NCAA Football Heisman Trophy Betting
Six of the eight Heisman Trophy favorites entering the 2022 season hail from either Ohio State or Alabama. Those are two of the three heavy favorites to win the title this season, and the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide both look to be elite on both sides of the ball. Although the Georgia Bulldogs are the defending national champions, their generationally talented defense has largely graduated to the NFL, so they don’t have any Heisman Trophy favorites as this offense largely tries to wear down opponents with a stable of running backs.
ODDS TO WIN HEISMAN TROPHY 2022 |
Anthony Richardson (Florida) +3602 |
Bijan Robinson (Texas) +4500 |
Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) +4344 |
Brennan Armstrong (Virginia) +6000 |
Bryce Young (Alabama) +435 |
C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) +267 |
Caleb Williams (USC) +377 |
Devin Leary (NC State) +1982 |
D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson) +3750 |
Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) +1828 |
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) +5000 |
Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) +1425 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) +3075 |
Jaxson Dart (Mississippi) +6000 |
Jordan Addison (USC) +10000 |
K.J. Jefferson (Arkansas) +7500 |
Quinn Ewers (Texas) +3000 |
Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) +7500 |
Stetson Bennett (Georgia) +7000 |
TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) +2100 |
Tyler Van Dyke (Miami Florida) +2650 |
Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) +1418 |
Will Levis (Kentucky) +4000 |
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*Odds as of Monday, August 15, 5:00 PM ET
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud showed that he was not going to be a mere placeholder for Quinn Ewers as a redshirt freshman. Stroud was awesome in leading the Buckeyes’ offense, throwing for over 4,400 yards with 44 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season under center. That led to Ewers deciding to transfer to Texas, and Stroud is now the early favorite by the Heisman Trophy betting odds. Although Ohio State lost receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave to the NFL, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still in Columbus, and he was the best wide receiver for the Buckeyes in 2021.
It's going to be tough for Bryce Young to repeat as Heisman Trophy winner. Only one player has won the Heisman more than once (Archie Griffin), and Young doesn’t have elite receivers like he did last year. Jameson Williams and John Metchie III both left for the NFL, and only one of the top six receivers from 2021 have returned to campus.
One of the biggest question marks this season is USC after the Trojans made waves by hiring Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma. Riley is now installing his high-scoring offense in Los Angeles, and he brought over Caleb Williams to run the offense. Williams had his ups and downs as a freshman last season, but he knows this offense and could feast on Pac 12 defenses. There were some great prices on two running backs to win the Heisman Trophy earlier this offseason. Jahmyr Gibbs was as much as 85-1 to win the Heisman before announcing that he was transferring from Georgia Tech to Alabama, and now he is down to 10-1 after seemingly winning the starting role. Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson was as high as 65-1 to win the Heisman, and that number never made sense considering what Henderson showed as a true freshman. There is still value in Henderson at 16-1, and he is the best bet on the board among the favorites.
Heisman Trophy History
Since the first Heisman Trophy was presented to Jay Berwanger in 1935, the overwhelming majority of Heisman Trophy winners have been running backs or quarterbacks. Running backs were the original stars in college football, so it’s no surprise to see ball carriers win most of the early awards. There was a big shift to the passing game at the start of the 21st Century though, and quarterbacks have made up most of the winners since that point.
A quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy in 18 of 22 years since 2000. The first non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy in the 21st Century was Reggie Bush, and the award was stripped from him after he admitted to accepting money in college. However, there has been a push to restore Bush’s Heisman Trophy following the passage of NIL that will allow players to be paid for their services.
Alabama did not have a Heisman Trophy winner before Mark Ingram won the award in 2009. The Crimson Tide have had three players claim the highest individual honor in college football since that point, and they have had the two most recent winners of this trophy. DeVonta Smith became the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard, and Bryce Young was the first Alabama quarterback to earn the honor in 2021.
Heisman Trophy Winners (2000)
YEAR |
PLAYER |
SCHOOL |
2021 |
Bryce Young |
Alabama |
2020 |
DeVonta Smith |
Alabama |
2019 |
Joe Burrow |
LSU |
2018 |
Kyler Murray |
Oklahoma |
2017 |
Baker Mayfield |
Oklahoma |
2016 |
Lamar Jackson |
Louisville |
2015 |
Derrick Henry |
Alabama |
2014 |
Marcus Mariota |
Oregon |
2013 |
Jameis Winston |
Florida State |
2012 |
Johnny Manziel |
Texas A&M |
2011 |
Robert Griffin III |
Baylor |
2010 |
Cam Newton |
Auburn |
2009 |
Mark Ingram Jr. |
Alabama |
2008 |
Sam Bradford |
Oklahoma |
2007 |
Tim Tebow |
Florida |
2006 |
Troy Smith |
Ohio State |
2005 |
Reggie Bush |
USC |
2004 |
Matt Leinart |
USC |
2003 |
Jason White |
Oklahoma |
2002 |
Carson Palmer |
USC |
2001 |
Eric Crouch |
Nebraska |
2000 |
Chris Weinke |
Florida State |
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