College Football 2010: Top 10 Longshots to Bet on for the Heisman
Laying down a couple dollars on long shot odds is often referred to as a sucker bet by renowned gamblers of the betting world.
But even for the savviest money layer, there is something about placing a small lump of change on astronomical (or even slightly inflated) odds for just the slightest chance to rake in a boat load of cash that is extremely enticing.
Future bets are a place where gamblers are often willing to take a shot in the dark and for college football fans, trying to predict the winner of the Heisman Trophy is one of the hottest propositions of them all.
With several offshore gambling sites like Bodog.com posting odds on possible Heisman Trophy winners, let’s take a look at 10 long shot Heisman Trophy bets that might be worth throwing down a nickel or two.
Andrew Luck, Stanford – 15/1
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The Stanford Cardinal leaned heavily on a Heisman Trophy candidate last season in order to make an unexpected run at the Pac-10 and if they have any chance of continuing that success this season, they will need a similar type performance from Andrew Luck.
Luck led his conference in Pass Efficiency in 2009, completing 162-of-288 passes with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
Without the distinct running game that the Cardinal had last season, Luck should find more opportunities to pass the ball and his numbers could rocket upwards into Heisman Trophy territory.
At 15-to-1, Luck isn’t exactly the longest of shots in the pool, but definitely isn’t a favorite.
Case Keenum, Houston – 15/1
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Case Keenum has been labeled by many as the best quarterback in the country and it might be hard for some to call him a long shot, but Vegas is seeing things slightly different.
At 15-to-1, Keenum definitely lands in the middle of the pack amongst the other names thrown into the Heisman Trophy race, but his enormous throwing numbers should be enough to get the oldest of men excited.
Keenum torched the air for 5,671 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2009, but even if he can mimic those numbers this season, anything short of a BCS bowl for Houston could douse his Heisman hopes.
Jaquizz Rodgers, Oregon State – 20/1
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Jaquizz Rodgers versatility makes him an excellent selection for those looking to place a couple of bucks on a Heisman long shot.
Rodgers may not be the speediest of runners, but he does have a package that includes the ability to make guys miss and power that is somewhat unexpected for his size.
In 2009, “Quizz” rushed for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, and with Oregon State transitioning to a new quarterback this season, he could see even more touches go his way. Because of this, he has a great chance of turning this year into a Heisman type season.
His head coach Mike Riley agrees, placing Rodgers “amongst the best football players in America overall.”
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Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech – 20/1
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Virginia Tech sits amongst the AP’s Top 10 Preseason Poll to kick off the season and the return of dual threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor is one of the biggest reasons for this lofty ranking.
Taylor led the ACC in pass efficiency (149.39) last season, launching the ball for 2,311 yards and 13 touchdowns. As the active leader in the ACC in total offense, Taylor needs to be respected for his running ability as well as his strong arm.
While as a whole the Hokies were a little inconsistent on offense last year, returning eight starters and several key players should assist Taylor with improving in his overall numbers.
The ACC is stacked this season but the Hokies are in a prime position to retake the conference title. If you truly believe that this is possible, Taylor will need to be a Heisman Trophy candidate by the end of the season and this bet could be right up your alley.
Nick Foles, Arizona – 25/1
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In 10 starts last season, Nick Foles put up respectable numbers for a quarterback that didn’t win the starting job until a couple weeks into the season.
Foles dazzled opponents with his powerful arm, collecting 2,486 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only misfiring with nine interceptions.
With a much improved Arizona squad at his disposal, Foles could put up even bigger numbers in 2010 and might be able to grab the attention of the Heisman Trust and their voters.
If Foles spring game is an indication of anything (16-21,238 yards, two touchdowns), putting a few dollars on Foles could be a very profitable gamble.
John Brantley, Florida – 30/1
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Tim Tebow may be gone but all is hardly lost for the Florida Gators.
Junior quarterback John Brantley isn’t exactly a household name just yet, but if Florida hopes to return to the National Championship game they will need him to quickly rise to the forefront.
In seven mop-up appearances last season, Brantley showed excellent poise and the apparent maturity to take over the reins of this offense in 2010.
Brantley’s spring has showed promise as well and don’t be surprised if he puts up better numbers than the recently departed legend in his first season as the starter. Coaches feel they shouldn’t miss a beat with Brantley and this might be enough for some to throw a dollar or two on this long shot Heisman candidate.
Garrett Gilbert, Texas – 30/1
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As the only quarterback on Bodog’s Heisman Trophy list that has experience in a National Championship game, Texas’ Garrett Gilbert is already a step ahead of the pack.
While his performance in the Championship Game was hardly spectacular, his impromptu appearance in the biggest game of the year gave Longhorn fans a little bit to chew on this offseason and the future without Colt McCoy is still very bright.
Gilbert has been rather impressive this spring and coaches believe that “the team trusts him.” That’s huge for Texas and if they hope to return to the title game again this season, Gilbert will be the key.
While Gilbert is certainly a long shot to take home the Heisman in his sophomore season, stranger things have happen and he certainly has the team around him to allow this bet to reach fruition.
LaMichael James, Oregon – 30/1
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Despite being suspended for a game to start off the 2010 season, Oregon’s LaMichael James definitely has a chance to produce a decent amount of Heisman buzz in his second season.
James set Pac-10 freshman rushing records in 2009, amassing 1,546 yards (Ninth in the FBS) and 14 touchdowns.
Considered one of the premier running backs in the nation, James is more than capable of collecting similar, if not better, numbers than last year’s campaign.
Oregon has witness a great deal of turmoil this offseason (including James) but James will need to be the rock that carries this team to glory if the Ducks have a chance to take the Pac-10 crown again.
Heisman type numbers are certainly doable for this powerful running back and at 30-to-1 odds it could be advantageous for you to lay a couple bucks on this budding star.
Andy Dalton, TCU – 45/1
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TCU starts the season ranked Seventh in the AP Rankings and if they have any chance of staying on top of this poll, quarterback Andy Dalton will need to maintain the success that he displayed last season.
Dalton threw for 2,756 yards with 23 touchdowns in 2009 and he is currently the winningest active quarterback in the nation (29).
As a member of a non-BCS conference school, grabbing the attention of Heisman voters is slightly more difficult for Dalton than the other stars on the Heisman odds list. He will have to let his arm do the talking and hope that the rest of his team can back him up and make a run for a National Title.
At 45-to-1, Dalton is a definite long shot but there are worse bets on the board. If TCU can make the enormous (and slightly impossible) leap into a National Championship game, picking Dalton at these ridiculous odds will make you look like a genius at season’s end.
Robert Griffin, Baylor – 60/1
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After suffering a season ending injury in the third week of the season last year, Baylor’s Robert Griffin is hoping to return to his 2008 form where he combined for over 3,000 passing and rushing yards.
All signs are pointing that he should make a full recovery by opening kickoff in September and if Baylor has any intentions of staying out of the cellar in the Big 12 South, they will need to have everything that Griffin can bring to the table.
Griffin is a huge long shot and a lot will have to fall into place for him to even make the trip to New York let alone lift up the Heisman Trophy.
With that said, the payoff of a 60-to-1 bet can be quite glorious and he might be worth dropping just a few dollars on to keep things interesting.
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