Hooker and Stroud Favorites to take Home the Heisman

When I last wrote about the Heisman Trophy futures odds over at PointsBet Sportsbook, I asked the question if a longshot could thwart C.J. Stroud from taking home this year’s award. In that piece, I highlighted these five players: Hendon Hooker (+1300), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (+1600), Adrian Martinez (+2500), Blake Corum (+2000), and Jahmyr Gibbs (+2500).

By the looks of the most recent offerings, I look to have nailed two players that are going to give the Buckeyes QB1 a major run for his money come December. Hooker (+100) has overtaken Stroud as the odds-on favorite, while Corum (+1200) also remains in the mix. But just in case things go sideways over the last three weeks of the regular season and into championship Saturday, I wanted to highlight a few less heralded players on the outside looking in that you just might want to own a few shares of just in case all hell breaks loose.

Bet Heisman Trophy Odds at PointsBet Sportsbook

Drake Maye +3300

If not for dropping a head scratcher to Notre Dame at the end of September, the No. 17 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels would be getting much more attention from the national media. At 7-1 SU with a path to win the Coastal Division title and take Clemson on in the ACC title game, you’re going to want a piece of this redshirt freshman who’s done nothing but dazzle since being tabbed the offense’s QB1.

Maye has thrown for 2,671 yards and an impressive 29:3 TD/INT ratio all the while throwing 64 fewer passes than the current passing yards leader (Michael Penix Jr.). He’s thrown for just as many touchdowns as Stroud and enters this week’s tilt with Virginia off ripping PITT for 388 yards and five tuddies. This looks to only be the start of a wonderful collegiate career that could find him in New York if he continues to put forth video game-esque numbers every passing week

Max Duggan +3300

The TCU Horned Frogs are in the midst of the program’s most impressive campaign since the early stages of the Gary Patterson era. Though most of the team’s wins have been of the cardiac variety, they likely never would’ve had a shot in any of them if not for No. 15’s heroics. A true dual-threat, TCU’s QB1 has thrown for over 2,200 passing yards and a sterling 22:2 TD/INT ratio while also adding another 276 yards and four touchdowns with his legs.

The Horny Toads are owners of the nation’s No. 16 ranked passing attack that’s led to it denting scoreboards for over 44 points per game (No. 4). Duggan has taken to Sonny Dykes Air Raid attack with relative ease, and it might be enough to land him an invite to the NY Marriott Marquis if indeed TCU remains undefeated and wins the Big 12.

Bo Nix +2500

More known for blowing up in big games when under center for the Auburn Tigers than anything else, Bo Nix has revitalized his career in Eugene running Dan Lanning’s offense in his first go-round as head coach for the Oregon Ducks. After never surpassing 16 passing touchdowns throughout his time in the SEC, Nix has thrown for a career-high 20 touchdowns and is likely to throw for a career-best in passing yards as well.

He currently clocks in at 2,221 with four games remaining on the regular season docket, so there’s a high percentage chance he crushes his 2,542 career-high and likely surpasses the 3,000 passing yard plateau. On top of all that, he’s rushed for a career-high 441 yards and scored an eye-opening 11 touchdowns! Should Oregon go on to win the Pac-12, Heisman voters will have no choice but to pony up some recognition.

Chase Brown +4000

Chase Brown gave college football bettors a glimpse of his skills last season when he rushed for over 1,000 yards and averaged nearly 6.0 yards per carry. One of the main reasons why Illinois currently sits atop the West Division standings of the B1G is because he picked right back up where he left off. In surpassing 1,200 yards last week against Nebraska, the fifth-year running back became only the third player in program history to go for 1,000+ yards in back-to-back seasons.

He’s currently the nation’s rushing yards leader which is something voters will have to take into consideration should that remain the case a month from now. That showdown with Blake Corum and the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House on November 19 will be must-see TV! More a favorite to take home the Doak Walker Award than anything else, Brown is worth throwing a beer money wager on just in case he makes it interesting.