Heisman Odds After Week 14: Mac Jones Overtakes Kyle Trask as Favorite

• QB Mac Jones powered Alabama to a massive 55-17 win over LSU in Week 14
• Jones has now overtaken Florida’s Kyle Trask as the Heisman Trophy favorite
• See the updated Heisman Trophy odds after Week 14 along with betting analysis below

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones is the sole favorite to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy for the first time this season after going off against LSU in Week 14. The junior QB has surpassed Florida’s Kyle Trask in the odds after leading the Tide to a big 55-17 revenge win over the Tigers.

Jones’ teammate, DeVonta Smith, also saw a major boost in his Heisman odds following another incredible receiving performance. While Smith has entered the top-five, he still remains a +3000 longshot.

Will Smith’s superb season help or hurt Jones’ Heisman chances? Is now the time to wager on Trask?

2020 Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds as of Dec.5 at FanDuel

Mac Attack

Crimson Tide QB Mac Jones is alone atop the Heisman odds for the first time this season after an excellent showing against LSU in Week 14. Jones went 20-of-28 for 385 yards, with four touchdowns in three quarters, which catapulted him past Florida’s Kyle Trask in the odds.

Stop us if you've heard this before: Mac Jones threw a touchdown to Devonta Smith. pic.twitter.com/dPcvSk78w3

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 6, 2020

Jones has now thrown for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in back-to-back weeks against two huge rivals in Auburn and LSU. He’s facing minimal pressure behind Alabama’s excellent offensive line and is completing downfield passes with pinpoint accuracy. Jones doesn’t have as many passing yards as Trask, but he’s averaging more yards per attempt.

Don’t Sleep on Smith

If the Heisman hadn’t become a QB award, Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith would be the clear frontrunner for the trophy after Week 14. The senior proved why he might just be the best player in the country with an incredible performance against LSU that saw him make eight receptions for 231 yards, including a catch-of-the-year candidate.

DEVONTA SMITH IS RIDICULOUS pic.twitter.com/NhCkPJAccB

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 6, 2020

Smith has made an insane 35 catches for 749 yards over the last four games, yet his Heisman odds have only improved to +3000. No player who solely plays the receiver position has won the Heisman since Notre Dame’s Tim Brown in 1987. As unfair as it may be, an elite QB-WR duo in the Heisman conversation is always going to favor the guy slinging the ball.

While Smith may not have a realistic shot at winning, he’s still going to affect the race. Smith should receive a certain percent of the votes and will make voters think twice before selecting Jones over Trask. This is different than 2019 when Joe Burrow had multiple elite receivers helping boost his stats. Smith is the go-to-guy for Bama and has proven he’s MVP of the team ever since Jaylen Waddle went down with injury.

Trask’s Remaining Task

Florida’s Kyle Trask is no longer the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman after a 31-19 win over Tennessee in Week 14. The Gators’ QB dropping from -135 to +110 in the odds has more to do with Alabama’s route of LSU than it does Trask’s individual performance.

Trask was excellent once again in Week 14, throwing for 433 yards and four touchdowns to help Florida clinch the SEC East division. Trask has thrown for 3243 yards and a nation-leading 38 touchdown passes in nine games, which are similar to Burrow’s numbers from last season.

Joe Burrow Kyle Trask
(2019) (2020)

3,198 PASS YDS 𝟑,𝟐𝟒𝟑
33 PASS TD 𝟑𝟖
𝟕𝟖.𝟗% COMP% 71.4%
4 INT 𝟑
𝐲𝐞𝐬 HEISMAN? ???

(first 9 starts) pic.twitter.com/tbvg6oQWeo

— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) December 6, 2020

Trask’s remaining task is beating Alabama in the title game. While many believe the winner of that game wins the Heisman, it may not play out in that fashion. If Najee Harris dominates the Gators on the ground yet Trask outperforms Jones in the air, the Alabama QB won’t be handed the trophy just because he won.

Since the year 2000, 29.4% of the quarterbacks who won the Heisman didn’t lead their teams to conference championships. Exceptions can be made when a player is overly impressive and picks up losses due to lackluster defensive play out of his control.

Heisman Analysis After Week 14

The Heisman race is incredibly tight after Week 14, with Trask and Jones swapping places in the odds for the time being. Don’t be surprised if Trask is back to being the favorite this time next week considering Florida gets their turn against LSU in Week 15.

#GatorsWin pic.twitter.com/Xmb2nsATo1

— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 6, 2020

It’s a two-horse race this late in the season, so don’t waste your money trying to find value elsewhere. Justin Fields won’t play enough games, while Lawrence couldn’t afford the mediocre outing he had against Virginia Tech in Week 14. Popular longshot Zach Wilson is also out of contention after BYU’s upset loss to Coastal Carolina.

Trask connected with nine different receivers on Saturday and doesn’t have a player like DeVonta Smith at his disposal. If the Heisman isn’t going to a receiver, you have the back the QB at plus-money who leads the nation in touchdowns and will get his chance at the top dog in a matter of weeks.