Once 200-1, LSU's Joe Burrow now favored to win Heisman Trophy

For the first time in 60 years, LSU has a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, congratulations are owed to quarterback Joe Burrow for ascending to the top of the odds board for college football's premier individual award. With Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out with an ankle injury that requires surgery, Burrow is the new favorite and currently sits at +175.

Odds to win the Heisman Trophy

Burrow entered the season at 200-1 but has been in single digits since his impressive showing against Texas in Week 2. He has steadily gone down in price and for good reason. I’ve touched on Burrow’s incredible completion percentage throughout the year, and while one would expect him to regress a bit, he shockingly has done the opposite. Burrow now sits at 79.4% completion rate for the year, a number that directly relates to how impressive he has played this season.

Burrow is re-writing history

LSU has averaged more than 50 points per game, and Burrow’s 29 touchdowns have put him on LSU’s all-time records list. Burrow has not just played well relative to all others for the 2019 season. He has been elite relative to all others in the sport’s history. In addition to the 29 touchdowns, Burrow has thrown for 2,484 yards. Through seven games last season, Kyler Murray threw for 1,977 yards and 25 touchdowns. In 2017 Baker Mayfield threw for 2,347 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Burrow has been fortunate to be surrounded with tremendous wide receiver talent and is given time in the pocket to find those receivers. Things should only improve, as wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. is expected to return from injury and will play for the first time since September 21.

Burrow is closing in on Colt McCoy's record

I’ve been a supporter of Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts as the Heisman bet with value throughout the season, but seeing how Burrow has excelled against elite SEC competition, it is clear he has been the best player this year. If Burrow can maintain his completion percentage, it will surpass Colt McCoy’s 2008 record of 76.7% for the highest percentage in college football history.

Burrow has been a pleasure to watch this season. He has passed the eye test, and when comparing his production to recent other Heisman winners, it seems incredible that he is still available at plus odds. Barring injury or a major turn of events, that likely won't last long. In the Heisman betting market, it doesn’t take long for a favorite to go from +175 to -500. Don’t be sitting on the sideline while Burrow puts up one or two more impressive weeks to cement himself as this year’s winner.

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