OSU’s Title Odds Long in 2018, Justice Hill Off the Heisman Radar … For Now

As of the time of this writing we are exactly 103 days away from the first TD of Spencer Sanders’ freshman Heisman season the start of college football in Stillwater. There will be a lot of new faces and a new-look defense, which makes this team’s ceiling probably lower than those the last few years and its floor definitely lower.

Sports book, BetOnline.AG, recently released its early win totals and a few other prop bets. Let’s see where the Cowboys stand and who might be a good value, if you’re into that sort of thing.

First, here’s a look at some of the “top teams” as listed by BetOnline.AG (in alphabetic order).

CFB Win Totals

Alabama 10½
Auburn 8½
Baylor 5½
Clemson 10½
Florida 7½
Florida State 8½
Georgia 10½
Louisville 7½
LSU 6½
Miami 8½
Michigan 8½
Michigan State 7½
Mississippi State 7½
Missouri 6½
North Carolina State 7½
Notre Dame 8½
Ohio State 9½
Oklahoma 10½
Oklahoma State 7½
Penn State 9½
South Carolina 7½
Stanford 9½
TCU 8½
Tennessee 6½
Texas 8½
Texas A&M 7½
UCF 8½
USC 7½
Virginia Tech 7½
Washington 8½
West Virginia 7½
Wisconsin 9½

OSU at 7.5 wins is probably not too far off considering all that the Cowboys lost on offense and a revamping of what turned out to be a sub-par defense last season.

As far as national title chances, the Cowboys come in a 100/1 tied with TCU, Central Florida and Oregon. That’s not great but, again, I don’t know what else you would expect with zero starts at QB and after saying goodbye to some history makers from last season.

National Championship Odds

Alabama +225
Clemson +650
Ohio State 7/1
Georgia 7/1
Michigan 14/1
Penn State 18/1
Wisconsin 20/1
Auburn 25/1
Miami 25/1
Oklahoma 25/1
Washington 25/1
Florida State 28/1
Michigan State 33/1
LSU 33/1
Notre Dame 33/1
Texas 40/1
USC 40/1
Virginia Tech 50/1
West Virginia 50/1
Florida 50/1
Stanford 50/1
Texas A&M 66/1
TCU 100/1
UCF 100/1
Oregon 100/1
Oklahoma State 100/1
Texas Tech 150/1
UCLA 150/1

West Virginia at 50/1 is very interesting — I have them as a dark horse to win the Big 12. LSU at 33/1 is predictable and Texas at 40/1 causes my eyes to roll uncomfortably into the back of my skull.

The betting service also listed their odds for next year’s Heisman trophy winner. Here’s where I think OSU fans have the right to grumble a bit.

Hei5man Odds

Bryce Love (Stanford) 5/1
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) +650
Jake Fromm (Georgia) 10/1
Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) 10/1
Khalil Tate (Arizona) 14/1
Shea Patterson (Michigan) 16/1
Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) 20/1
JK Dobbins (Ohio State) 20/1
Will Grier (West Virginia) 20/1
Trace McSorley (Penn State) 20/1
Jalen Hurts (Alabama) 20/1
Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) 25/1
Cam Akers (Florida State) 25/1
Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma) 25/1
Sam Ehlinger (Texas) 25/1
AJ Dillon (Boston College) 25/1
Kelly Bryant (Clemson) 33/1
Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) 33/1
Justin Herbert (Oregon) 33/1
Deondre Francois (Florida State) 33/1
DAndre Swift (Georgia) 33/1
McKenzie Milton (UCF) 33/1
Drew Lock (Missouri) 33/1
Brandon Wimbush (Notre Dame) 33/1
Nick Fitzgerald (Mississippi State) 33/1
Jake Browning (Washington) 50/1
KJ Costello (Stanford) 50/1
Ed Oliver (Houston) 50/1
Travis Etienne (Clemson) 50/1

You’ll notice that Justice Hill was not included. Travis Etienne at 50/1 is probably okay. The freshman was productive with 766 yards and 13 TDs on over 7 yards per carry (!). But not at the expense of a returning junior who led his conference in rushing and was the best player on the field in several huge games.

I could be talked into the narrative that Hill was the best player in a Bedlam game where a Heisman winner and the next HOFer to play in Pittsburgh a third-round NFL QB split 1,000-plus yards and 11 scores.

The good news is that Hill will have ample opportunity to prove his case for the prestigious award. He’s probably the Cowboys’ best player and with a fresh face taking snaps, the Pokes figure to lean heavily on their RB1.