With Alabama winning yet another championship, we have closed the book on the 2020 season. However, in sports, when one door closes another opens and we have a very early look at the Heisman contenders for next fall.
Nick Polak from Roar Lions Roar has more on Clifford’s odds to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy, which were listed at 90-to-1 by Sports Betting Dime on Wednesday. Clifford played his best football in. Sportsbooks have already posted 2021 Heisman odds, with Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler and Alabama QB Bryce Young the favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. Non-QBs in the mix for 2021 are Texas RB Bijan Robinson (+2500 at DK) and Alabama WR John Metchie (+8000). Heisman odds 2021 $1,050 Bonus.
When we take a look, the back-to-back champions from the SEC will go down as two of the best for the first quarter of this century and quite possibly the first half of the 2000s. People also won’t forget Heisman winners Joe Burrow of LSU and Devonta Smith of Alabama.
Burrow ushered in the era of dominant offenses that could win a championship and Smith was the first wide receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991. Burrow was a transfer and Smith went from a slot receiver to featured pass-catcher when Jaylen Waddle was injured.
What will 2021 bring? We can only speculate, but online betting sites have posted odds for who might be the next Heisman winner, so let’s talk about it.
The Heisman Favorites
Odds taken from BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Spencer Rattler put together a great freshman campaign for Oklahoma and that experience should only strengthen him. Rattler threw for 28 touchdowns and added six more running. You know Sooners will just reload and with Rattler, they should return to the college football playoffs.
With Mac Jones gone, sophomore to be Bryce Young steps in the bright lights for Alabama. Young saw very limited playing time. Compared to Jones, Young is more of a dual-threat and with the talent Nick Saban usually stockpiles, Young will draw attention.
JT Daniels got a taste of SEC football at the end of the season and he will carry the torch for Georgia. The Bulldogs’ faithful loved his strong arm and if the younger receivers improve under his direction, the Dawgs could regain the SEC East and possibly challenge the Crimson Tide again.
D.J. Uiagalelei showed enough in a couple of starts that Clemson isn’t going anywhere. The freshman already has an NFL body and the Tigers will be large favorites continually against the college football odds, especially if the offensive line is upgraded to a Top 10 unit nationally.
Early Heisman Favorites 2019
All Sam Howell did was toss 30 TD’s and lead North Carolina to an Orange Bowl for their best season in years. Howell is probably the most NFL-ready signal-caller in college, though he might not have quite as much talent around him. Nonetheless, Howell deserves this high ranking from betting websites.
The Heisman Hopefuls
- Kedon Slovis – USC +1800
Odds taken from BetOnline.
Miami quarterback D’Eriq King suffered a torn right ACL in the Cheez-It Bowl, thus, his odds are a little high for college football picks, though a full recovery is expected. We’re not saying it’s not and we hope it happens, just not laying money on him right now.
Simply because he’s a quarterback at USC is reason enough to be excited about Kedon Slovis. The Trojans triggerman had 25 total TD’s in only six games and if USC can develop a running game and improve the defense, Slovis’ stock will only go up.
Bijan Robinson and his Texas teammates have to be excited about Steve Sarkisian taking over in Austin. Sark has helped send a parade of skill position players to the NFL and after gaining 8.2 yards a carry in only 86 rushing attempts as a freshman, Robinson’s upside has no limits.
For Matt Corral to emerge as a real Heisman candidate, Ole Miss has to get in the mix with the big boys in the SEC West, which is quite a task. However, playing for Lane Kiffin is a huge positive, as this will allow him to shine and put up big numbers to keep his name on the national radar.
Breece Hall of Iowa State was one of the best running backs in college, rushing for 1,521 yards and totaling 23 scores. He will be much higher on people’s radar next season.
The Heisman Longshots
- Brock Purdy – Iowa State +3300
- Emory Jones – Florida +3300
Odds taken from BetOnline
Thompson-Robinson and Daniels both play in the Pac-12 South and are on teams on the rise, at least offensively. Like Slovis, they only played a half a schedule and will have to make headlines with UCLA and Arizona State to be noticed.
Brock Purdy has to mature in decision-making and if he does and his team can continue to stay a factor in the Big 12, Purdy has the best chance to move up from this group. The better Purdy plays, that only helps Iowa State.
Stroud and Jones are only on this list because they are presumed to be the starting QB’s for Ohio State and Florida respectively. Both will win some acclaim, just hard to support either.
Wisconsin’s Mertz burst on the scene in Madison but regressed from there. Mertz was hindered by horrible injuries to pass-catchers, which presumably affected his decision-making and too many poor passes down the field. Expect him and the Badgers to rebound.
Early Heisman Picks:
Early Heisman Favorites 2020
1) Sam Howell – UNC +800
2) Breece Hall – Iowa State +2500
3) Spencer Rattler – Oklahoma +300