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Heisman Odds After Week 12: Trask Becomes Heavy Favorite, Fields Plummets

Brady Trettenero

by Brady Trettenero in College Football

Updated Mar 3, 2021 · 12:52 PM PST

Justin Fields
Justin Fields and the Buckeyes look to remain perfect vs. a surging Maryland team in Week 11 (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
  • 2020 Heisman favorite Justin Fields threw three interceptions in Week 12 against Indiana
  • Fields’ Heismans odds have fallen to +400, while Florida’s Kye Trask is now heavily favored
  • See the updated Heisman Trophy odds after Week 12 along with betting analysis below

Ohio State QB Justin Fields has seen his 2020 Heisman Trophy odds plummet following an uncharastically poor showing against Indiana in Week 12. Fields has fallen from +250 to +400 after he threw three interceptions in a close win over the Hoosiers.

Florida’s Kyle Trask is now the sole betting favorite for the trophy, while Alabama’s Mac Jones is a distant second.

Is now the time to buy low on Fields, or has he blown his chance at winning the prestigious trophy?

2020 Heisman Trophy Odds

Player Odds
Kyle Trask (QB, Florida) -140
Mac Jones (QB, Alabama) +300
Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State) +400
Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson) +1600
Zach Wilson (QB, BYU) +2000
Breece Hall (RB, Iowa State) +2500
Devonta Smith (WR, Alabama) +5000
D’Eriq King (QB, Miami) +10000
Ian Book (QB, Notre Dame) +10000
Kellen Mond (QB, Texas A&M) +10000
Najee Harris (RB, Alabama) +10000
Spencer Rattler (QB, Oklahoma) +10000

Odds taken Nov. 21 at FanDuel.

Fields’ Odds Plummet

Justin Fields’ Heisman stock has taken a major hit after he turned in the worst performance of his career against Indiana in Week 12. The Ohio State QB threw three interceptions in a close 42-35 victory over the Hoosiers. Fields had thrown just three picks in his entire career heading into Saturday’s game.

Fields is so talented that he was still able to lead his team to victory despite the turnovers. He finished the game 18-of-30 passing for 300 yards and three total touchdowns. The primary reason Fields was favored for the Heisman heading into Week 12 was because he had thrown the same amount of touchdowns as incompletions (11). His completion percentage has now fallen from 86.7% to 79.6%.

This was a rare off day for Fields, but in a shortened season, it has a big impact on the Heisman race. In one of his biggest games of the year, Fields made some very poor decisions and was outplayed by the opposing QB. Ohio State won’t face another good team until the Big 10 championship, which means this performance is going to stick in the minds of Heisman voters.

Trask Becomes Favorite

Florida’s Kyle Trask has negative Heisman odds for the first time this season after turning in another strong effort against Vanderbilt in Week 12. While it wasn’t his best game of the season statically, he was still able to pull away from the three players he was co-favored with last week.

Trask went 26-of-35 passing for 383 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 38-17 victory. The Gators’ QB is the first player in SEC history to throw 30-plus touchdown passes through the first seven games of the season.

Much like 2019 Heisman winner Joe Burrow, Trask wasn’t on many people’s radars early in the season. He’s now cemented himself as the clear Heisman front-runner after Week 12, especially after the blemish from Fields.

Aside from the monstrous numbers, perhaps the biggest thing working for Trask is that he’s thrown for 739 yards and nine TDs over two games without star tight end Kyle Pitts. Trask completed passes to nine different receivers against the Commodores and is proving to be the key cog in this lethal Florida offense.

Mac Jones Overshadowed In ‘Bama Win

Crimson Tide QB Mac Jones continued to make his Heisman case in Week 12 against Kentucky, but he wasn’t the only Tide player getting praise. Standout wide receiver Devonta Smith stole the headlines as he accounted for 144 yards and two touchdowns, setting the SEC all-time record for receiving touchdowns (32).

Alabama star running back Najee Harris also accounted for two touchdowns in the victory and is one of the reasons Jones has only thrown 17 TD passes this season. Alabama often runs the ball with Harris whenever they get inside the 10-yard line.

Jones finished the game against Kentucky 16-for-24 passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He only played under three quarters in the blowout win, as freshman Bryce Young got some reps in garbage-time. Jones’ numbers weren’t great in Week 12, but his Heisman odds stayed put at +300.

Heisman Analysis After Week 12

Justin Fields’ mishap against Indiana is Kyle Trask’s gain when it comes to the Heisman race. The Florida QB should be considered the clear frontrunner after Week 12. While his numbers are outstanding, he’s still not a lock. Trask is on a collision course with Mac Jones in the SEC title game, which could determine the winner.

One thing that Jones has on his resume that Trask doesn’t is a win over Texas A&M. That’s why Trask is the better wager right now. Alabama is going to be favored over Florida and expected to win. If Trask can lead his team to the upset win, he’ll lock up the trophy.

Fields would now be a great value play if this were a normal season, but the Big 10’s reduced schedule means that Fields couldn’t afford this slip up. A better wager would be Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, who has fallen to +1600. Lawrence has missed two games due to COVID and had his Week 12 game postponed, but he could really prove his worth to Clemson if/when he faces Notre Dame in the ACC title game.

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