Top 5 Heisman Odds Halfway through the Season
With the college football season essentially halfway through, it’s time to take a look at where the Heisman Trophy odds stand.
All odds are according to BetMGM.
1. CJ Stroud - Ohio State QB (-155)
Stroud entered the season with the highest odds of taking home the illustrious Heisman Trophy. He remains in this top spot by commanding one of the most effective offenses in college football.
The Buckeyes are ranked second in the country in the AP Poll and second in yards per game. Stroud is responsible for a majority of this production averaging 289.5 passing yards and four passing touchdowns per game. His astonishing 83.1 percent completion percentage and only three interceptions showcase his ability to make smart decisions and place balls accurately.
Last week, against Michigan State, he continued his phenomenal play by totaling 361 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception. This display of dominance in the blowout 49-20 win is exactly why he still leads the race.
2. Caleb Williams - USC QB (+1000)
The rest of the field is currently well behind Stroud in terms of betting odds. However, Oklahoma transfer Williams has put together a solid enough season for number 7 USC to grab the second spot.
As a freshman at Oklahoma, Williams took over the Sooners’ team midway through the year totaling 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns and only four interceptions. This year, he followed his coach Lincoln Riley to Southern California to command a newly-tooled Trojan team.
So far, the sophomore is averaging 265 passing yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game with only a single interception. He’s also used his leg for a total of 178 yards and three scores. If USC can remain undefeated and Williams can keep his consistent play up, then he has a shot at winning the award.
3. Bryce Young - Alabama QB (+1400)
Last season, Young had a standout year where he took home the Heisman trophy. Now, he hopes to repeat as the winner while leading the Tide to another shot at the National Title. So far, Alabama has been ranked as high as one and as low as three in the country.
Currently, Young is out due to injury with an unclear timetable on when he will return. However, in the five games he’s played he’s averaged 240.4 passing yards and 2.8 touchdowns per game with only three interceptions. He’s also added 154 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
These marks are slightly behind his mark from last season but they’re still highly impressive. However, Young will need to improve in the latter half of the season if he hopes to become just the second player to ever claim two Heisman Trophies.
4. Hendon Hooker - Tennessee QB (+1400)
Tennessee has been in the dumps for the better part of two decades but it has finally reclaimed its highest ranking in the AP Poll since 2005 at number six. The Vols’ return to prominence has come from the best offense in the NCAA. Tennessee currently leads the country in yards per game at 547.8.
The man behind this machine of an offense is Hooker. After transferring from Virginia Tech, he took over the starting job at the beginning of last season. Now, Hooker is averaging 286.4 passing yards, rushing yards and 2.6 all-purpose touchdowns per game all without throwing a single interception. These remarkable stats come despite him not playing in the second half of two games and the other three games coming over ranked teams.
For Hooker to win the Heisman, Tennessee will need to continue its unprecedented success. A win over Alabama or Georgia will be necessary for him to win over voters. However, for the first time in a long time, that doesn’t seem out of the question.
5. Dorian Thompson-Robinson - UCLA QB (+1600)
Rounding up the top five is the most unlikely member. Thompson-Robinson wasn’t even given pre-season odds heading into the season. Despite this, he has taken off in his senior season while leading UCLA to a 6-0 start.
In first four seasons, Thompson-Robinson was serviceable but not elite. Now, he is one of the premier quarterbacks in the country. So far, he is averaging 251.7 passing yards and 2.5 passing touchdowns per game with just two interceptions. He is also talented on the ground averaging 38.5 yards on the ground and a little under a touchdown per game.
Whether Thompson-Robinson will stay in this top group or not, it is an achievement that he is even in this position. Nobody expected him or UCLA to see the success they have seen at this point and it is appearing that both may be the real deal.