Rattler’s Heisman Odds Back to Third as More Sportsbooks Weigh-In; Ehlinger, Daniels in Top 5

• There has been notable movement in the updated 2020 Heisman Trophy odds
• Sooners’ QB Spencer Rattler is back to being a top-three favorite
• Miami’s D’Eriq King has fallen out of the top-five after more sportsbooks updated their odds

The college football season is still in the early goings, but there’s been some big movement in the 2020 Heisman Trophy odds. Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler is back to being a top-three favorite, while Texas’ Sam Ehlinger and UGA’s JT Daniels have cracked the top five.

Miami’s D’Eriq King was tied for the second-best odds when the first set of Heisman futures opened after Week 3. His impressive outing against Louisville had some oddsmakers convinced. But with more sportsbooks weighing in, the Houston transfer has dropped out of the top five.

The odds at DraftKings, shown in the table below, are noticeably pessimistic on King heading into Week 4.

Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds as of Sep. 23, 2020.  

Wide Range for King of Miami 

Sportsbook are split on where new D’Eriq King should fall in the Heisman odds. He saw his odds at FanDuel skyrocket after impressing in Week 3. He joined Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence at +600 after throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Louisville.

Player of the Week, weekend of Sept. 19th – @CanesFootball QB D'Eriq King (Manvel HS) #ItsAllAboutTheU pic.twitter.com/EcjcVaw9Pw

— Earl Campbell Award (@CampbellAward) September 22, 2020

While one sportsbook may be particularly high on King, his average value at +1500 is more accurate to where he lies in this race. Lawrence and Justin Fields are two extremely talented QBs playing on national contenders, while the Hurricanes are coming off an ugly 6-7 season under Manny Diaz.

We’ll get an idea if King is truly a top-tier Heisman candidate when the dual-threat QB takes his game to Death Valley in October. There likely won’t be much discrepancy in his odds once oddsmakers see what he looks like against an elite defense.

Rattler Is Top-Three Favorite

Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler is back to being a top-three favorite in the average Heisman odds after being as long as +1100 at one sportsbook following Week 3. The redshirt freshman has only played one game so far, but he was impressive, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns in one half against Missouri State.

Spencer Rattler in his first CFB start:

14-17
290 YDS
4 TD

It's only the first half 😳 pic.twitter.com/7BERU6MVw0

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 13, 2020

Rattler’s lack of experience is the main concern, but he’s got Oklahoma’s pedigree and Lincoln Riley’s coaching working for him. The Sooners have produced four Heisman winners since 2003 and Riley has produced a finalist in each of his first three seasons coaching the team.

Rattler is an extremely talented five-star prospect who should remain a favorite throughout the season. There’s a significant gap between the two co-favorites and Rattler in the updated odds, but that’s warranted when you look at the experience and success Fields and Lawrence have had.

Rattler will need to impress against quality competition before oddsmakers put him on that level.

Ehlinger, Daniels Crack Top Five 

Longhorns QB Sam Ehlinger and new Georgia QB JT Daniels are both top-five favorites in the updated average Heisman odds. Ehlinger’s bump is warranted, as the senior improved in each of his first three seasons and went off for 426 passing yards and five touchdowns in his first game of 2020.

The jury is still out on whether Ehlinger has the talent to be a Heisman winner, but this will be his final chance to make his case. Ehlinger has the weakest team of the top Heisman favorites, but that could work in his favor if he’s able to lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 championship and potential CFP berth.

Daniels being a top-five contender is a bit puzzling considering he hasn’t even been cleared for contact following a season-ending knee injury in 2019. D’Wan Mathis has been impressing in camp and could start the Bulldogs first game against Arkansas. Daniels’ +2000 price at DraftKings is more reflective of where he lies in the early going, but that could change quickly once he hits the field for the first time in Todd Monken’s new offense.