2008 Heisman Odds

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The college football season is still seven weeks-plus away, but the race for the 2008 Heisman Trophy has already begun. Let's take a quick look at some of the more serious contenders and their wagering prospects for the most over-hyped prize in college sports.

USC QB John David Booty and West Virginia RB Steve Slaton are the early favorites in Heisman Trophy betting. Booty (+375) is a senior coming off a fine first season (29/9 TD/INT ratio in '06) as a starter, and guiding the favorite team to win the national championship is a clear advantage. Quarterbacks for national title contenders, of course, have a powerful built-in bias that's spelled Heisman success for six of the award's last seven winners (Weinke, Crouch, Palmer, White, Leinart, Smith). Oh, yeah, and USC has produced three of the last five Heisman winners.

Slaton (also +375) placed fourth in the Heisman balloting after putting up 2,100 total yards and 18 TDs as a sophomore last season. And he plays for one of that handful of teams that has a chance to go undefeated. But there is the fear that Slaton will end up splitting votes with his teammate, QB Pat White (+1100), who will again put up some gaudy numbers of his own.

Dangerous Darren McFadden (+450) finished second in the voting last year after rumbling for 1,600 yards as a sophomore for Arkansas. And playing in the SEC, regarded by most “experts” as the toughest conference in college football, gives McFadden valuable street cred. But, conversely, playing against some of the best defenses in the country on a regular basis may keep his numbers down, relative to what some other Heisman contenders might post.

Rutgers' RB Ray Rice (+625) will have a couple of intangibles working for him. First, the Scarlet Knights will be on television a lot this season, especially out East. And Rutgers remains a great underdog/resurgence story. His success on the field will lead to success for Rutgers on the scoreboard. Also, the Knights' success in the win/loss columns will prove beneficial to Rice's chances of winning the Heisman. If Rutgers struggles, though, Rice has no chance. He won't win it for an 8-4 team.

For a little historical perspective, Heisman futures bettors should consider a couple of statistical facts. First, of the 72 Heismans handed out, 56 have gone to seniors and 16 to juniors. No sophomore or frosh has ever won the award. Also, half/tail/wing backs have won 40 of the Heismans; quarterbacks have won 24.

QB Colt Brennan (+625) will probably put up some crazy numbers again this year playing for Hawaii. But doing his gunslinging way, way out West, out of view of the vast majority of Heisman voters – and against less than top-notch competition – will hurt his chances. Still, Ty Detmer won the award back in 1990 throwing it around the WAC for BYU.

Other QBs who are expected to get Heisman consideration this season include Louisville senior Brian Brohm (+500), who might be the best NFL prospect at that position; Chad Henne (+1100), a senior at the biggest of football schools, Michigan; Anthony Morelli (+3000), who plays both out East for Penn State and in the Midwest as part of the Big 10; Colt McCoy (+1400), the Texas gunslinger coming off a solid freshman season; Tim Tebow (+950), the pass/run threat who takes over for the defending national champions; and Chase Daniel (+1600), who has a chance to lead long-suffering Missouri to the Big 12 title game.

With NCAA football just a couple months away, the BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!

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