The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in college football. Given to the most outstanding player in the sport, it is one of the highest honors a player can receive. Sportsbooks also offer Heisman Trophy odds from the preseason until the award is handed out in December.
We’ll break down the 2022 Heisman Trophy odds while outlining the favorites, trends, and sleeper picks within that.
Heisman Trophy Odds
| Player | School | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| CJ Stroud | QB - Ohio State | +200 |
| Bryce Young | QB - Alabama | +350 |
| Caleb Williams | QB - USC | +600 |
| Bijan Robinson | RB - Texas | +1600 |
| DJ Uiagalelei | QB - Clemson | +2000 |
| Dillon Gabriel | QB - Oklahoma | +2000 |
| Quinn Ewers | QB - Texas | +2000 |
| Will Anderson | LB - Alabama | +2000 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | RB - Ohio State | +2000 |
| Anthony Richardson | QB - Florida | +2000 |
| Tyler Van Dyke | QB - Miami | +2500 |
| Jaxson Dart | QB - Mississippi | +2500 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR - Ohio State | +3000 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | RB - Alabama | +3000 |
| Braelon Allen | RB - Wisconsin | +3000 |
| Spencer Rattler | QB - South Carolina | +3000 |
| Hendon Hooker | QB - Virginia Tech | +5000 |
| KJ Jefferson | QB - Arkansas | +6600 |
| Will Rogers | QB - Mississippi State | +8000 |
Odds via BetMGM as of July 29.
Heisman Odds Movement & News
July 29: Texas RB Bijan Robinson jumps from +2000 to +1600 to become fourth on Heisman odds board.
July 2: C.J. Stroud becomes the favorite at +200. Bryce Young falls to +350.
April 12: Bryce Young opens as a +250 favorite. C.J. Stroud (+350) and Caleb Williams (+500) are next in line.
Preseason Favorite To Win Heisman Trophy
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
As you can see in the Heisman Odds Movement section above, this wasn’t always the case. Last year’s winner (Alabama QB Bryce Young) opened as the odds-on favorite to win the trophy for a second straight time. However, Stroud eventually leapfrogged him on the preseason Heisman Trophy odds board.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, there has been “a lot of Ohio State love” in the preseason betting market. That includes several large bets on Stroud to take home this prestigious award.
On top of that, there’s some pessimism surrounding the 2021 winner. The Heisman voting tends to favor novelty, which could be working against Young. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin is the only player to win two Heisman Trophies when he accomplished the feat in 1974 and 1975.
Most Popular Bet To Win The Heisman Trophy
As of July 20, DraftKings reports that USC QB Caleb Williams is the most popular bet to win the Heisman Trophy. Williams has garnered 12.8% of the betting handle at DraftKings Sportsbook. That is marginally more than Will Anderson Jr. (12.3%) and CJ Stroud (10.8%).
Williams transferred from Oklahoma to USC in the offseason, following head coach Lincoln Riley in the move to Southern Cal. In 2021, Williams flashed tremendous upside as a freshman for the Sooners, mostly notably propelling a comeback victory against Texas. Now he’ll have a full season to show his true capabilities. Riley’s offensive style has already created a pair of Heisman Trophy winners (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield), and Williams is cut from the same dual-threat cloth.
Heisman Trophy Sleeper Picks
Florida QB Anthony Richardson
Richardson is another dual-threat quarterback who is oozing with potential. The 6’4″ sophomore saw limited playing time last season, tossing six touchdowns on 64 attempts. However, Richardson captured the imagination of Florida fans with his running ability, piling up 401 rushing yards on 51 carries (7.9 ypc) and three touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for this athletic signal-caller.
Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr.
Only one defensive player has won the Heisman Trophy: Michigan CB Charles Woodson in 1997. If you recall, Woodson also played some wide receiver for the Wolverines while returning punts and kicks as well. In other words, it’s extremely difficult for a true defender to win the award. However, Will Anderson Jr. — linebacker from Alabama — has generated a ton of Heisman Trophy buzz in the preseason. In 2021, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson finished second in the Heisman voting despite having fewer sacks than Anderson. Food for thought.
Ohio State WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba
The Buckeyes had a pair of superstar receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson last season. Now both of them are in the NFL. In preparation for the next level, neither of them played in Ohio State’s bowl game. As a result, Jaxson Smith-Njigba proved he’s going to be the next playmaker in a long line of great Ohio State receivers. Smith-Njigba came through with 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns against a tough Utah defense in the Rose Bowl. In fact, he went for 100-plus yards in each of his last five games, including a casual 15-240-1 showing against Nebraska.
Now Smith-Njigba will be elevated into a featured role, and we could see some eye-popping numbers as a result.
Where To Bet On Heisman Trophy
If you are betting on the favorite — Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud — to take home the award, then DraftKings Sportsbook is your best option.
DraftKings has Stroud at +250 to win the Heisman Trophy, meaning a $100 bet would profit $250, or a $10 bet would profit $25.
Those are better odds than FanDuel and BetMGM, which both have Stroud at +200 to lift the trophy. On those sportsbooks, the same $100 bet would only profit $200, and the $10 bet would profit $20. That’s why it’s important to shop around and find the best price.
Also, if you are new to DraftKings Sportsbook, you can redeem an exclusive bonus offer by clicking on the banner below.
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Heisman Trophy Winner Trends
The Heisman Trophy winner has gone on to play in the College Football Playoffs 8-of-9 times since the format was established in 2014-15. Lamar Jackson of Louisville was the lone exception.
A quarterback has won the Heisman in 10 of the last 12 years. Looking beyond that, a QB took home the award in 18 of the last 21 seasons.
Only one defensive player has taken home the trophy in the award’s history: Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997.
The Heisman winner has gone on to win the NCAA National Championship (in the same season) six of the last 13 years. That includes two of the last three recipients.
Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M (2012) and Jameis Winston of Florida State (2013) are the only freshmen to win the award. They were both redshirt freshmen. A true freshman has never won the award.
Tim Tebow of Florida (2007) was the first sophomore to win the Heisman. Since then, four other sophomores have taken home the trophy: Sam Bradford (2008), Mark Ingram (2009), Lamar Jackson (2016), and Bryce Young (2021).
Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma have the most Heisman Trophy winners at seven apiece. Notre Dame has not claimed a winner since Tim Brown in 1987.
Ohio State running back Archie Griffin is the only player to win the award twice in Heisman Trophy history. He accomplished the feat in 1974 and 1975.
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