Baker Mayfield the early favorite for 2017 Heisman
The early odds have been posted, and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield is the favorite at +550 to win the 2017 Heisman Trophy.
The move was expected as soon as the junior star announced he would be returning for his senior season, despite the fact that 2016 winner Lamar Jackson is back at Louisville for his junior season.
Mayfield threw for 3,965 yards and 40 touchdowns last season, numbers that earned him a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist. Jackson would win the award, but the Sooners pivot finished in third place.
Ohio State's J.T. Barrett is also back for his senior season, and is second on the board at +600 to win the trophy, while Jackson is +700 to repeat as Heisman winner.
Here's how the top of the board looks:
| Player | Position | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma | +550 |
| JT Barrett | QB | Ohio State | +600 |
| Lamar Jackson | QB | Louisville | +700 |
| Sam Darnold | QB | USC | +900 |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | Penn State | +1000 |
| Jake Browning | QB | Washington | +1000 |
| Trace McSorley | QB | Penn State | +1000 |
| Deondre Francois | QB | Florida State | +1200 |
| Josh Rosen | QB | UCLA | +1200 |
| Mason Rudolph | QB | Oklahoma State | +1200 |
| Jalen Hurts | QB | Alabama | +1200 |
Penn State's Saquon Barkley is the only non-quarterback listed among the top-10, as the Nittany Lions running back is currently +1000 to win the trophy. UCLA star Josh Rosen is a +1200 bet to rebound from an injury-plagued season in 2016 and capture the award in his junior campaign.
(Odds courtesy: Bovada)
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