Heisman Trophy predictions: Odds, picks, and why it is time to bet Stetson Bennett

After 5 lengthy years within the background, Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV calls for your consideration. Are you shopping for the hype?

Getting into this previous weekend, the previous walk-on quarterback was dealing as a 100/1 lengthy shot at most books to win the Heisman Trophy getting into his last 12 months at Georgia. By Monday, these odds had been slashed to 18/1 at BetMGM — fourth-shortest in the complete subject — after his workforce’s rousing 49-3 win over No. 11 Oregon to kick off its title protection.

Bennett was just about flawless for the third-ranked Bulldogs, ending 25 of 31 (80.6 %), a career-high 368 yards, and two passing touchdowns with one other rating on the bottom. He confirmed persistence and mobility in Todd Monken’s offense and was merely no match for the Geese’ protection and first-year coach Dan Lanning, who spent years watching Bennett at Georgia however was powerless to cease him on Saturday.

Bennett has made a behavior of defying expectations throughout his winding six-year collegiate profession. He walked onto the workforce in 2017 earlier than spending a 12 months in junior school and one other two years because the backup quarterback at Georgia. He wrestled the job away from extremely touted switch JT Daniels in 2021 and confirmed flashes of brilliance, rating fourth within the nation in passer ranking (176.7) and main the Bulldogs to their first nationwide title in 41 years.

Stetson Bennett
Stetson Bennett
USA TODAY Sports activities

But each spotlight was met with detractors. He threw for a then-career greatest 340 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Alabama within the SEC title recreation, however his two interceptions had been insurmountable in that blowout loss. He was prolific in two playoff video games, throwing for 537 yards and 5 touchdowns, however Georgia’s stellar protection stole headlines, at the same time as Bennett earned Offensive MVP honors within the championship recreation.

Good luck overlooking him now. Bennett’s Heisman odds had been on the transfer instantly after his profession day, shortening to 25/1 by Sunday earlier than being guess down to twenty-eight/1 by Monday afternoon. And there’s no telling how lengthy that worth will final with Bennett’s Heisman marketing campaign gaining steam.

Positive, Bennett isn’t a prototypical candidate for this award. The 24-year-old passer is barely 6-feet tall with so-so arm power, which is why he entered this 12 months as such a large lengthy shot. That clearly hasn’t bothered him thus far: he ranked third in yards per try (10.0) a 12 months in the past and rifled it all around the yard on Saturday.

He’s additionally acquired historical past on his aspect. Since 2000, 14 of twenty-two Heisman winners had been quarterbacks for groups that completed within the prime 5, which seems like a foregone conclusion for the Bulldogs after Saturday’s efficiency. Georgia performs only one ranked opponent (No. 20 Kentucky) between now and the SEC title recreation — and as we noticed final 12 months, even with a loss, it could probably hold the Bulldogs within the prime 5.

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We’ve seen an analogous story play out earlier than. Joe Burrow was dealing as excessive as 200/1 forward of his last 12 months at LSU, following three years on the bench and a mediocre junior season because the Tigers’ starter. He was nonetheless listed round 20/1 after two stellar weeks to start out his senior season earlier than working away with the award amid the Tigers’ championship run.

It’s simple to see an analogous trajectory for Bennett, who already has a championship beneath his belt and appears to have the complete confidence of this teaching workers on the helm of one in all school soccer’s most loaded offenses.

So, is he definitely worth the hype? Bennett isn’t essentially the most proficient passer within the subject, however he simply may be one of the prolific by season’s finish for one of many nation’s greatest groups. That has Heisman Trophy written throughout it. Should you like Bennett, these are probably one of the best odds you’ll get for the remainder of the season.

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