by Ben Perks
Entering Week 12, oddsmakers have outlined their five frontrunners to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy. Get insights and the latest odds for the most coveted individual player award in college football.
Heisman Trophy: Winning Odds
| Player | Position | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Stroud | Quarterback | Ohio State | +160 |
| Bryce Young | Quarterback | Alabama | +190 |
| Kenneth Walker III | Running Back | Michigan State | +225 |
| Matt Corral | Quarterback | Ole Miss | +575 |
| Kenny Pickett | Quarterback | Pittsburgh Panthers | +2430 |
*Odds from MyBookie. All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
The Current Top Players in College Football
1. C.J. Stroud
Stats:3,036 yards, 30 TDs, 5 INTs
Ohio State has a solid recent record in the Heisman Trophy: Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields (the team’s last two quarterbacks) have been finalists. Now, many online sportsbooks have Stroud as the favorite to get his hands on the award. The QB’s last performance of 361 passing yards and five TDs destroyed Purdue’s chances of causing an upset.
The 31-59 victory showed that Ohio’s attack covers the team’s defensive weaknesses. If Stroud and his elite receiving corps – Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jackson Smith-Njigba – continue to click in the next top-10 showdowns against Michigan and Michigan State, he could easily be this year’s MVP.
2. Bryce Young
Stats: 3,025 yards, 33 TDs, 3 INTs
Although some online bookmakers still have Young as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, MyBookie and other sportsbooks have him as the second favorite. Young finished 21 of 23 for 270 yards and five TDs in a 59-3 win over New Mexico State, which padded a super-efficient full-season line. However, unless he had thrown 650 yards and 7 TDs, his performance in Week 11 wasn’t going to shorten his odds. Yet, everyone knows that if he leads Crimson Tide to victory over Arkansas, Auburn in the Iron Bowl, and Georgia in the SEC championship game, he’s likely to become the first Crimson Tide quarterback to take home the Heisman Trophy.
3. Kenneth Walker III
Stats: 1,773 rushing yards, 17 TDs
Walker gave his line 143 yards and two TDs in the 40-21 victory against Maryland. Yet, if the running back wins the Heisman Trophy this year, it will be mainly down to the five-TD takeover in the 37-33 victory against Michigan. If Walker can also carry the Spartans past the Buckeyes in Week 12, he could be the new frontrunner. He only needs to look at when Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 for inspiration. The defining moment was a 161-yard, four-TD performance at The Shoe in a victory against Ohio State.
4. Matt Corral
Stats: 2,773 passing yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs
With 523 rushing yards and 10 TDs, Corral is the statistical difference-maker. The quarterback has kept pace with Heisman Trophy frontrunners throughout the season, but he has a disadvantage: he won’t play in a conference championship game. But because the Rebels should make a New Year’s Day Six bowl, he will have a chance to boost his statistics in games against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.
5. Kenny Pickett
Stats: 3,517 yards, 32 TDs, 4 INTs
Because Pickett has been the leader of Pitt’s bid for an ACC championship, it’s not surprising to see him in fifth place at MyBookie. Yet, the losses to Western Michigan and Miami lengthened his odds. Yet, despite this imperfect record, it’s hard to find a more valuable player to his offense. Therefore, if the Panthers end the regular season with high-scoring shootouts against Virginia and Syracuse, Pickett could steal the award at the death.
When is the Heisman Trophy Award Ceremony?
The winner of the Heisman Trophy will be awarded on December 11, one week after conferences hold their championship games. Organizers will distribute ballots on November 29. The finalist for the award will be announced on December 6.
View: the latest odds for all NCAAF matchups in Week 12.
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
