College football’s Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player during the regular season. Heading into the 2018 season, the following is a closer at the best value in BetOnline’s updated futures odds to win this highly coveted award.
The quarterback position has dominated the Heisman since its inception. Except for former Alabama running back Derrick Henry winning this award in 2015, a quarterback has won the Heisman every other year since 2010. That does not mean that it is a lock that a quarterback will win this year, especially when the favorite just so happens to run the ball for one of the top rushing teams in the nation.
Top Favorite To Win The 2018 Heisman
The player at the top of the list at BetOnline is Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Following a breakout season as a freshman which landed him sixth in the final 2017 Heisman voting, his odds to lay claim to this award in 2018 have been set at +750.
Taylor carried the ball 273 times last season, and he gained 1,847 yards while scoring 13 touchdowns. This was the third-highest rushing total in the nation. He started the season with 200 yards rushing or more in three of his first six games, and he was held to fewer than 100 yards just three times in 12 games. Everyone knows how much Wisconsin loves to run the ball, so Taylor will have more than enough opportunity to sway the voters in his favor.
Top Contenders To Win The 2018 Heisman
A close second on the 2018 Heisman futures board is running back Bryce Love from Stanford and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at +800 betting odds to win. Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm’s odds to win are set at +1000.
As the top quarterback on the list would think that the edge in this trio has to go to Tagovailoa in the contender's category. However, he is an unproven commodity with just 53 passing attempts last season. He completed 35 of those passes for 470 yards and eight touchdowns to rank high on the potential list playing quarterback for the defending national champions.
Love is another workhorse at the running back position with 237 carries last season for 1,361 yards playing as a junior. The fact that he averaged 8.3 yards a carry is another plus, but his biggest attribute is his nose for the end zone with 17 touchdown runs. Also in his favor is the fact that Love finished second in last year’s Heisman voting behind Baker Mayfield.
Georgia is coming off a highly successful season that ended with a tough 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the national title game. The Bulldogs are primed for another deep run this season with Fromm under center. He made a name for himself last season as a freshman with 2,173 yards passing, and 21 touchdown throws against just five interceptions. He completed 63 percent of his 230 passing attempts. The main thing working against the value in his Heisman odds is a simple fact that Georgia loves to run the ball. The Bulldogs lost both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel from an offense that averaged 263.5 rushing yards a game so that they may need more production from the passing game in 2018.
Top Longshot To Win The 2018 Heisman
In the past, players have risen from nowhere to gain enough national attention to win the Heisman. Johnny Manziel (2012) and Jameis Winston (2013) won this award as a freshman, so there is always value to be found further down the list on the betting board.
My top longshot to win the 2018 Heisman at +2500 betting odds is Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. He played behind JT Barrett last season as a freshman, and he has been penciled in as the Buckeyes' starter heading into summer camp. The main reason I like his value as a longshot is the fact that he plays for one of the highest profile teams in college football. He will be given every chance to succeed (or fail), and if Haskins plays to expectations, he will catch the eye of Heisman voters.