Ohio State. Speaking of Ohio State, C.J. Stroud is probably the best QB in the country and it is his award to lose.
Caleb Williams, D.J. Uiagalelei, Quinn Ewers, Dillon Gabriel and Tyler Van Dyke round out the QBs in the top 10. Williams, to USC, Ewers, to Texas, and Gabriel, to Oklahoma, all transferred in the offseason and are with the big teams needed to lift the trophy.
D.J. Uiagalelei did not impress last season and is only on this list because of his high school pedigree and him being on Clemson. Tyler Van Dyke is a fun dark horse, and I think the Miami QB has a Heisman in his future, just not this season.
The Others
Bijan Robinson, an RB for Texas, Will Anderson Jr., the Alabama outside linebacker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the talented Ohio State wideout, are the three non-QBs in the top 10 odds. Will Anderson could be the first non-QB drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, but it is tough for a defender to win the Heisman. The last defensive player to lift the Heisman was Charles Woodson in 1997.
Robinson is immensely talented, but I do not see him winning the Heisman this season. The last RB to lift the trophy was Derrick Henry in 2015.
Non-QB Heisman Pick
My favorite non-QB is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The talented wide receiver has a fantastic QB, and the correct offense needed to win this trophy. Smith-Njigba is looking to join DeVonta Smith (2020) as the only wide receivers since 1991 to win the Heisman.
How To Bet On The Heisman Trophy
When it comes to betting on the Heisman Trophy winner, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
First, you’ll want to pay attention to the odds. The odds will give you an indication of how likely each player is to win the award. Movement towards or away from one player to another can give a good indication as to where the sports betting market is headed. You can find the odds for each player at most sports betting sites throughout the year. Line shopping at multiple sites is a must to obtain the highest return.
Second, you’ll want to consider the recent performance of each player. This is especially important if you’re betting on the winner near the end of the season as voters tend to have a recency bias.
Finally, you’ll want to pay attention to any news or rumors about players being injured, sitting out games or suspensions. This can obviously have a big impact on their chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.
By keeping these things in mind, you’ll be in a much better position to place a successful bet on the Heisman Trophy winner.
Past Heisman Trophy Winners
| Year | Player | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Bryce Young | Alabama | QB |
| 2020 | Devonta Smith | Alabama | WR |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | LSU | QB |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray | Oklahoma | QB |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | QB |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson | Louisville | QB |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | Alabama | RB |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | QB |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | Florida St | QB |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | QB |
