College football odds: Lamar Jackson clear Heisman favorite at midseason
The Louisville Cardinals have the most explosive offense in college football this season, averaging 628 yards and 52.3 points per game. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the star of that offense and has emerged as the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Jackson is -190 chalk on the Heisman Trophy odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Through the first six games of the season, Jackson has passed for 1,806 yards and 15 touchdowns. But he may be even more dangerous with his feet, rushing for 832 yards and 15 more touchdowns.
Assuming Jackson and the Cardinals keep this offensive pace in the second half, it will be tough for anyone else to catch up.
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Deshaun Watson (+375 to win the Heisman Trophy) entered the season as the favorite to win the hardware, and after a slow start he has played his way back into the conversation.
Watson rose to the occasion to outduel Jackson in Clemson’s 42–36 win over Louisville earlier this month with 397 total yards and five touchdown passes. The junior star has 20 touchdown passes and another chance to make his Heisman case next week on the road against Florida State.
Washington’s Jake Browning (+1000) wasn’t in the Heisman conversation at all coming into the season, but his outstanding play has made him a dark horse for Heisman bettors looking for some longshot value.
The Huskies are off to a 6–0 SU and 4–2 ATS start, and Browning is the nation’s highest rated quarterback with a passer rating of 204.9. The sophomore has thrown 23 touchdown passes and just two interceptions through six games.
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Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (+750) and Alabama’s Jalen Hurts (+1600) aren’t likely to finish with the numbers that some of the favorites ahead of them are, but both have been earning plenty of respect for their play under center for two of the nation’s best teams and top contenders on the college football championship odds.
If other teams falter and Ohio State or Alabama finishes undefeated, one of these two could come out on top in the voting process.
Other players in the mix to win on the Heisman Trophy odds include Jabrill Peppers (+900), Dalvin Cook (+3300) and Greg Ward Jr. (+3300). Peppers is trying to become the first defensive player to win the award since fellow Michigan Wolverine Charles Woodson in 1997.
