Heisman Betting: Odds to Win This Year, Predictions & Past Winners

We go into each college football season trying to figure out what teams are title contenders. We also like to predict which players will be in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Trying to figure out which player is going to emerge is no easy task.

The obvious thing we do is focus on the top players coming back. Especially those who received attention for the award the previous season. While it makes sense, these players typically don’t end up winning. Why? The expectations are going to be even higher now that we have seen them play. More times than not, it’s the player who comes out of nowhere that steals our attention.

We also like to look for players in elite programs who will be taking on a bigger role due to a player departing. For example, whoever is the starting running back for Alabama is going to get attention. It doesn’t matter if it’s a player coming back or freshmen who has never seen the field.

Why do we focus on elite programs? That’s because there is a bias here when it comes to the voting. Players who put up big numbers on bad teams don’t get near the love as a players with similar or worse numbers on a national contender. Even if the player on the crap team is the best player in the country, chances are he won’t win.

Even when we know what players to lock in on, we just never really know. The unpredictability is what makes this award so great.

2018 Heisman Favorite, Front Runners & Latest Candidates to Win Trophy

We take our first look at the odds to win the 2018 Heisman Trophy. This can be one of the more difficult prop bets to get right, as there’s so much uncertainty with college football. We have so many freshmen that are taking on massive roles and playing at an exceptionally high level.

The other thing is it’s not always about stats or who is the most talented player. A lot of times players who aren’t on one of the teams fighting for a playoff spot, are completely left out of the picture when it comes to this award.

The odds on favorite is Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor at +600. For those that don’t remember, Taylor rushed for 1,847 yards (6.8 ypc) and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2017.

Next up is Ohio State sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins at +650, who had a similar impact as a true freshman. Dobbins rushed for 1,364 yards (7.5 ypc) and 7 scores.

You then have a couple more familiar names. One is Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who everyone got to know with his amazing performance in the National Championship Game. The other is Stanford running back Bryce Love, who was the early frontrunner last year. Both of those players are at +700.

After that you have a bunch of quarterbacks (9) listed anywhere from +1200 to +2200. The only name you likely aren’t all that familiar with is Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who will be replacing J.T. Barrett. Haskins did play in 8 games last year, throwing for 565 yards (70.2%) with a 4-1 TD-INT ratio on 57 attempts.

One last interesting note is that there are more defensive linemen with odds available than there are wide receivers. The only wide out currently listed is David Sills from West Virginia. The two d-line players are Houston’s Ed Oliver and Ohio State’s Nick Bosa. All 3 players are near the bottom of the list at +6600.

It’s also important to note that this list is not set in stone. Players who aren’t on this list will have odds before the season even starts, while several of these players will fall off the list in the first few weeks. One player that isn’t listed that I think will be in no time is new Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson (former Ole Miss recruit).

Be sure to check back often, as we will continue to update these odds over the offseason and each week of the reason-season.

Updated Vegas Betting Odds on Who Will Win Heisman Trophy This Year

More College Football Futures & Odds

It’s no secret that the winner of the Heisman is often the best player on the best team in the country. Before placing any wagers on this future, check out our National Championship Odds.

Looking for more ways to bet on college football before the season starts? You are going to want to check out our regular-season win totals page. 

Season already started? Build your bankroll with premium NCAAF picks from one of our expert handicappers. You are also going to want to visit our college football odds section. It’s the perfect place to stay up to date on the latest totals and spreads. Plus, you can shop lines from some of the top sportsbooks in the industry.

Heisman History – Invitees, Standings, Voting Polls & Past Champions

List of Finalists Invited to Heisman Ceremony in 2016

• Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
• Bryce Love, RB Stanford
• Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Voting Poll Standings Last 5 Years

Every Player Who has Won the Heisman Award