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Tagovailoa’s departure alters Heisman odds

Field Level Media

January 06, 2020 at 9:27 pm.

The betting public had been gambling that Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would return to school, as his 2020 Heisman odds shortened ahead of Monday’s announcement that he would enter the NFL draft.

His odds at DraftKings Sportsbook had plummeted from +2000 in late December to +600 Monday morning — making him tied for the third betting favorite amid speculation that he would return to school because of a hip injury that ended his junior season.

DraftKings pulled its online Heisman odds at the start of the announcement, reposting about 45 minutes later with a couple of tweaks, including for the man most likely to benefit from Tagovailoa’s departure, Alabama junior-to-be Mac Jones. He went from +1200 to +1000.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields remains the favorite at +300, followed by Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (+400). Both will be juniors in 2020 and eligible for the 2021 draft.

Jones will face competition at Alabama from Taulia Tagovailoa — Tua’s younger brother will be a sophomore and is at +4000 odds — and incoming five-star recruit Bryce Young.

Behind Fields and Lawrence on the DraftKings’ Heisman board are three quarterbacks who barely played in 2019 but could take coveted roles next season.

Oklahoma freshman Spencer Rattler, the top-rated pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class according to the 247Sports composite, is at +600 after being +800 two weeks ago. He played being senior Jalen Hurts, the Heisman runner-up, in 2019.

D’Eriq King is at +900. He redshirted after four games at Houston this season and is expected to land at a top team as an immediately eligible grad transfer.

Bettors have been taking early chances on current LSU sophomore Myles Brennan, who has gone from +1400 to +1000 at DraftKings. He is next in line to take over LSU’s prolific passing attack from Heisman winner Joe Burrow, who has directed the Tigers to next Monday’s national championship game against Clemson.