Right around this time two years ago, many sportsbooks pulled wagering on the winner of the 2017 Heisman because Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was too big of a favorite. Based on the trajectory of this year’s race, a similar situation could soon arise. Maybe.
Last week, one offshore sportsbook had Joe Burrow listed as a sizable 1/10 favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. Seven days later, the LSU quarterback has seen those odds shorten significantly to a mammoth 1/20 -- the same number listed for Mayfield before his odds were yanked in 2017.
With Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off the board because of his season-ending hip injury, there are just two players, both quarterbacks, listed -- Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts at 9/1, Ohio State’s Justin Fields at 10/1. Hurts is up a bit from 10/1, while Fields stayed steady at the same number.
One factor that’s likely keeping the sportsbooks from pulling the odds this year? Fields’ remaining opponents. No. 2 Ohio State will play host to No. 8 Penn State this Saturday before traveling to Ann Arbor the following weekend against No. 13 Michigan, not to mention a potential primetime appearance in the Big Ten championship game the first full weekend of December.
As for the other two contenders’ remaining schedules?
BURROW
- vs. Arkansas (0-8)
- vs. Texas A&M (7-3)
- SEC championship game vs. No. 4 Georgia
HURTS
- vs. TCU (5-5)
- at No. 21 Oklahoma State (7-3)
- Potential rematch with No. 14 Baylor (9-1) in Big 12 championship game