Jimmy Boyd in 
One of the most talked about things heading into each college football season are who the favorites are with the odds to win the Heisman Trophy. But, trying to figure out which player is going to emerge is no easy task.
There is always a lot of discussion on what teams are favored to win the national championship, which teams are going over or under their season win totals, or who will make the CFB playoff too, which is what makes this sport so great.
So let’s take a look at the updated odds on who the top contenders are for this season.
Updated Vegas Betting Odds on Who Will Win Heisman Trophy This Year
| Team | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Bo Nix (Oregon) | −125 | 55.56% |
| Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) | +280 | 26.32% |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State) | +450 | 18.18% |
| Jayden Daniels (LSU) | +650 | 13.33% |
| Jalen Milroe (Alabama) | +4000 | 2.44% |
| Carson Beck (Georgia) | +4000 | 2.44% |
| Jordan Travis (Florida State) | +4000 | 2.44% |
| J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) | +9000 | 1.10% |
| Blake Corum (Michigan) | +10000 | 0.99% |
| Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) | +15000 | 0.66% |
| Audric Estime (Notre Dame) | +20000 | 0.50% |
| Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State) | +20000 | 0.50% |
| Drake Maye (North Carolina) | +20000 | 0.50% |
| Caleb Williams (USC) | +20000 | 0.50% |
| Trey Benson (Florida State) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| D.J. Uiagalelei (Oregon State) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Rome Odunze (Washington) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Kyle McCord (Ohio State) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Malik Nabers (LSU) | +30000 | 0.33% |
| Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) | +50000 | 0.20% |
| Jonathon Brooks (Texas) | +50000 | 0.20% |
| Brady Cook (Missouri) | +50000 | 0.20% |
Before the season starts the obvious thing to focus on are the top players coming back and playing on national championship caliber teams.
However, with high expectations typically comes a lot of letdown. More times than not, it’s the player who comes out of nowhere that steals our attention.
Strategy for Betting on the Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy Odds
If you think you can sort through the contenders and pick out the winner of this year’s Heisman Trophy we have a few suggestions to give you a better chance. This is what you have to consider before placing a bet.
Media Attention and Hype
The top thing to look for when betting on who is going to be voted on as the best player in the nation is media attention. You have to remember at the end of the day the voters decide who to give the award to.
So, while it might go to the nation’s best player, it’s biased towards teams and players that are getting talked about the most.
A flashy player putting up great stats might have a better shot at someone who is methodical, just because that’s what media personalities want to talk about.
Elite Programs
If you look at the recent winners you won’t see any mid-majors producing Heisman winners. Sure, there are outliers like Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2016. There was also Houston’s Andre Ware and BYU’s Ty Detmer way back in the late 80’s/early 90’s. But those three put up video game numbers compared to everyone else so it was impossible to overlook them.
Typically you are going to start with teams in the hunt for the national championship and go from there. If the team isn’t dominating a major conference they just aren’t going to get the respect that they should, no matter how good they are.
Look at the Upcoming Schedule
Even if you plan on betting this future in the preseason, I recommend taking a look at the team’s upcoming schedule. If the favorite starts the year out against a stout defense, they aren’t likely to put up gaudy numbers. You can use this to your advantage by waiting a week to get your bet in and have it hopefully be at a better number.
On the other hand, if your guy is getting ready to play a bunch of teams that can’t stop anyone, better get your bets in fast. As soon as he puts up a massive statistical day his betting odds are going to drop and you might see any value you thought you had disappear.
Even when we know what players to lock in on, we just never really know. The unpredictability is what makes this award so great.
Heisman History – Invitees, Standings, Voting Polls & Past Champions
List of Finalists Invited to Heisman Ceremony in 2022
- Caleb Williams, QB, USC
- CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
- Max Duggan, QB, TCU
- Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
Voting Poll Standings Last 5 Years
| Voting Rank | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Caleb Williams (USC) | Bryce Young (Alabama) | DeVonta Smith (Alabama) | Joe Burrow (LSU) | Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) |
| 2nd | Max Duggan (TCU) | Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan) | Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) | Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) | Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) |
| 3rd | CJ Stroud (Ohio State) | Kenny Pickett (Pitt) | Mac Jones (Alabama) | Justin Fields (Ohio State) | Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) |
| 4th | Stetson Bennett (Georgia) | CJ Stroud (Ohio State) | Kyle Trask (Florida) | Chase Young (Ohio State) | Will Grier (West Virginia) |
| 5th | Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) | Will Anderson Jr (Alabama) | Najee Harris (Alabama) | Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) | Gardner Minshew (Washington State) |
Every Player Who has Won the Heisman Award
| Year | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | USC |
| 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 | 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 |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams | Texas |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida |
| 1995 | Eddie George | Ohio State |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam | Colorado |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami (FL) |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | Michigan |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | Notre Dame |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami (FL) |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | Auburn |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | Georgia |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | USC |
| 1980 | George Rogers | South Carolina |
| 1979 | Charles White | USC |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | Penn State |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska |
| 1971 | Pat Sullivan | Auburn |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | Oklahoma |
| 1968 | O.J. Simpson | USC |
| 1967 | Gary Beban | UCLA |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | Florida |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | USC |
| 1964 | John Huarte | Notre Dame |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | Navy |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | Oregon State |
| 1961 | Ernie Davis | Syracuse |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | Navy |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon | LSU |
| 1958 | Pete Dawkins | Army |
| 1957 | John David Crow | Texas A&M |
| 1956 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame |
| 1955 | Howard Cassady | Ohio State |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | Wisconsin |
| 1953 | John Lattner | Notre Dame |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | Oklahoma |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | Princeton |
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | Ohio State |
| 1949 | Leon Hart | Notre Dame |
| 1948 | Doak Walker | SMU |
| 1947 | John Lujack | Notre Dame |
| 1946 | Glenn Davis | Army |
| 1945 | Doc Blanchard | Army |
| 1944 | Les Horvath | Ohio State |
| 1943 | Angelo Bertelli | Notre Dame |
| 1942 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia |
| 1941 | Bruce Smith | Minnesota |
| 1940 | Tom Harmon | Michigan |
| 1939 | Nile Kinnick | Iowa |
| 1938 | Davey O’Brien | TCU |
| 1937 | Clint Frank | Yale |
| 1936 | Larry Kelley | Yale |
| 1935 | Jay Berwanger | Chicago |
If you are going to learn how to bet on college football and actually win you need to have plenty of tools in the bag. Most people focus on individual games, but adding some futures wagers like who is going to win the Heisman allows you to diversify, plus pick up some expected value in places the books aren’t working so hard on.
