USC QB Caleb Williams among early betting favorites to win 2022 Heisman Trophy
After a brief bit of Heisman Trophy buzz in 2021, Caleb Williams is a full-on betting favorite to claim the award in 2022.
The new USC quarterback has the third-best odds of any player in the country, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. The odds are out, and though reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young has the best odds (+250), Williams (+800) and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud (+400) are right behind him.
Williams grabbed the college football public’s attention midway through the year last fall after helping to lead a 21-point comeback over Texas in the Red River Shootout. The Sooners were done 28-7 when Williams replaced Spencer Rattler. Oklahoma won 55-48, matching the second-largest comeback in program history. Williams finished with 212 yards passing and two scores that day, adding 88 yards on the ground and another rushing score.
He was named to the 247Sports and ESPN True Freshman All-America teams after throwing for 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He also ran for 442 yards and another six scores. He finished the season fourth nationally in total QBR (86.5). Williams committed to transfer to USC last week ahead of National Signing Day, reuniting with Lincoln Riley and helping give the Trojans the No. 1 transfer class in the country.
Vegas is certainly buying the roster overhaul that Riley has led (or just wanting to capitalize on USC excitement).
Two former USC quarterbacks are also higher up on the board. Kedon Slovis, now at Pitt, is +2000 to win, matching Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei, among others, for the fifth-best odds.
New Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward, and USC running back Travis Dye all have the ninth-best odds (+5000) and the second-best among Pac-12 players.
Here are some other notable names on the list:
- Alabama QB Bryce Young (2.5/1)
- Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (4/1)
- USC QB Caleb Williams (8/1)
- Texas RB Bijan Robinson (16/1)
- Texas QB Quinn Ewers (20/1)
- Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson (20/1)
- Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei (20/1)
- Florida QB Anthony Richardson (20/1)
- Pitt QB Kedon Slovis (20/1)
- Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke (20/1)
- Georgia QB JT Daniels (25/1)
- Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (25/1)
- Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. (30/1)
- Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen (30/1)
- Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (40/1)
- Oregon QB Bo Nix (50/1)
- Washington State QB Cameron Ward (50/1)
- USC RB Travis Dye (50/1)
- Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (50/1)
- Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels (66/1)
- Utah QB Cameron Rising (66/1)
- Louisville QB Malik Cunningham (66/1)
- Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn (80/1)