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CJ Stroud Becomes Heavy Favorite in Heisman Odds; Kenneth Walker Fades

Brady Trettenero

by Brady Trettenero in College Football

Updated Nov 21, 2021 · 2:15 PM PST

CJ Stroud throwing
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud plays against Purdue during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
  • Ohio State QB CJ Stroud threw six TD passes in a blowout win over Michigan State in Week 12
  • Stroud became a heavy -200 favorite to win the Heisman Trophy after the game
  • Read below to see the updated Heisman Trophy odds after Week 12, plus betting analysis

The Heisman Trophy is CJ Stroud’s to lose according to oddsmakers. The Ohio State freshman pivot became a heavy -200 favorite in the Heisman odds after balling out versus Michigan State in Week 12.

Alabama’s Bryce Young is the second favorite in the updated odds, while Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III has faded significantly after getting bottled up by the Buckeyes defense.

The table below shows the updated Heisman Trophy odds after Week 12.

Heisman Trophy Odds

Player Odds
CJ Stroud (QB, Ohio State) -200
Bryce Young (QB, Alabama) +150
Matt Corral (QB, Ole Miss) +2000
Kenneth Walker III (RB, Michigan State) +2500
Kenny Pickett (QB, Pitt) +4000
Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia) +6000
Desmond Ridder (QB, Cincinnati) +7000
Will Anderson Jr (LB, Alabama) +8000
TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State) +9000
Sam Hartman (QB, Wake Forest) +10000
Caleb Williams (QB, Oklahoma) +10000
Brian Robinson JR (RB, Alabama) +10000

Odds as of Nov. 21st at DraftKings.

Stroud Stakes His Claim

CJ Stroud overtook Young as the favorite in the Heisman odds after torching Michigan State in Week 12. Stroud threw for 432 yards and six TDs to lead the Buckeyes to a 56-7 win over the Spartans. The OSU pivot saw his Heisman odds improve from +200 to -200 at DraftKings after the game.

Stroud picked apart the worst secondary in the Big Ten, connecting with his three NFL-calibre receivers Chris Olave, Garett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba a total of 27 times. Each of Ohio State’s “big three” topped 100 receiving yards against the Spartans.  Ohio State has now won nine straight games.

Stroud has been on an absolute tear of late, throwing five TD passes in four different games and hitting the 400-yard passing mark in three of his 10 starts. Against Michigan State, Stroud broke an Ohio State record by completing 17 consecutive passes. His Heisman-worthy performance even earned the praise of Patrick Mahomes.

Stroud is set up nicely to become the first freshman to win the Heisman since Florida State’s Jameis Winston in 2013. The OSU pivot ranks top-five in all major categories, but he hasn’t locked up the trophy just yet. Stroud will face two strong defenses in his next two games against Michigan and Wisconsin (Big Ten title game).

Bryce Young Shatters Alabama Record

Alabama QB Bryce Young has lost his lead in the Heisman Trophy race despite having a historic day against Arkansas in Week 12. Young passed for a school-record 559 yards and five TDs as the Tide beat Arkansas 42-35. Alabama clinched a spot in the SEC Championship game against Georgia with the victory.

Young saw his Heisman odds improve from +180 to +150 at DraftKings after the game, but he lost his lead due to Stroud’s performance. The Alabama pivot had been the favorite for the majority of the season. Young faces Auburn in Week 13 before going up against UGA’s top-ranked defense in Atlanta.

Oddsmakers clearly believe it’s now a two-horse race between Young and Stroud for the Heisman. Keeping in mind Stroud has missed a game this season due to injury, let’s take a look at how the two Heisman favorites matchup with one another.

CJ Stroud vs Bryce Young Comparison

Player Passing Yards Touchdowns Interceptions Completion % Passer Rating
CJ Stroud 3,468 36 5 71.1% 186.7
Bryce Young 3,584 38 3 71.7% 186.2

These two quarterbacks have been producing at an eerily similar rate this season, so this race is far from over. Stroud has been on fire lately, but Young has been super consistent all season. If the Alabama pivot somehow manages to light up Georgia in the SEC Title game, he’s going to have a strong Heisman case against Stroud.

 

Kenneth Walker Fades

Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III saw his Heisman odds fade from +300 to +2500 after getting bottled up by Ohio State in Week 12. Walker III was held to just 25 yards on six carries as he appeared to be bothered by a nagging ankle injury from the previous week against Maryland.

 

This performance was a devastating blow to Walker’s Heisman campaign, as the Wake Forest transfer rushed for his lowest yardage of the season agains the toughest opponent on his schedule. Instead of it being a Heisman moment for Walker, it became a Heisman moment for the quarterback on the opposing team.

 

Walker III might still receive an invite to the ceremony if voters take his injury into consideration. But his lacklustre performance also opens the door for some other longshots. UGA defensive tackle Jordan Davis has been rising in the Heisman odds, and he had an awesome moment in Week 12 as he rushed for a TD against Georgia Tech.

Davis is facing an uphill battle to even get into the Heisman conversation, but his TD and direction of the pep band following the game is sure to win over some voters. Charles Woodson is the only primarily defensive player to win the award, accomplishing the feat while playing defensive back for Michigan in 1997.

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