Heisman Trophy watch over? USC QB Caleb Williams big odds-on favorite

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Heisman Trophy odds show Caleb Williams as the presumptive winner

The USC Trojans still have one more huge hurdle to climb in order to make the College Football Playoff, but it seems that Caleb Williams has done everything required of him to win the Heisman Trophy. The best college football player in the country wins the award and the Heisman Trophy odds at DraftKings list Williams at -3000 to be the first USC quarterback since Matt Leinart in 2004 to win the prestigious honor.

Caleb Williams stats

As others around the country struggled down the stretch run, Williams seemed to save his best for last. He owns a 34/3 TD/INT ratio and has passed for 3,712 yards with the Pac-12 Championship Game left to go. For good measure, the Oklahoma transfer who followed head coach Lincoln Riley to USC also has 10 rushing touchdowns and 351 yards on the ground.

 

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Only five quarterbacks have more passing touchdowns than Williams and only seven have more rushing touchdowns. USC’s only loss came in a 43-42 thriller against Utah in which Williams had five passing touchdowns and threw for 381 yards.

Other Heisman contenders

There are only six players listed at DraftKings to win:

  • Caleb Williams (USC) -3000
  • Max Duggan (TCU) +3000
  • CJ Stroud (Ohio State) +4000
  • Stetson Bennett IV (Georgia) +10000
  • Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) +10000
  • Bryce Young (Alabama) +20000

Stroud and Young were among the favorites all season long, but Alabama suffered a second loss at the hands of LSU and Young dropped down the board. Stroud has not played well at all in November, including the blowout loss to Michigan, so he has gone from being the odds-on favorite in the -150 range to now being 40/1.

Williams was actually available in the 12/1 range just a few weeks ago, but USC’s College Football Playoff chances have increased and Williams has shined this month by helping the Trojans overcome a suspect defense. He had over 500 total yards in the 48-45 win over UCLA and that seemed to seal the deal.

USC Heisman winners

Assuming Williams wins the award (which looks like a formality at this point), he will join a list that features seven of college football’s best all-time players. The Trojans are currently second with six Heisman Trophy winners because Reggie Bush’s 2005 victory was vacated as a result of an NCAA investigation.

List of USC Heisman Trophy winners

  • Mike Garrett (1965)
  • O.J. Simpson (1968)
  • Charles White (1979)
  • Marcus Allen (1981)
  • Carson Palmer (2002) (QB)
  • Matt Leinart (2004) (QB)
  • Reggie Bush (2005) (vacated)

Williams will be just the third USC QB to win the award. All of the others were running backs.

USC Trojans vs. Utah Utes Pac-12 Championship Game

See the latest college football odds and college football betting splits.

By virtue of tiebreakers, the Utes won a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas on Friday Dec. 2, so the Trojans will have a chance to avenge their only loss. Barring a complete disaster from Williams, this should be the game that locks up the Heisman race.

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