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2017 Heisman Trophy Race: Odds for Top Heisman Candidates

By: Jim OxleyHERO Sports @jrox12 (View Article)

It’s the middle of NFL Combine and March Madness season right now, but before you know it, college football will be back. As the best former college players are showing off for NFL teams and the best basketball teams are preparing for post-season runs, lets take a look at who some of the best college football players could be next season.

William Hill US released a futures 2017 Heisman Trophy odds recently to give an idea of who are the leading candidates at this point. Here’s a look at the players with 100-1 odds or better:

NAME SCHOOL POSITION ODDS
Sam Darnold USC QB 7-1
Lamar Jackson Louisville QB 7-1
Baker Mayfield Oklahoma QB 7-1
J.T. Barrett Ohio State QB 10-1
Jake Browning Washington QB 12-1
Deondre Francois Florida State QB 12-1
Saquon Barkley Penn State RB 15-1
Jalen Hurts Alabama QB 15-1
Mason Rudolph Oklahoma State QB 15-1
Josh Rosen UCLA QB 20-1
Bo Scarbrough Alabama RB 20-1
Derrius Guice LSU RB 20-1
Trace McSorley Penn State QB 20-1
Kamryn Pettway Auburn RB 30-1
Nick Chubb Georgia RB 30-1
Luke Falk Washington State QB 30-1
Nick Fitzgerald Mississippi St. QB 40-1
Shane Buechele Texas QB 40-1
Quinton Flowers USF QB 40-1
Jarrett Stidham Auburn QB 40-1
Royce Freeman Oregon RB 50-1
Mike Weber Ohio State RB 50-1
Jacob Eason Georgia QB 60-1
James Washington Oklahoma State WR 60-1
Ed Oliver Houston DT 75-1
Derwin James Florida State S 75-1
Myles Gaskin Washington RB 75-1
Christian Kirk Texas A&M WR 75-1
Brandon Wimbush Notre Dame QB 75-1
Wilton Speight Michigan QB 75-1
Kyle Allen Houston QB 75-1
Calvin Ridley Alabama WR 75-1
Arden Key LSU DE 100-1
Justin Hebert Oregon QB 100-1
Shea Patterson Ole Miss QB 100-1
Kenny Hill TCU QB 100-1
Dexter Lawrence Clemson DT 100-1
Brett Rypien Boise State QB 100-1

 

It will come as no surprise to anyone to see quarterbacks dominate this list. The top six current favorites and 23 of the 38 players with 100-1 odds or better are QBs. The group is led by a few experienced returning quarterbacks, including 2016 Heisman Trophy-winner Lamar Jackson.

Second in terms of position rankings are eight running backs, led by Penn State’s Saquon Barkley. Rounding out the offensive players are a group of three wide receivers.

On defense, only four college football players are given 100-1 odds or better to win the 2017 Heisman Trophy, led by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and Florida State safety Derwin James (75-1 odds).

Another interesting angle of these odds are the number of players who are incoming freshmen or transfer players with little game experience. Many players later on in the odds have yet to take a college football field.

Heisman odds are constantly being updated, but it’s always fun to look back and see who was pegged a leader long before the season began.

By: Jim OxleyHERO Sports @jrox12 (View Article)