B/R College Football 2024 Betting Locks: Heisman Winner
The process to select a Heisman Trophy winner is woefully flawed, although that will never stop us from betting on it. Of course it won't.
In fact, in a weird way, that only makes us want to explore this market even more. No award in sports is more prestigious; no voting process is more perplexing.
If it sounds like we're complaining, well, we're not. Quite the contrary. We're just putting out the necessary disclaimers before we begin.
Each and every year, Locks of the Week morphs into a CFB futures hub prior to the season. After tackling conference championship odds, win totals and more, our focus is squarely on the Heisman.
Next week, however, we'll break down actual football games for Week 0 and each week after that. This is not a drill; we are oh so close.
Before we begin, however, let's establish a reasonable flow. While only one player will win the Heisman, we'll be talking about a handful of names shortly. We'll pick our favorite to win first, and then we'll move down the odds board. We'll finish with a handful of long shots who are capable of making a run.
In short, we're spreading the love. Betting the Heisman isn't about betting one player; it's about finding value. Let's have a look.
For the latest spreads on futures and games, head to DraftKings.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (+750)
1 of 4
When the offseason began, Dillon Gabriel was not my top selection. As the general vibes surrounding Oregon have increased, however, so has his Heisman stock.
In terms of seasoning, he has plenty of it. In fact, Gabriel already has thrown for at least 25 touchdowns across four seasons in his time spent at UCF and Oklahoma. He's also blossomed into much more of a running threat, something that became evident last year in Norman.
In total, Gabriel accounted for 3,660 yards passing, 42 total touchdowns and only six interceptions. It seems reasonable to believe that in a favorable situation—and Oregon is very much that—he should build upon this even more.
About that situation, there's a lot to like. Dan Lanning's decision to stay at Oregon was huge for his QB. As was the addition of wideout Evan Stewart, who is poised to explode this year after transferring from Texas A&M.
The offense should post massive numbers, and the defense is good enough to keep the Ducks in the playoff discussion throughout the year. And with high-profile games against Ohio State and Michigan, Gabriel will be featured prominently throughout the year.
Quarterback? Check.
Excellent football team? Check.
Familiar and popular football brand? Check.
All the pieces are in place for this one. If we're picking one player—and we're not—this would be the one.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama (+1400)
2 of 4
If we're being completely honest, this one snuck up on us.
When Nick Saban retired and the Alabama roster was thrown into chaos, Jalen Milroe was largely out of the picture. But now, having surveyed the entire situation, Milroe feels like a viable pick to improve wildly and take the conference by storm.
In some ways, he did this last year. After a peculiar start to the season, which included a benching for one game, Milroe closed with 25 touchdowns and three interceptions in his final nine games, leading the Crimson Tide to the playoff. He also rushed for more than 500 yards.
Beyond the numbers, Milroe was—and will be—one of the most dynamic players in the sport.
That won't change under new head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan. The difference this year, however, is one should expect his mechanics and general success in the passing game to take a gigantic leap forward.
The schedule will have plenty of opportunities to showcase this progress. An early game at Wisconsin could be a test, although a home game against Georgia two weeks later is more likely to give us intel.
Alabama also plays at Tennessee, Missouri, at LSU, at Oklahoma and Auburn, which will provide a fabulous showcase down the stretch. My goodness.
Milroe will have every chance to make an impression, and his ability to create is unlike any quarterback across the sport. This alone makes him a viable option. An improved version of him makes a delightful possibility.
Noah Fifita, Arizona (+4000)
3 of 4
Although he didn't play meaningful snaps in 2023 until essentially October, Noah Fifita's imprint on the college football season was robust.
The backup to begin the year for the Wildcats quickly became a factor in a loaded Pac-12, and there is reason to believe that Fifita, who is still just a sophomore, will continue to grow in the months and years ahead.
Despite starting off on the sideline, Fifita accounted for 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last year. He also led Arizona to seven straight wins to close out the season. And in the two games Fifita lost to USC and Washington, the QB accounted for eight touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Although his head coach left after the season, his favorite wideout did not. Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in the sport, is back. Arizona's offensive line also should be one of the better groups in the Big 12, which brings us to perhaps the most fascinating part of this bet.
The new-look Big 12 is poised to be wild. While there are good teams, there aren't an abundance of elite squads. Arizona is squarely in the contender discussion along with Utah and Kansas State.
Every game can be won. A handful can be lost. Along the way, Fifita should be a constant.
We saw the signs last year. Now, it's a matter of what's next.
If the swing games can swing in Arizona's favor, don't be shocked if Fifita finds himself in the mix. At 40/1, it's tough not to like this.
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Other Dark Horses Worth a Look
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Betting chalk can be boring, and there are enough elements for each player mentioned below to explore the possibility. So here are a few additional players worth a glance at long odds.
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State (75/1)
He might be the best offensive player in college football, and he can be yours at 75/1. Yes, a running back winning the Heisman is a challenge. Yes, Oklahoma State doesn't play in abundance of high-profile games. Yes, there are plenty of holes. Gordon, however, is ultra-talented and runs behind a good offensive line. Worth a shot.
Jaydon Blue, Texas (110/1)
Many of you are probably wondering who exactly Jaydon Blue is. Allow me to help. The season-ending injury to starting running back CJ Baxter is an enormous blow for Texas, although it's also an enormous opportunity for Blue. The former 4-star recruit averaged six yards per carry last season, and he's in line for a lot of work. He'll also run behind a superb offensive line, playing for a team with national championship aspirations.
Grayson McCall, NC State (110/1)
Remember him? Not terribly long ago, McCall was a star at Coastal Carolina. Now, thanks to the transfer portal, McCall will lead a sneaky-good roster in the ACC. He'll have to post massive numbers to receive true consideration, but NC State could make things weird in the conference and perhaps elevate his campaign as a result.
*Odds, lines and betting splits refresh periodically and are subject to change. 21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA (permitted parishes only), MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, KS, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
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