It is no secret that quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman Trophy in recent years. Eighteen of them have won the award since 2000. As expected, quarterbacks have dominated the top of Heisman betting boards this season. However, Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum has been jumping up odds boards in recent weeks.
With a big game against Penn State last weekend, Corum’s Heisman odds have snuck inside the top five at many Michigan online sportsbooks. A running back has not won the Heisman since Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015, but with how Corum has played in recent weeks, it is fair to wonder if he may be next.
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Blake Corum Heisman Trophy Odds
Who the betting favorite is has changed a couple of times this season, but the same three players (Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, USC QB Caleb Williams, and Alabama QB Bryce Young) have been at the top of Heisman betting boards all season — until now. After the loss to Tennessee, Young fell out of the top three, making room for Vols QB Hendon Hooker.
But Corum is not far behind. Here’s a table of the top 10 at DraftKings with their corresponding odds at BetMGM Michigan, PointsBet Michigan, and Caesars Michigan (odds current as of Oct. 20):
| Player | DraftKings | BetMGM | FanDuel | Caesars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Stroud, Ohio State | +100 | -110 | +100 | +100 |
| Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | +500 | +600 | +440 | +450 |
| Caleb Williams, USC | +800 | +700 | +900 | +800 |
| Blake Corum. Michigan | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 | +1000 |
| Bryce Young, Alabama | +1800 | +1800 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama | +2200 | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| D.J. Uiagale, Clemson | +2200 | +2500 | +2500 | +2200 |
| Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA | +2500 | +2500 | +3500 | +1600 |
| Adrian Martinez, K-State | +2800 | +3000 | +3000 | +2200 |
| Stetson Bennet IV, Georgia | +3000 | +5000 | +5000 | +4000 |
Stroud has continued to dominate the competition, so it is not shocking that he remains at the top of Heisman betting boards. Losses in Week 7 caused the Heisman odds of Williams and Young to get longer, while the win over Alabama had the opposite effect on Hooker’s odds.
After a fourth consecutive 100+ yard game, this time against a top-10 opponent, Corum’s Heisman odds improved to +1200, which gives him a 7.69% chance of winning.
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Betting Analysis — Corum Can Become a Heisman Frontrunner
During his Heisman campaign in 2015, Henry ran for 881 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first seven games. Corum has run for 901 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first seven games. In those first seven games, Henry had three games in which he rushed for at least 100 yards. He also had a 236-yard performance. Corum is picking up steam with four games in a row of at least 100 yards. He had a 243-yard performance against Maryland on Sept. 24.
The stage is set for Corum. It’s just a matter of what he does from here.
Henry finished the year with six 100-yard games, including three 200-yard performances in his final five regular-season contests and 10 additional touchdowns. It will take a similarly dominant run from Corum for him to overtake Stroud or any of the other powerhouse quarterbacks that currently have shorter Heisman odds.
Can he do it?
It appears that he could get the opportunity. Michigan tends to use the passing game to complement the rushing attack. If he continues to produce and stays healthy, Corum will get the bulk of the carries. But like Stroud, his shot of winning the Heisman will come down to the Ohio State-Michigan game at the end of the regular season.
If he leads the Michigan Wolverines to a win over the Buckeyes, he’ll at least get an invite to New York as a finalist and might even win.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
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