With most of the 2017 college football season in the books and Heisman ballots going out in just under a month, the list of contenders is whittling down. Barring an incredible late surge, your winner is likely on the following list (I’ve asked around about getting Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate some odds and will update if he finally lands on a list), as are most of the other eventual finalists.
Tracking Week 10’s Heisman Watch leaders: Baker Mayfield is a New York lock
Entering the weekend, one big Vegas book gave eight players better than 100/1 odds of winning it. Let’s track those eight, plus another.
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We updated this throughout the weekend as each contender turned in new numbers.
Ranked by their odds of winning as they entered Week 10, according to the Westgate Las Vegas sportsbook:
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State RB: 2/3
Barkley certainly has the highlights, but entered trailing Love by 42 in scrimmage yards per game and Adams by 1.5 in scrimmage yards per touch. Other than a 36-yard run and a 20-yard catch, victorious Michigan State bottled him up, similarly to Ohio State’s defense the week prior. Very all-or-nothing.
Barkley after this week: Down a bit
2. Bryce Love, Stanford RB: 7/2
After missing the Oregon State game, Love ran for only 69 yards in a loss at Washington State. Even worse (or better?), it came in likely the seventh most-watched game at the time, thanks to the Penn State-Michigan State delay.
Love after this week: Down
3. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State QB: 4/1
After a perfect day against Penn State, Barrett threw four interceptions in a blowout loss at Iowa.
Barrett after this week: Down
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma QB: 8/1
Your Heisman winner of the week had a ludicrous 598 yards passing on 36 attempts and six total touchdowns. Buy his ticket.
Mayfield after this week: Way up. Your new favorite, whether Vegas agrees or not.
5. Josh Adams, Notre Dame RB: 10/1
Limited against Wake Forest, due to injury, and ended up with only 22 yards. But Notre Dame won and gets the game-of-the-week spotlight at Miami next week.
Adams after this week: Down a bit
6. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB: 25/1
Bye week.
7. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State QB: 30/1
Still put up 448 yards and five touchdowns in the loss.
Rudolph after this week: Slightly down
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama QB: 60/1
A 227-total-yard day in a comfortable win over LSU won’t move the needle, but it’s way better than losing!
Hurts after this week: Steady, at least
?? Khalil Tate, Arizona QB ??
Mr. October needs to be listed at some point. The Westgate’s full list had 3-5 Missouri’s QB, after all. A loss in a shootout at USC means he’ll remain a longshot this year, but another 300-total-yard day adds to his legend regardless.
Tate after this week: Still off the short list, but still should be a 2018 favorite
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