Opening 2023 Heisman Futures

by:Paul Wadlington01/17/23

A few 2023 Heisman Trophy winner odds courtesy of BetOnline.

[Get Inside Texas Plus until the start of the 2023 season for $29.99!]

2023 Heisman Trophy Winner
Drake Maye5/1
Caleb Williams6/1
Jordan Travis10/1
Bo Nix12/1
Michael Penix Jr.12/1
Sam Hartman12/1
Jayden Daniels20/1
Joe Milton20/1
Kyle McCord20/1
Cade Klubnik25/1
Drew Allar25/1
Quinn Ewers25/1
Brock Vandagriff28/1
Blake Corum33/1
Carson Beck33/1
Dillon Gabriel40/1
J.J. McCarthy40/1
Spencer Rattler40/1
Ty Simpson40/1
DJ Uiagalelei50/1
Jeff Sims50/1
KJ Jefferson50/1
Marvin Harrison Jr.50/1
Nick Singleton50/1
Quinshon Judkins50/1
TreVeyon Henderson50/1
Devin Brown66/1
Jalen Milroe66/1
Will Shipley66/1
Arch Manning75/1
Will Rogers75/1
Cameron Rising80/1
Conner Weigman80/1
Devin Leary80/1
Donovan Edwards80/1
Gunner Stockton80/1
Jase McClellan80/1
Nico Iamaleava80/1
Raheim Sanders100/1
Tyler Shough100/1

An interesting comment from Adam Burns, the Sports Betting Manager at BetOnline:

“Our initial thought was to make Caleb Williams the favorite to repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner. We then thought better of it and made him the second favorite. No Heisman Trophy winner has repeated since Archie Griffin winning back-to-back in 1974 and 1975. In the last 15 years, Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, and Lamar Jackson won as early underclassmen and returned the next year as the clear Heisman favorite. And you know what, none of them won. And we don’t think Caleb Williams will buck that trend. Drake Maye was tremendous last year, finished strong and is our opening favorite.”

He neglects to mention that the other Heisman failures to repeat didn’t have top notch manicurists.

[Sign up NOW for the Inside Texas newsletter for Texas Longhorns daily updates and breaking news in your inbox!]

Of course, this is the silly season where we don’t even know full roster composition or the final impacts of the transfer portal, but the odds offer an interesting insight into where Vegas perceives public value. Arch Manning at 75/1 is…whimsical. But it will garner its share of “fun bets” — the sports book equivalent of a wishing well.

A few thoughts:

The Heisman Trophy is now an award for the quarterback of a Top 10 team with qualifying levels of anointed media hype. So while Texas fans are mired in Quinn Ewers’ worst games in 2022, Vegas is in the futures game. Does Texas look like an emerging team? Are they going to throw the ball around? What does a year under Quinn’s belt and ten returning starters mean to a team that should be a Big 12 favorite that can also garner sufficient hype to mount a Heisman campaign? That’s why you see Cade Klubnik with the same 25/1 odds, despite fewer starts and a shaky bowl performance as the starter.

JJ McCarthy lower at 40/1 is interesting, but he lacks statistical volume.

Dillon Gabriel should have all of the volume in the world as OU runs its offense through him, but Oklahoma is replacing most of their offensive line and that’s bad news for a smaller QB who could struggle to stay upright.

Drake Maye could be the best player in the country but questions about supporting cast and UNC garnering enough wins makes him a tenuous front runner.

Anyone getting in on that sweet Connor Weigman 80/1 money maker?

You may also like