Heisman Trophy Odds 2021: Vegas Reveals Favorites, Can Michigan Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson Buck The Trend?
On the heels of the conference championships, we now move on this weekend to the biggest award in college football, the Heisman Trophy. The finalists and odds to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy were revealed on Monday evening and to NCAA fans, there was no real surprise when the names were announced.
Heisman Trophy Finalists
And then there were four. According to ESPN, the 2021 Heisman finalists will feature Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Now, when you look at the final four, three come as no surprise in terms of the position they play. This award always seems to come down to a quarterback, running back, and sometimes a wideout. Very rarely do you see a defensive player on the list. This year we do, and he is more than capable of walking away with the prize.
Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson has been a beast in 2021. Hutchinson has had 14 sacks, 33 solo tackles, and 25 assists to this point, and he is a huge reason No. 2 Michigan is making their first-ever postseason appearance. Michigan’s D is one of the best in the country and it is because they have been able to pressure the opposing quarterback all season.
Between Hutchinson and his counterpart David Ojabo (11 sacks 24 solo tackles), the Wolverines have caused nightmares for offensive coordinators this season.
The last Michigan player to be a Heisman finalist played both offense and defense for the Wolverines. Of course, we are talking about Jabrill Peppers. Peppers finished in fifth place back in 2016 behind the likes of Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson, and Dede Westbrook.
Can Hutch pull off a major upset this Saturday in New York? The odds are against him, that is for sure. Oddsmakers in Vegas have him as a big underdog – but we think he should have a shot at bucking the longtime trend.
Heisman Odds
The favorite to win the 2021 Heisman is Alabama’s Bryce Young.
The sophomore star set an SEC championship game record with 421 yards passing in a blowout win vs. Georgia last weekend. Add to that Young has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns, and just four INT’s, well that is pretty incredible. And oh, by the way, he also led Bama to the top-seed in the College Football Playoff.
Interestingly enough in terms of Vegas favorites, right behind Young is Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s odds are second overall which makes you think maybe, just maybe, Vegas books believe he has a shot to become the first defensive player since 1997 to win the Heisman.
That player just happened to be Michigan’s Charles Woodson. Hey, stranger things have happened!
Behind Hutchinson are Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett and Ohio State QB CJ Stroud. You have to believe that the bottom two have little to no shot at winning this award over Young or Hutchinson, however recent history has been on the side of the quarterback. Since the year 2000, 17 quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy.
The Heisman Trophy presentation will air live on ESPN this Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET.
Here are the current odds to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy.
- Bryce Young -3000
- Aidan Hutchinson +2000
- Kenny Pickett +2500
- CJ Stroud +3000
