Stanford’s Bryce Love is a slight favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this season at odds of +655. Love is considered the top running back in the country, but he will have some definitely competition for the award, as Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the second choice at odds of +694, while Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor is listed at odds of +735. Let’s look at the odds, the top contender and make a prediction.
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Odds to Win 2018 Heisman Trophy
Bryce Love (Stanford) +655
Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) +694
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) +735
Khalil Tate (Arizona) +1303
Justin Herbert (Oregon) +1474
Will Grier (West Virginia) +1660
Shea Patterson (Michigan) +1660
J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State) +1710
Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) +1760
Jake Fromm (Georgia) +1853
Trace McSorley (Penn State) +1860
Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) +2020
Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) +2020
Jake Browning (Washington) +2306
D’Andre Swift (Georgia) +2356
Kelly Bryant (Clemson) +2530
Drew Lock (Missouri) +2630
Cam Akers (Florida State) +2630
Deondre Francois (Florida State) +3012
Nick Fitzgerald (Mississippi State) +4200
McKenzie Milton (UCF) +5500
Jalen Hurts (Alabama) +6000
Travis Etienne (Clemson) +6500
Sam Ehlinger (Texas) +6500
Ed Oliver (Houston) +7200
Ryan Finley (N.C. State) +7500
David Sills (West Virginia) +8500
Nick Bosa (Ohio State) +12000
Top Contenders
There are the big three of Love, Tagovailoa and Taylor and then a boatload of darkhorses and a bunch of longshots. Love was great last season, as he rushed for 2,118 yards and averaged 8.1 yards per carry. There is no reason to think he won’t be just as good this season.
Tagovailoa is getting a lot of late action to win the Heisman, as almost everything things he is a sure thing to win the starting quarterback job at Alabama. The Crimson Tide are the number one team in the country and Tagovailoa showed in last year’s title game that he is an excellent passer. There could be some value on Tua at odds of about 7-1.
The Badgers have a top running back in Taylor and he is going to get the ball a ton this season for Wisconsin. He should go over 2,000 yards easily and if Wisconsin is in the title hunt he should be right with Love for the Heisman.
Darkhorses
You can make a case for at least 13 players who are darkhorses to win the Heisman Trophy in 2018. Tate has the lowest odds at +1303 of the darkhorses, but it is hard to like a player who is going to be on a 7-5 or 6-6 team in the same conference as Love. Hebert has the same problem at Oregon. Grier is probably the best of the quarterbacks in terms of NFL Draft prospects and if West Virginia surprises this season then Grier is at least worth a look at odds of +1660. Michigan’s Shea Patterson is also worth considering simply because if the Wolverines get into national title contention he will be a big reason why. Ohio State has two players in Dobbins and Haskins and it is hard to make a case for taking either of them simply because two players from the same team usually take votes away from each other. Georgia has a good quarterback in Fromm and they are considered national title contenders. The same can be said about McSorley at Penn State, Stidham at Auburn, Murray at Oklahoma and Browning at Washington. You can even throw Bryant of Clemson into the mix.
2018 Heisman Trophy Predictions
It is hard to make much of case for taking any of the three favorites simply because there is not much value. I would lean a little bit to Taylor simply because I think Wisconsin has a better chance to be a national title contender than does Stanford. The value is on the darkhorses, as you can make a case for Fromm, McSorley or Murray. I think the Sooners could be a team to watch in the Big 12 this season and Murray could put up great numbers. I would take Murray as my value pick at odds of +2020. I didn’t even mention the longshots, as I don’t think there is anyone on the longshot list worth taking.
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