Heisman Futures: Quarterbacks Leading the Charge Early
As the 2018-19 season finishes, we can quickly turn our attention to the 2019-20 season and have a look at Heisman Trophy odds. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence got the best of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and for this reason, he is a +300 preferred to win the 2019 Heisman Trophy with Tagovailoa right behind at +350.
BetOnline has Lawrence at +300 followed by Tagovailoa at +350, Georgia QB Jake Fromm at +850, Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor in +900 and Georgia RB D’Andre Swift and Clemson RB Travis Etienne at +950 to round out the top contenders on the oddsboard.
Can Tagovailoa get over the hump in 2019?
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a monster year in his first season as the starter, resulting in him being the runner-up at the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting. As for me, I thought Tagovailoa should have won the award as he set up very impressive numbers and only played fourth quarter all season, excluding the College Football Playoff.
The Hawaii native headed a Crimson Tide crime that was third-best from the nation in 45.6 points per match and contained the sixth-best pass assault with 323.6 passing yards per game. Overall, Tagovailoa threw for 3,966 yards to rank fifth in college football whilst adding 43 touchdown passes, the second-most, against just six interceptions. Look for the junior to have a step forward in what might be his final year until he performs on Sundays, and if he can get another gear, +350 is an absolute steal.
Lawrence has reason
Going into Week 5 of this 2018-19 school soccer season, I said that futures bettors should keep an eye on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence to get a possible Heisman winner but maybe not being the starter for the first four months buried his chances and I was potentially a year off. Lawrence knocked off senior QB Kelly Bryant in his true freshman season and that decision by Dabo Swinney was the right one because the Georgia native carried the Tigers to a national championship.
Clemson averaged 44.3 points per game this year, but that rose to 47.44 ppg in the nine games which Lawrence had been the starting QB, excluding playoffs. On the year, he pitched 3,280 yards (ranked 21st) with 30 TDs (10th) and just four interceptions and, once more, he did not become the starter until Week 5. What would his numbers have been had he been at the helm all season? Coming off an impressive national championship match and with another year to mature and develop, Lawrence is definitely worthy enough to be the early favorite for the Heisman.
