2019 Early Heisman Odds: Tua Leads Pack (Again)

Had Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa performed his routine heroics in the 2018 SEC championship game, then chances are the ratings for ESPN’s Heisman show last Saturday night would have been that much higher due to at least a touch of suspense.

However, as we know Tua struggled for the first time all season due to an ankle injury he suffered and in an ironic twist of fate Jalen Hurts saved the day. But because of Tagovailoa’s painful performance, the Heisman Trophy thereby defaulted to Oklahoma’s quarterback Kyler Murray and any true debate regarding which candidate was worthier quickly dissipated.

Tua and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins were nothing more than window dressing throughout ESPN’s one-hour coronation of the eventual winner Murray. Yet, it was an opportunity to see all three premier college quarterbacks outside of their football environs, up close and personal, all meticulously groomed and so blessed with athletic ability you could almost hear Amazing Grace being sung by a heavenly choir.

But interestingly enough, only one of the three will be playing college football next season with the Buckeyes’ Haskins slated for the NFL draft while Murray already has 4.6 million reasons to play baseball in the Athletics’ organization. Therefore, it looks like Tua will have a leg up on next season’s Heisman candidates with a stellar season under his belt, yet one that earned only a silver medal in the Heisman voting … a fact which may garner a bit of sympathy from next season’s voters if the race is tight.

The best online sportsbooks, all found in one tidy place, Sportsbook Review, are already hanging odds on the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner and below we will discuss several of our favorites.

 

Top 2019 Heisman Candidates

Tua Tagovailoa +350 (Alabama) – Not a bad price being had on the man who came within four quarters of taking home the hardware this season. Prior to the SEC championship game against Georgia, Tua had an astounding 36 TD strikes to only two interceptions on a completion percentage that was north of 70 percent. Had injury not struck it would have negated Hurts’ storybook ending but chances are that Tagovailoa would have enjoyed another sublime performance leading to a Heisman Trophy on his shelf. The question is: Can Tua actually improve or has he peaked too soon?

Trevor Lawrence +500 (Clemson) - Mike Farrell of Rivals, the preeminent football and basketball college recruiting database, says this about 19-year-old freshman Lawrence: ″He’s the most special quarterback prospect I’ve seen in all my years at Rivals,” and added, “Every time I see him, he reminds me of Peyton Manning, except he’s more athletic with a better arm.” Lawrence has tossed for 24 touchdowns and only four picks for over 2600 yards this season while contributing mightily to the Tigers’ No. 2 ranked team in the nation status, as well as an invitation to the CFP.

Jake Fromm +550 (Georgia) – The Dawgs’ sophomore quarterback Fromm improved upon his heady freshman numbers from last season with 27 passing touchdowns and only five picks for over 2500 yards. The Bulldogs look poised to make another run at the CFP next season and Fromm is a major reason why.

Jonathan Taylor +600 (Wisconsin) – Taylor is the first running back on the list and with very good reason. This season he had 15 rushing and eight receiving TDs and averaged 7.1 yards per carry for 1989 rushing yards. This is the second consecutive season he has come within shouting distance of 2000 yards, but expect him to smash that barrier next season with the Badgers.

Travis Etienne +700 (Clemson) – Etienne will get his close-up in the CFP after chewing up 1,463 yards and 21 touchdowns on average of 8.3 yards per carry. The oddsmakers may be hanging his odds a bit high because he will be sharing the spotlight with one who may ultimately steal it from him in his teammate Lawrence.

So, get on over to Sportsbook Review and see what the best online sportsbooks are dealing on the rest of the 2019 Heisman candidates including D'Andre Swift, Sam Ehlinger, Tate Martell, and Austin Kendall, who tries to become the third straight Oklahoma QB winner.