The Heisman trophy race has become extremely running back heavy at the top with Penn State back Saquon Barkley and Stanford’s back Bryce Love establishing themselves as the clear favorites to win the award. That trend continued in Week 8 when both players delivered strong performances. The quarterbacks who were in the running earlier – like Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold – have faded from memory. Here is a look at the Heisman trophy race according to the updated sports betting odds heading in to Week 9 of the college football season.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Penn State Nittany Lions
Heisman Trophy Odds: -180
Barkley ran for 108 yards on just 15 carries against Michigan’s top-ranked defense in last week’s 42-13 win. He also had 53 yards receiving and finished with three touchdowns. The versatile running back is up to 757 rushing yards and eight rushing scores along with 32 receptions for 757 yards and three touchdown receptions. Penn State is 7-0 on the season including a 4-0 mark in Big Ten competition. It will be impossible to overlook Barkley as the Heisman favorite for as long as he continues to put up outstanding numbers for the best team in the Big Ten. All eyes will be on Barkley to see what he does in this week’s highly anticipated showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
RB: Bryce Love, Stanford Cardinal
Heisman Trophy Odds: +200
Love went back to work in a 49-7 win over Oregon in which he rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Love has averaged a ridiculous 10.3 yards per carry this season while rushing for 1,387 yards and 11 scores. Stanford’s schedule hasn’t featured enough marquee matchups to get the exposure that Love deserves but with games against Washington State, Washington and Notre Dame coming up he will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his skill set. The Cardinal is 5-2 heading in to this week’s matchup at Oregon State so it only makes sense that Love is right there at the top of the Heisman conversation.
It’s worth noting that Penn State is at Ohio State this week, so Barkley and Barrett are likely to impact each other. The loser of that game could be out of the picture. If so, Love will get a boost. His stats are off the charts and that’s what is carrying his chances. Even if Stanford really isn’t in the College Football Playoff conversation.
QB: J.T. Barrett, Ohio State Buckeyes
Heisman Trophy Odds: +900
While the running backs continue to dominate the Heisman conversation, a familiar quarterback is at the top of the list when it comes to the sports betting odds to win the Heisman among the best passers in the nation. Barrett threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns with another two rushing scores for seven total touchdowns in a 56-14 win over Nebraska the last time we saw him on the football field. Now we get the chance to see him in a game with major Heisman implications as Ohio State gets set to host Penn State this Saturday.
It’s hard to believe to believe that Barrett is in fact in the running again after how he showed against Clemson last season and against Oklahoma this year. However, a cupcake schedule has allowed Ohio State to get back on track offensively. If he can deliver against Penn State in this spot, that will give his candidacy far more legitimacy.
QB: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Sooners
Heisman Trophy Odds: +1400
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, Cowboys wide receiver James Washington and reigning Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson just missed out on this list heading in to Week 9. Instead of that trio, it’s Mayfield hanging on to the final spot on this list following another outstanding performance in last week’s 42-35 win over Kansas State. Mayfield threw for 410 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 69 yards and another two scores. Oklahoma State is 6-1 and on track for a Big-12 championship. Mayfield’s Heisman stock will skyrocket if he leads the Cowboys to a conference title and a college football playoff appearance.
Click here to bet on the college football season right now. DSI has a full list of spreads, totals and props for every single game on the board. Get all of the latest lines that you need to get a piece of the action!
