FrontPageBets takes a look at NFL futures odds a month into the season
For the first time in several weeks, a non-quarterback looks to be a legitimate factor in the Heisman Trophy race. Michigan running back Blake Corum has broken up the signal-caller stranglehold atop the odds boards after he continued his streak of scoring a touchdown in every Wolverine game so far this season.
That wasn’t the only noteworthy development in the Heisman race during Week 5.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud saw his odds to win college football’s top individual award continue to improve. Meanwhile, last year’s winner, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, left the Crimson Tide’s win over Arkansas in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, and his odds dipped as a result. Another dark-horse quarterback from the state of Kansas showed that he needs to be considered, as well.
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FrontPageBets presents a breakdown of how five of the top Heisman contenders fared in Week 5, plus a look at what’s next.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change)
C.J .Stroud, QB, Ohio State (+160)
Stroud and Ohio State cruised to another lopsided victory, beating Rutgers, 49-10. Stroud didn’t put up as gaudy of numbers as one might expect, completing 13 of 22 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Then again, he didn’t have to. The Buckeye defense held Rutgers to 80 yards passing and running back Miyan Williams rushed for five scores. Stroud didn’t attempt a pass in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State will face its first road test of the season this weekend when it travels to Michigan State. Stroud should still have a chance for a big day, as the Spartans rank No. 115 nationally in passing defense.
After struggling a bit in the Trojans’ win at Oregon State, Williams bounced back with a more characteristic performance against Arizona State on Saturday. He completed 27 of 37 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 44 yards and a score. USC scored touchdowns on its final four possessions of the game, not including a late kneel-down, to seal the win.
Williams has accounted for 15 total touchdowns through the team’s first five games. The Trojans could be in for another shootout, which would provide Williams the chance to further improve his numbers, when Washington State comes to town this week.
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (+800)
Young suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder during the second quarter of Alabama’s win over Arkansas on Saturday and did not return. While the injury is not believed to be one that will sideline him for an extended period of time — Nick Saban called him “day to day” — Young could miss another game or two.
That would likely drop him down the national statistical leaderboards and hurt his chances to repeat as the Heisman winner. Young completed seven of 13 passes for 173 yards, a touchdown and an interception before he left the contest. If he can make it back onto the field in time for this week’s game, it could be a big opportunity, as Alabama will play host to a struggling Texas A&M team in prime time on CBS. Saban should be looking to run up the score.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan (+1800)
Corum has soared up Heisman odds boards after each of the past three games. First, he rushed for five touchdowns — on just 12 carries — during Michigan’s win over UConn. Then, he racked up 243 yards and a pair of scores against Maryland.
This week, he turned 29 carries into 133 yards and another touchdown against a typically stout Iowa defense. Corum is now tied for the fifth-favorite to win the Heisman, and it feels like, as long as he remains healthy, he’s here to stay in the conversation. Corum’s 10 rushing touchdowns lead the nation, and he ranks sixth in rushing yards per game.
Plus, Michigan has shown a willingness to ride him, giving him 61 total touches across the past two games. The Wolverines get a matchup with a porous Indiana defense this week.
Last week, we introduced Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels to the Heisman race, and he proceeded to lead the Jayhawks to a fifth straight win. Now, another quarterback from the Sunflower State has emerged as a contender. Martinez and Kansas State ran all over Texas Tech on Saturday.
The Nebraska transfer racked up 171 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to go alongside 116 yards and another score through the air. He has rushed for nine touchdowns, second nationally to Corum, and thrown three on the season. Perhaps just as impressive, the once turnover-prone Martinez has not yet thrown an interception.
Despite a loss to Tulane two weeks ago, Kansas State looks like a contender in the Big 12, and if Martinez can carry the Wildcats to a conference crown, he could have an outside chance of earning an invite to New York.
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Bill Madden: From Aaron Judge to Buck Showalter, handing out our end-of-season awards
American League Most Valuable Player
With all due respect to the great two-way Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge is the AL MVP for a number of reasons. Not only did Judge put together one of the greatest single seasons in baseball history, he carried the Yankee offense, which sputtered through much of the season. And without him, the Yankees certainly would not have run away with the AL East the way they did. Judge plays every day, leads the majors in nine different categories and is superb defensively in both right and center field. And yes we know Ohtani’s 15 victories are third-most in the AL and his 34 homers fourth. But he did it for a team that is 15 games under .500 and 31 games out of first place. Any other year Ohtani would probably be the MVP, but this year Judge was far more valuable to the Yankees.
National League Most Valuable Player
The easy choice is Paul Goldschmidt who’s having a career season, leading the NL in OBP, slugging, OPS and total bases as the driving force in the Cardinals’ taking command of the NL Central. But teammate Nolan Arenado has been almost as productive, and if the Mets are able to win the NL East, Edwin Diaz, who’s had one of the most dominant seasons of any closer in history, has to be in the MVP conversation. I suspect, when pushed, Buck Showalter would say Diaz has been his overall most indispensable player this year; that, without him, the Mets would be hard-pressed to even make the postseason. Honorable Mention for Pete Alonso who’s had a monster career season with nearly 20 more RBIs than his nearest NL counterpart, but Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil have been equally indispensable to the Mets offense.
American League Cy Young
Much as we admire 39-year-old comebacker Justin Verlander (major league-leading 17 wins, 1.80 ERA), his month-long injury in mid-August opened the door for the White Sox numbingly consistent Dylan Cease, whose 2.06 ERA going into October was second in the majors to Verlander and set a major league record with 14 straight starts of allowing one or fewer runs. Cease was the one bright light in an otherwise miserably underachieving White Sox season. Besides, Verlander’s already won two Cys and his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer is secure. How much more does he need?
National League Cy Young
The Dodgers’ Julio Urias (17-7, 2.12 ERA going into October) has been dominant but most everyone agrees the most feared and best starting pitcher in the National League is Marlins’ workhorse ace Sandy Alcantara (14-9, 2.28 ERA and a major league-leading 228 2/3 innings and six complete games with a bad team). In this day and age we especially appreciate durability. Special mention: Braves’ No. 3 starter, homegrown Kyle Wright, the majors’ only 20-game winner.
American League Rookie of the Year
Despite nagging late-season injuries that took him out of the lineup at a most critical time, we have to go with the Mariners’ 21-year-old wunderkind center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who became the first rookie in history to hit 25-plus homers and steal 25-plus bases. Honorable mention: Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who lived up to the advance hype of the overall No. 1 draft pick in 2019 to spearhead Baltimore’s turnaround season, and Steven Kwan, the Guardians’ pint-sized hit man who won an everyday job in their outfield and finished September hitting .302 with 19 stolen bases, 51 RBIs and 219 total bases.
National League Rookie of the Year
As further testament to the best player development system in baseball, Gold Glove-caliber center fielder Michael Harris II, who was slashing .305/.344./531 going into October, is one of eight key homegrown Braves, along with fellow rookie standout, righty starter Spencer Strider. Harris is a budding superstar whose primary competition was Strider (11-5, 2.67 ERA, 202K in 131 2/3 IP) until he went down with an oblique injury in September.
American League Manager of the Year
Despite the remarkable turnaround season the Orioles had under Brandon Hyde, going from 110 losses to 80-plus wins, this may have been the best managing job of all by Hall of Fame-bound Terry Francona. Not too many picked the Guardians to win the AL Central, probably because so many of their players were (and still are) unfamiliar names as the youngest team in baseball. But Francona kept them hovering in second place until Aug. 9 as they quietly matured, before they climbed into first place and never relinquished it, going 12-3 against their prime competitors, the Twins and White Sox, down the stretch.
National League Manager of the Year
Who else but Buck? Showalter changed the entire Mets culture and has kept the Mets in first place (but for one day in April) the whole year, for their first postseason berth since 2016. Honorable mention: The Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol, who won a division title in his first year. But let’s be honest here. If the Mets win the NL East, Buck should be unanimous.
American League Executive of the Year
The rise of the Guardians to AL Central champs is the culmination of President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti’s gradual rebuild that began in 2016. In particular, Antonetti made three major trades, all of which worked out splendidly: Francisco Lindor to the Mets that reaped second baseman Andres Gimenez and shortstop Amed Rosario; righty starter Mike Clevinger to the Padres that brought back frontline starter Cal Quantrill, defense-plus catcher Austin Hedges and first baseman Josh Naylor, and Corey Kluber to the Rangers for All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase.
National League Executive of the Year
When he failed to acquire a much-needed lefty reliever at the trading deadline it was all “what have you done for us lately?” for Mets GM Billy Eppler. Forgotten was his stupendous offseason that produced Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, Chris Bassitt and Adam Ottavino, all of whom have made major contributions to the transformation of a 77-85 Mets team in 2021 to potential NL East champions.
Mitchell Forde is a freelance writer who covers college football for FrontPageBets. Follow him @Mitchell4D
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