The four players headed to New York this weekend for the Heisman Trophy ceremony should come as no surprise— Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Visit: DraftKings and get a $50 free bet with $5 deposit + a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1,000
For much of the season, the Heisman race did not have a clear-cut front runner. At different points during the season, Spencer Rattler, Young, Matt Corral, Stroud, and Kenneth Walker had the best odds to win the 2021 Heisman. But after a dominant performance against the best defense in college football, one player stands out from the rest—Alabama’s Young. He’s a prohibitive favorite at BetRivers, Caesars, and BetMGM as the updated oddsboard reflects below.
| 2021 Heisman Trophy Finalists | BetRivers | Caesars | BetMGM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | -5000 | -4000 | -5000 | ||
| C.J. Stroud | +3300 | +3000 | +4000 | ||
| Kenny Pickett | +2500 | +3000 | +3000 | ||
| Aidan Hutchinson | +2000 | +1600 |
2021 Heisman Trophy Finalists
Heisman trophy winners are not just great players; they are great players that play their best games when it matters most.
Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is a great example. Heading into the Michigan-Ohio State game, his name couldn’t be found in any Heisman conversation. He had been having a fantastic season, but he lacked that quintessential Heisman moment. But after recording three sacks against the Buckeyes, the nation took notice, and Hutchinson found himself in contention.
However, if he was going to become the first true defensive player to win, he needed another big game against Iowa in the Big Ten title game. While he played well, Michigan’s offense ruled the day.
Stroud has his Heisman moment against Michigan State when he threw for 432 yards and six touchdowns. But then he did something potential Heisman winners cannot do—he lost. Doing so is especially damaging to a player’s Heisman chances when it happens late in the season and on a national stage. Michigan’s dominant win over Ohio State was the proverbial nail in the coffin for his campaign.
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett had the kind of season Heisman voters tend to love. He was not in the conversation to start the year, and didn’t enter it for a few weeks once the season got underway. The early loss to Western Michigan didn’t help his case. But then his campaign slowly began to gain traction, and his odds got better and better—until a loss to Miami. With two losses and no Heisman-type moment against a tough team, his chances are slim.
But then there’s Young, who was among the top contenders throughout the season. His stat line was solid from one week to the next, but the loss to Texas A&M made the need for a quintessential Heisman moment crucial to his chances of winning. When he finally got it, it came on the biggest stage of the season—the SEC Championship Game.
Anytime a player can throw for 421 yards and three touchdowns — and then add another 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground — against the best defense in college football, he deserves to win something.
Betting Analysis
The obvious choice does not always win. Tennessee halfback Johnny Majors looked like the obvious choice back in 1956. Majors led the Volunteers to a 10-0 record and an SEC Championship but lost to Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung; it was the only time a player from a team with a losing record won the Heisman.
But the case for Young is strong enough that some books do not have Heisman odds listed anymore. His odds (-5000) give him a 98.04 percent chance of winning. But before you bet the house, make sure you understand one thing. At those odds, you will need to risk $5,000 just to win $100.
Also read: New Year’s Day Bowl Game Odds: Tight Betting Lines Abound | CFP Odds
About the Author
