If Jameis Winston is going to go back-to-back in stiff-armed trophies at the end of the year, he’ll do so as the wagering favorite entering the season.
Just as it did with the College Football Playoff, Bovada.lv released its final set of preseason Heisman Trophy odds, with the Florida State quarterback the slight favorite at 9/2. Those are the same odds Winston held back Aug. 5.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, however, has gained some ground on the reigning Heisman winner at 5/1; earlier this month, Mariota stood at 6/1. He began the year, however, at 7/2.
Winston’s odds have also gone up since January, when they were at 2/1.
It’s at this point in the program where I’m compelled to remind you that, last year around this time, Johnny Manziel, fresh off becoming the first freshman to ever claim the Heisman, was being viewed as the co-favorite to become just the second-ever to stake his claim to a pair of stiff-armed trophies. AJ McCarron, still basking in the glow of becoming the first starting quarterback with back-to-back BCS title-game wins, was viewed as a potential challenger to Johnny Football. So too were Braxton Miller, Jadeveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater and a whole host of other players.
And then, of course, Winston happened. A 35-1 longshot last August, Winston went on to claim the 2013 Heisman in near-record fashion, joining Manziel as the only freshmen to win the award. So, are there any potential Winstons in this year’s group?
Perhaps a teammate like running back Karlos Williams at 33/1. Or, Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato at 50/1, although it would take the alignment of myriad stars across several galaxies for the Non-Power Five conference player to earn a trip to New York City let alone win it.
Just one true freshman made Bovada’s cut: LSU running back Leonard Fournette at 33/1. Back in early August, the much-hyped back was at 66/1. Fournette also marks the first a true freshman, which has never won claimed a Heisman, to make an appearance on Bovada’s preseason odds.
Below are the full set of odds, again courtesy of Bovada.lv:
