The college football futures bets provide some intriguing opportunities to make a big splash but that might not be the case when it comes to betting on who will be the 2015 Heisman trophy winner after the top contenders received so much hype this offseason.
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is the obvious frontrunner and the outright favorite at +450 with Ohio State stars Ezekiel Elliott and J.T. Barrett listed right behind him at +700. However, it’s important to remember that a lot of the time at least one or two players emerge out of nowhere to earn consideration for the award, which was certainly the case in 2013 when Jameis Winston came out of nowhere to win it as a +3300 long shot. Here is a look at the best value bets to win the 2015 Heisman trophy.
Cody Kessler, USC Trojans
Quarterback
The Trojans have had an impressive list of quarterbacks make the list among the Heisman trophy finalists over the years including both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, who actually won the award. Kessler could become the latest addition to that list after showing significant improvement from 2013 to 2014, and he enters this season with high expectations as a fifth-year senior.
USC is among the favorites to win the Pac-12 this season and if Kessler can even match the 3,826 yards and 39 touchdowns he threw last season while leading the Trojans to a conference championship, he will be among the Heisman trophy finalists and a favorite to win it.
Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers
Quarterback
Watson was one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch in the entire nation last season when he put up 1,666 total yards and 19 touchdowns as a freshman. Expectations have climbed substantially heading in to his sophomore season and he will have every opportunity to put up some big numbers at Clemson this year. Watson missed some time due to a torn ACL that kept him out of Clemson’s bowl game and spring practice, but he is healthy and ready for the start of the season. It will only be a matter of time before his odds move significantly from +1600, so it makes sense to bet on him now as a sleeper value pick to win the 2015 Heisman.
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Royce Freeman, Oregon Ducks
Running Back
Oregon is ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll and that is a testament to their talent level, coaching and position in what appears to be a wide-open Pac-12 heading in to this season. The Ducks lost a couple of key starters – including most importantly, Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota. That could mean even more responsibility falls on the shoulders of their top running back Freeman. The sophomore back set an Oregon record for rushing yards by a freshman last season with 1,365 along with 18 touchdowns. His potential is off the charts and the fact the Ducks might have to lean even more on him early on should help his cause. Freeman is an outstanding talent in the perfect situation and that makes him an excellent value play as a long shot to win the Heisman at +3300 odds.
Everett Golson, Florida State Seminoles
Quarterback
Florida State did an excellent job of recruiting Golson from Notre Dame to replace Winston at the quarterback position and while he still has to be named the starter, the value is certainly there based on all of the reports out of Tallahassee. Golson has reportedly stood out as the quarterback most deserving of the No. 1 job and his odds to win the Heisman trophy could shift dramatically when he is eventually named the starter.
Golson was listed as high as +550 according to the Heisman trophy odds for last season when he was with the Fighting Irish and he is listed at +3300 to win the award in 2015. Golson will have the opportunity to put up some big numbers for the Seminoles this season and it could be worth taking a chance on him now as a long shot to win the Heisman.
