2021 Heisman Trophy Odds

Heisman Trophy betting odds have become a staple at legal US online sportsbooks over the past few years. It’s also, since the turn of the century, been pretty easy to predict the outcome as a quarterback has won the Heisman 17 of the last 20 years. Picking well early, however, has proven to be a bit tougher.

LSU’s Joe Burrow took home the honors in 2019. Burrow’s Heisman Trophy odds opened at 200-1 before last season started but got slashed to 25-1 immediately after he ripped Georgia Southern for nearly 300 yards passing and 5 TD in LSU’s season opener. By the time the season ended the current QB1 for the Cincinnati Bengals saw his odds plummet to -30000. That means a $300 bet would have turned a measly $1 profit.

Is there a secret to Heisman Trophy betting? No. Is it easier to predict? Yes. But you have to strike before the iron gets hot to get the best odds you can. Here’s your guide to attacking those Heisman lines in 2020.

2020-21 Heisman Trophy Odds

Check the real-time Heisman Trophy odds at legal US online sportsbooks below. Use the drop-down menus to switch your state or check out other NCAAF futures odds. Click the odds you like to claim your bonus, register an account and get your bet down.

How do Heisman Trophy odds work?

Say you got a thing for Texas Longhorns football and want to grab a piece of Sam Ehlinger to win the Heisman Trophy in 2020. The Horns QB1’s Heisman odds currently check in at +1600 or 16-1 (Note: Always check your sportsbook for the latest odds).

This means that any bet would earn you 16x the original stake. So, if you decided to throw $100 on him to hear his name called at the PlayStation Theater in New York City, you’d walk away with $1,600 profit.

All Heisman Trophy winner bets are considered active if the player suits up and takes the field in his team’s first scheduled game. So, the bet is locked in for the long haul regardless of whether the player gets hurt in the season opener through the award ceremony. No exceptions.

Heisman betting trends

If you invest in 2020 Heisman betting odds, you’ll do yourself a major solid by looking the way of quarterbacks. Take a glance at running backs if you must, but know that an RB would have to put forth a dominant season just to have a shot in this day and age of QB-driven collegiate offenses.

Whatever you do, don’t bank on a wide receiver or defensive player. Charles Woodson was the last to do so back in 1997, which was the last time a QB or RB didn’t win the award. Before that, it was Desmond Howard in 1991.

Over the last 10 seasons, a quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy all but one time. Current Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry was the only player to break the mold back in 2015 when he put forth an amazing campaign for Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.  It’s been nothing but QBs since with Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow getting the job done.

While TD passes, rushing touchdowns, sacks, interceptions, and any other pertinent stats are important when deciding on whom to invest your Heisman bets in, you should only be concerned with game-changers on winning teams from power conferences. Those are the types of thoroughbreds that win the award.

Just look at the schools the players came from over the last decade:

• LSU
• Oklahoma
• Alabama
• Florida State
• Auburn

Single out players on teams likely to win their respective divisions and conferences and make an appearance in the BCS playoff or a major college bowl game. While the age of the player used to be important, that’s no longer the case with guys like Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston winning the award in their freshman seasons.

Betting early does offer up a shot at the greatest rate of return, but surveying the landscape for a few weeks and spreading some beer money around on some early season impact players could also prove to be fruitful.

There’s no handbook on how to bet the Heisman Trophy winner. It’s tough, as evidenced by linemakers offering up plus-money odds on every big name out there months before the season even begins.

2020-21 Heisman Trophy favorites

QB Justin Fields

Fields was the runner-up to Burrow in last season’s Heisman Trophy voting with 271 2nd-place votes. The Georgia transfer made a huge impression in Columbus after throwing for nearly 3,300 yards and 41 TDs while only getting picked off three times.

He also picked up another 484 yards and 10 TDs on the ground. With Ohio St. nestled in with Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Penn State atop the preseason rankings, it makes perfect sense why Fields is a frontrunner for the 2020 Heisman in the eyes of linemakers and the betting public.

QB Trevor Lawrence

It feels like Lawrence has been running the Tigers offense for a decade already. But keep in mind, he took the job away from Kelly Bryant in his freshman campaign and led the Tigers to the national championship.

He bettered his marks from that season in his sophomore season in throwing for over 3,600 yards while logging a solid 36:8 TD/INT ratio. He also proved to be a dual-threat in rushing for 563 yards and nine scores. Clemson has been a fixture in the CFP since its existence and is once again the decided favorite to win the ACC.

QB D’Eriq King

King was an overhyped option in the Heisman betting odds a season ago. Not so much because he didn’t have the talent to win the award, but because of the program in which he displayed his skills.

After bolting Houston for greener pastures, King is now running the offense in Coral Gables for the Miami Hurricanes. With the skills he brings to the table, that makes him a bonafide entrant in this year’s Heisman race with a very attractive preseason rate of return. The Canes offense should flourish under his watch, which should have The U in the ACC title race.

2020-21 Heisman Trophy wild cards

QB Kedon Slovis

With Graham Harrell back as offensive coordinator, Slovis could dramatically improve upon his frosh campaign for a USC Trojans outfit that figures to be in the thick of the Pac-12 title race all the way through.

Though not the dynamic dual-threat of other more highly esteemed QBs in the collegiate landscape, he still went on to throw for over 3,500 yards and 30 TDs as an 18-year old. Remember, age isn’t what it used to be when banking on players to win the Heisman Trophy.

CB/WR Derek Stingley

A longshot, no-doubt, considering a defensive two-way player hasn’t won the award since Woodson did in 1997. On top of that, a cornerback has only won the Heisman once! Still, Stingley had such a dramatic effect on the turnaround of LSU’s defense last season by racking up 15 passes defended, 31 solo tackles and six interceptions.

If he can also make an impact on offense and special teams, the Tigers seriously might possess the most electric player in college football. If so, he’d have to be taken seriously as a potential Heisman Trophy award candidate.

RB Kenneth Gainwell

The payout on Gainwell makes no sense whatsoever! This kid was without a doubt the real deal for a loaded Memphis Tigers offense last season. After getting limited burn in his freshman campaign, Gainwell erupted as a sophomore for over 2,000 combined yards and 16 TDs.

While the coaching staff has since bolted, the offense returns a bulk of the key cogs that racked up over 40 points and 480 yards per game. With speed to burn, opposing defenses have no shot tracking him down once he reaches the open field. The kid comes up with at least one of not two highlight-reel plays per game. If he bumps that up to between 3-5, Heisman voters will have no choice but to give him the attention and accolades he deserves.

List of Heisman Trophy winners by year

The first Heisman Trophy was awarded to University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger back in 1935. It’s been handed out 84 times since making it one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in American sports.

While it should never be looked upon as the ultimate predictor of success at the next level, it’s a career highlight that earns all who win it the respect they deserve. These are the athletes who earned their Heisman in the past decade.

More NCAA football futures odds

• Odds to Win 2021 College Football Playoff
• Odds to Make 2021 College Football Playoff
• Regular Season Win Totals
• Odds to Make a Bowl Game
• Odds to Win ACC
• Odds to Win Big Ten
• Odds to Win Big 12
• Odds to Win C-USA
• Odds to Win PAC-12
• Odds to Win SEC