2020 Doak Walker Odds Favor Chuba Hubbard Winning Top Running Back

By Ryan Bolta in College Football
Updated: March 18, 2021 at 9:56 am EDTPublished:

- The Doak Walker award is given to the best running back in college football
- OK State RB Chuba Hubbard was a finalist for the award last year after leading the NCAA in both rushing attempts and yards
- Here’s why Hubbard is listed as the favorite and why you should be on him before the odds change
With Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor now proudly a member of the Indianapolis Colts there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for college football running backs. Taylor won the Doak Walker award in both 2018 and 2019. With him out of the picture, there will be a new player holding the trophy come the end of this season.
The early odds favor 2019 finalist Chuba Hubbard of Oklahoma State, who is narrowly ahead of Clemson’s Travis Etienne.
2020 Doak Walker Award Odds
Player | Odds |
---|---|
Chuba Hubbard (OK State) | +400 |
Travis Etienne (Clemson) | +500 |
Najee Harris (Alabama) | +600 |
Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis) | +700 |
Max Borghi (Wash. State) | +800 |
Kylin Hill (Miss. State) | +900 |
CJ Verdell (Oregon) | +1000 |
Javian Hawkins (Louisville) | +1000 |
Journey Brown (Penn State) | +1000 |
Pooka Williams (Kansas) | +1000 |
Zamir White (Georgia) | +1200 |
Trey Sanders (Alabama) | +1500 |
Jaret Patterson (Buffalo) | +1800 |
Odds as of July 14th.
Hubbard is also the top running back in the 2020 Heisman Trophy Odds and for good reason. Here’s the case why you should get your money in on the top choice sooner rather than later.
OK State Will Use Hubbard Early & Often
Last year, Hubbard led college football in both rushing attempts with 328 and rushing yards with 2,094. He was no slouch when it came to punching the ball over the goal line either, finishing third with 21 touchdowns.
With Hubbard auditioning for the Doak Walker award, the Heisman Trophy and, maybe most importantly, NFL scouts, expect him to get the rock a ton in 2020.
Most forced missed tackles in 2019 among returning RBs:
➤ Travis Etienne, Clemson – 91
➤ Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma St – 77 pic.twitter.com/gjOUhbvMQt— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 13, 2020
Hubbard was a finalist for the award last season with Taylor and Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins. With Taylor and Dobbins both moved on to the next level, it’s Hubbard’s turn to take the title as best running back in college football before he joins them in the league.
Hubbard’s Interest in Social Justice a Big Positive
When head coach Mike Gundy was photographed wearing a One America News (OAN) shirt, the relationship between Hubbard and his coach went downhill in a hurry. While the Gundy wasn’t fired, he did have his pay cut by $1 million while also having a year trimmed off his contract. The punishment wasn’t what the players were looking for, however, they wanted “change”.
I will not stand for this.. This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it’s unacceptable. I will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE. https://t.co/psxPn4Khoq
— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 15, 2020
Hubbard was a vocal leader in making sure the OK State family used this incident as a rallying point as opposed to a divisive issue that could fracture the program. Some may have seen what happened as a negative that took away from football, but I think it’s just the opposite. It strengthened the bond the players have and also provides Hubbard with a fantastic opportunity. What better way to continue making positive waves in the world of social justice than by becoming a household name competing for, and potentially winning, major awards.
Voters won’t expressly state that Hubbard’s leadership on social justice swayed their opinion. But these are humans and they will inevitably have their biases when it comes time to cast ballots.
Bet Hubbard Before Odds Move
If the Big 12 decides to play a conference-only schedule like the Big Ten and PAC-12, the numbers may not be as eye-popping for Hubbard this year as they were last but he’ll still find a way to prove he’s the best in college football.
Bet on the Cowboys running back before the odds move. His +400 line is a gift.
PICK: CHUBA HUBBARD (+400)

Sports Writer
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.