2016 Heisman Odds

2016 Heisman Odds

Nearly two weeks before bowl season had concluded, oddsmakers were already looking forward to the following season. Paddy Power, a prominent sportsbook based in the United Kingdom, posted Heisman odds for the 2016 college football season. This development was somewhat perplexing given that many top candidates — including the reigning Heisman winner Derrick Henry — were expected to declare for the NFL Draft.

Roughly three weeks later, Bovada posted their own Heisman odds and there were several discrepancies. As expected, Henry declared for the NFL Draft and was removed from the list of Heisman hopefuls. Largely based on a strong performance in the national championship game, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson jumped from +800 to +450 to become the undisputed front-runner.

On September 9th, the market-setting Bookmaker.eu posted Heisman odds with $5,000 limits — significantly higher than any other offshore sportsbook. They initially listed Deshaun Watson (+301) as the favorite, but within one week he had been replaced by Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. The following week, a new front-runner emerged.

After tallying over 350 total yards and five touchdowns in a blowout victory over Florida State, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson saw his odds of winning the Heisman Trophy skyrocket. Jackson, who available at 110/1 before the season, became the favorite at +120. The following week Jackson racked up nearly 500 total yards and seven touchdowns against Marshall. That performance caused his odds to jump from +120 to -160.

On Saturday, October 1, Louisville suffered their first defeat of the season against Clemson, but Jackson once again posted impressive numbers with 295 passing yards, 162 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Despite the loss, Jackson’s Heisman odds improved from -160 to -210. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, who threw for over 300 yards in the win, saw his odds improve from +950 to +400.

Louisville didn’t play the following week, which caused Jackson’s odds to drop from -210 to -170. Conversely, Watson threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-10 victory over Boston College, which caused his odds to improve from +400 to +300. The biggest move involved Washington’s Jake Browning, who passed for over 300 yards with eight total touchdowns in a 70-21 demolition of Oregon. This caused the sophomore quarterback’s odds to soar from 50/1 to 12/1.

In the following weeks these odds had largely stagnated, with Lamar Jackson listed between -200 and -350. Following his seven touchdown performance against Boston College, Jackson’s odds of winning the Heisman jumped from -300 to -1500 at 5Dimes. His numbers weren’t impressive the subsequent week against Wake Forest, but losses by Clemson, Michigan and Washington seriously impacted the Heisman odds of several major candidates. This caused Jackson’s Heisman odds to improve from -1500 to -3500.

Although Louisville has lost their two games, Jackson’s odds haven’t faltered significantly. Quite frankly, it’s tough to imagine a situation where Jackson doesn’t win the Heisman Trophy. Jackson has posted over 4,900 total yards with 51 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions. Jackson is currently -1950 to win the Heisman, with the field listed at +950.

The table below compares the Heisman odds at 5Dimes, Bookmaker, Bovada and Paddy Power. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

PlayerPositionSchool5Dimes (11/30)5Dimes (11/16)5Dimes (11/8)5Dimes (11/2)5Dimes (10/26)5Dimes (10/20)5Dimes (10/12)5Dimes (10/6)5Dimes (9/28)5Dimes (9/20)CRIS (9/14)CRIS (9/9)Bovada (9/7)5Dimes (8/29)5Dimes (6/8)Bovada (5/27)Bovada (1/21)Paddy Power (12/29)
Lamar JacksonQBLouisville-1950-3500-1500-300-350-195-170-210-160+120+742N/A+1800+11000  +10000N/AN/AN/A
Deshaun WatsonQBClemson+1400+3300+1400+700+1000+500+300+400+950+800+421+301+450+525  +600+350+450+800
Jabrill PeppersLBMichigan+3500+1600+1600+800+800+800+800+6000+2500+4000+6000+6500+1800+8000  +6600N/AN/AN/A
Luke FalkQBWashington StateN/A+3300+10000+5000+5000+5000+5000N/AN/A+6600N/AN/AN/A+5000  +4000N/AN/A+2500
Jake BrowningQB WashingtonN/A+4000+1600+2500+1000+1200+1200+5000N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Saquon BarkleyRBPenn StateN/A+4000N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+10000N/AN/A+6600+6600  +7000N/AN/A+4000
JT BarrettQBOhio StateN/A+5000+6600+3300+1600+800+1000+700+850+850+627+685+550+1400  +1500+1000+1000+1400
D'Onta ForemanRBTexasN/A+6600+6000N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+15000  +10000N/AN/AN/A
Dalvin CookRBFlorida StateN/A+8000+10000+5000+4500+4500+2500+3000+3300+3500+1311+1300+800+1200  +1400+1200+1200+1200
Baker MayfieldQBOklahomaN/A+10000+10000+10000+6000N/AN/AN/AN/A+2500+4000+2350+3300+1500  +1200+1200+1000+800
Donnel PumphreyRB San Diego StateN/A+10000+10000+10000+10000+10000N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Jalen HurtsQBAlabamaN/A+10000+10000+6600+3300+2000+10000+6600N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Damien HarrisRBAlabamaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+15000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Seth RussellQBBaylorN/AN/AN/AN/A+12500+10000+10000+6500+7500+6600+6000+4500N/A+3800  +2700N/AN/A+1600
Mason RudolphQBOklahoma StateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000+12500N/A+10000N/AN/AN/A+6000  +5000N/AN/A+2500
Myles GaskinRBWashingtonN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+12500N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Juju Smith-SchusterWRUSCN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+10000N/AN/AN/A+10000  +8000N/AN/AN/A
CJ BeathardQB IowaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+16500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Nick ChubbRBGeorgiaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6000+1309+1000+1000+2700  +2150+1400+1200+1800
Dakota PrukopQBOregonN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6600N/AN/AN/A+6000  +4000N/AN/AN/A
Deondre FrancoisQBFlorida StateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+4000+1309N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Justin ThomasQB Georgia TechN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+15000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Mitch TrubiskyQBNorth CarolinaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6600N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
DeShone KizerQBNotre DameN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6600+2531+1750+4000+3300  +2800N/AN/A+2000
Christian KirkWRTexas A&MN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000N/AN/AN/A+12500  +8000N/AN/A+3300
Corey ClementRBWisconsinN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000N/AN/AN/A+7000  +5000N/AN/AN/A
Elijah HoodRBNorth CarolinaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000N/AN/AN/A+6500  +5500N/AN/AN/A
Royce FreemanRBOregonN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+3300+4500+6500+4000+4500  +3300+2000+1400+2000
Antonio CallawayWRFloridaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+10000N/AN/AN/A+15000  +10000N/AN/AN/A
Calvin RidleyWRAlabamaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000N/A+4000N/AN/A+4000+4500  +3300+2500+1600N/A
Leonard FournetteRBLSUN/AN/AN/AN/A+10000N/AN/AN/A+5000+1300+1210+853+750+650  +850+400+500+1000
Chad KellyQBMississippiN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000+7500+6600+2000+6500+5500+3300+1800  +1650+1200+1200+1400
Jarrett StidhamQBBaylorN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A  +3500N/AN/A+1600
Chris Warren IIIRBTexasN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+13000  +10000N/AN/AN/A
Adoree' JacksonWRUSCN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6600  +4000N/AN/AN/A
Brad KaayaQBMiami FloridaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+12500+5000N/A+6500N/AN/A+4000+5000  +4000+3300+3300+2500
Greg Ward Jr.QBHoustonN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000+6600+5000+2000+3300+3300+1410+3000+1000+6000  +5000N/AN/A+4000
Josh RosenQBUCLAN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+6000+5500+5000+2700  +2150+1600+2000+1200
Trevor KnightQBAlabamaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+8000N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
James WashingtonWROklahoma StateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Chris GodwinWRPenn StateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Tysom HillQB BYUN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
John FranklinQB AuburnN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Myles GarrettDETexas A&MN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+12500  +8000N/AN/AN/A
OJ HowardTE AlabamaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Brett RypienQBBoise StateN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Devine ReddingRB IndianaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+17500N/AN/AN/AN/A
Charles Harris DE MissouriN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Shock Linwood RB BaylorN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Desmond King CB IowaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Hardy NickersonLB IllinoisN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Zach CunninghamLB VanderbiltN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Malik Jefferson LB TexasN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+25000N/AN/AN/AN/A
Malik ZaireQBNotre DameN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+3500  +3500N/AN/AN/A
Bo ScarbroughRBAlabamaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+2500N/AN/A+5000+3000  +2800N/AN/AN/A
Samaje PerineRBOklahomaN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+3300+12000+9000+7500+2800  +2150+2000+1400+1600
Christian McCaffreyRBStanfordN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+15000+6600+2500+1000+600+386+376+400+675  +700+500+500+900
Joshua DobbsQBTennesseeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+10000+4000N/A+6600+7500+10000+5000+3500  +4000+2500+1600+2000
Jalen HurdRBTennesseeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A+2500N/AN/AN/A+5000  +5000N/AN/AN/A
Patrick MahomesQBTexas TechN/AN/A+20000N/A+6500N/AN/AN/A+4000+5500N/AN/A+2500+4000  +3300+3300N/AN/A

It’s interesting to note that the Heisman Trophy is usually awarded to a quarterback or running back with the exception of two tight ends (Larry Kelley, Leon Hart), two wide receivers (Desmond Howard, Tim Brown) and one defensive back (Charles Woodson).

The table below shows the recent winners of this award along with their odds and the first week that they were available as an option.

YearPlayerSchoolOdds AvailableOdds
2015Derrick HenryAlabamaPre-Season+2500
2014Marcus MariotaOregonPre-Season+700
2013Jameis WinstonFlorida StateWeek 2+600
2012Johnny ManzielTexas A&MWeek 8+1200
2011Robert Griffin IIIBaylorPre-Season+2800
2010Cam NewtonAuburnWeek 3+2000
2009Mark IngramAlabamaWeek 4+3300

Below was written in the preseason

When Paddy Power first posted their odds, I explained that LSU running back Leonard Fournette was being mispriced at +1000. Unfortunately, books quickly adjusted to this oversight, and Fournette is currently +650 at 5Dimes.

I believe that Houston’s Greg Ward Jr. (+6000) is an intriguing long shot candidate, and his odds could skyrocket with a Week 1 victory over Oklahoma. In his junior season, Ward racked up 2,590 passing yards and 1,041 rushing yards with 35 touchdowns versus just 5 interceptions.

If you’re looking for somebody with shorter odds, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook (+1200) is an interesting candidate. Last season Cook ran for 1691 yards and 19 touchdowns, and the Seminoles will return essentially the same offensive line. With a freshman quarterback expected to start, Cook will be relied upon heavily and could potentially rush for over 2,000 yards.

I’m also partial to J.T. Barrett at 14/1. There has been lots of love for Michigan recently, but Ohio State is still the best team in that conference and Barrett should post great numbers as both a passer and rusher. With Ezekiel Elliott gone, Barrett will have ample opportunity to carry the offense.

Who do you think will take home the Heisman Trophy next season? Will another quarterback or running back win the award? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

David Solar

David was the Content Manager at Sports Insights. He has since moved on to greener pastures.

2 Comments
  • Marko
    09/07/2016 at 3:20 pm

    Surprised Fournette isn’t the favorite here…

  • Swag For Heisman
    09/07/2016 at 11:33 pm

    Put your money on Chad Kelly!

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