We’re a quarter of the way through the NCAA college football season, and the Westgate Las Vegas SportsBook has updated odds on who will win the Heisman Trophy this year. In a quarterback-heavy class of serious contenders, Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama is the clear-cut favorite, at -150, to take home the award for best player in college football.
But he’s not the only QB from a high-profile school in contention. In addition to Tagovailoa, Dwyane Haskins from Ohio State and Kyler Murray from Oklahoma represent the premier arms in three of the NCAA’s Big 5 power conferences (SEC, Big 10, and Big 12, respectively), and both are paying off at +500. Will Grier from West Virginia, also in the Big 12, rounds out the favorites at +600.
Tagovailoa led Alabama to a national title last season and Bama is the favorite to win the Championship again. Tagovailoa (12 TDs and zero INTS) has led top-ranked Bama to a 4-0 record and made a strong case with his near-flawless play why he’s the early favorite to win the Heisman.
Tua, a native of Hawaii, graduated from the same high school as 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Tua is attempting to be only the second player from his state of Hawaii to win the prestigious award. (Quarterback Marcus Mariota, now in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, was born in Honolulu and won the Heisman in 2014, when he played for Oregon.)
Murray is probably the best all-around athlete in the Heisman race, with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions so far this season. He also plays baseball for the Sooners. Murray stepped in for the Sooners to replace Baker Mayfield, last year’s Heisman winner.
Haskins, however, could have the best stats, with 16 TDs and only one interception. He stepped up during Urban Meyer’s three-game suspension at Ohio State, and has a 75.6 percent completion rate — second best in the country.
But a potential sleeper to watch is Grier (14 TDs, 77.4 percent completion rate). Greer tossed 14 TDs in 3 games. He’s on pace to break last season’s output of 34 TDs. Grier will be lighting up secondaries in the Big 12. He already torched Kansas State for 5 TDs last week. Greer is +600.
Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor (5 TDs, 628 yards rushing) is the top running back on the board. The sophomore RB bulked up in the offseason after an astounding freshman season when he rushed for 1,977 yards and 13 TDs.
Kentucky is the biggest surprise in the country after a 4-0 start that included an upset victory in Florida that ended a 31-year losing streak. Kentucky is currently ranked #17. After some well-deserved exposure, Kentucky’s RB Benny Snell, Jr. moved up to +8000. Snell is considered by many scouts to be the most underrated RB in the country.
Odds to win 2018 Heisman Trophy
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama) -150
Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma) +500
Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State) +500
Will Grier (QB, West Virginia) +600
Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin) +1500
Trace McSorley (QB, Penn State) +2000
McKenzie Milton (QB, UCF) +2000
Bryce Love (RB, Stanford) +3000
AJ Dillion (RB, Boston College) +3000
Jake Fromm (QB, Georgia) +5000
Justin Herbet (QB, Oregon) +5000
D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia) +5000
Benny Snell (RB, Kentucky) +8000
Justice Hill (RB, Oklahoma State) +10000
Nick Fitzgerald (QB, Mississippi State) +10000
Myles Gaskin (RB, Washington) +10000
David Sills (WR, West Virginia) +10000
Deebo Samuel (WR, South Carolina) +30000Source: Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will take place on Dec. 8. Ballots go out on Nov. 30 and voting ends on Dec. 3.
Baker Mayfield, QB from Oklahoma, won the Heisman trophy last year. The Cleveland Browns drafted Mayfield as the No.1 overall pick in the NFL draft.