LSU’s sophomore running back Leonard Fournette has been so dominant this season that he has reignited the conversation about whether or not the year for NFL eligibility should be adjusted. At the same time, he’s been running away as the betting favorite to win the Heisman trophy. Fournette still hasn’t clinched the award but he has maintained his position as the obvious favorite heading in to the final stretch. However, there is a rising passer emerging as the player with the best odds to challenge him for the award. Here is a look at the Heisman trophy race according to the updated betting odds.
Leonard Fournette, LSU Tigers
Sophomore
Fournette has averaged a ridiculous 7.7 yards per carry while rushing for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns through seven games and is easily the biggest reason why LSU is still undefeated. Fournette has been the betting favorite to win the award since Week 3 of the college football season. Some expected him to slow down once SEC play has started, nobody has been able to stop him.
All eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver another outstanding performance in an SEC showdown with Alabama this Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. It will be difficult for another contender to beat him out at this point barring a major injury or massive collapse the rest of the way. Fournette has been the best player in college football by a long shot this year and it is clear he is the obvious favorite heading in to Week 10.
Trevone Boykin, TCU Horned Frogs
Senior
The senior quarterback threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns while running for an additional 84 yards and another score in last week’s 40-10 win over West Virginia to move one step closer to becoming a legitimate challenger for Fournette. Boykin has thrown for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns with an additional 524 yards on the ground and six rushing scores. He will need to have an outstanding finish while likely needing to guide TCU to a perfect record in the Big 12 in order to legitimately contend with what Fournette has done at LSU this season. However, an LSU loss and a bad showing from Fournette could open the door.
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State Buckeyes
Junior
Elliott has been the most consistent offensive weapon on the top-ranked Buckeyes all season and his position doesn’t change coming off a bye week as the third-best bet to win the Heisman according to the odds. Elliott has averaged 6.8 yards per carry while rushing for 1,130 yards and 13 touchdowns and if he can finish strong while leading Ohio State back to the College Football Playoff with an undefeated record, then he will have a legitimate shot at winning the Heisman trophy.
Derrick Henry, Alabama Crimson Tide
Junior
While a lot has been made about Fournette’s stock heading in to this week’s showdown with Alabama, the Tide have a weapon of their own at the running back position in Henry. They will need him to have a big performance this weekend in order to beat LSU. Henry has averaged 5.8 yards per carry while rushing for 1,044 yards and 14 touchdowns but it will take a monster finish including a massive performance against the Tigers this weekend in order to climb any higher on this list. However, cosmetics matter and if he outshines Fournette this weekend, he could get into the running.
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Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers
Sophomore
Baylor’s Corey Coleman, TCU’s Josh Doctson, Memphis’ Paxton Lynch and Michigan State’s Connor Cook have all earned consideration at some point this season but the biggest riser this week is Clemson’s sophomore quarterback Watson, who is coming off his best performance of the season. Watson threw for 383 yards and five scores in a 56-41 win over North Carolina State and is up to 1,936 passing yards and 20 touchdowns on the season. There is no doubt that Watson has been Clemson’s most consistent offensive threat all season. A strong finish combined with the Tigers running the table in the ACC will likely be enough to keep him in the conversation.
