Through 12 weeks of college football, the Heisman Trophy race has been unpredictable, but now it’s clear who’s in the driver’s seat.
Travis Hunter became the heavy favorite at -400 on BetMGM after Colordo’s 49-24 win over Utah in Week 12. It has now won four straight games and is bowl eligible with an 8-2 overall record. The Buffalos are also still in the running for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game and a potential CFP appearance.
Hunter has been a game-changer, excelling as a two-way player with 911 receiving yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. He opened the season at +3500 but has drawn the highest ticket (17.3%) and handle percentages (35.2%) at BetMGM. As long as Colorado wins its final two games against Kansas and Oklahoma State, Hunter is the clear favorite for the award.
Ashton Jeanty is the only other player within striking distance of Hunter at +350. The Boise State running back ranks second in ticket percentage (9.9%) and third in handle (11.3%), making him BetMGM’s second-largest liability.
With Jeanty unlikely to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record over his final two regular-season games, it’s going to be hard for him to surpass Hunter whose uniqueness as a two-way player gives him a leg up. As impressive as Boise State’s running back has been this year, the level of competition that he’s faced while playing for a Group of 5 team also puts him at a disadvantage.
Miami’s Cam Ward and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel were two quarterbacks still in the running over the last two weeks. Unfortunately, they’ve both seen their odds fall out of contention.
Ward dropped significantly after the Hurricane’s upset loss to Georgia Tech in Week 11. He threw for nearly 350 yards and three touchdowns but went from +200 before the game to +850 after. With dominant performances from Hunter and Jeanty in Week 12, Ward now sits at +1500 at BetMGM and would need quite a few things to go his way to get back in the running.
The same can be said for Gabriel after his Ducks were nearly upset by Wisconsin on Saturday. He went into the day with the second-shortest odds at +350, but with one interception and zero touchdowns in a narrow 16-13 win, Gabriel has dropped to +3000.
Oregon has a bye this weekend before hosting Washington in the final week of the regular season. That adds to the disadvantage that Gabriel is already at because he only has one regular-season opportunity remaining to pad his stats.
Best Bet: Ashton Jeanty (+350, BetMGM)
Hunter is the clear front-runner, but at -400, he’s not a great value. Jeanty offers intrigue at +350, especially if Colorado stumbles and he delivers two massive performances to close the season. The odds of this happening are slim, but it’s the only realistic path that also offers a plus-money payout.
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