Updated 2020 Heisman Odds: Fields and Lawrence Fall

• Justin Fields (+450) is the new favorite for the Heisman Trophy with Trevor Lawrence (+475) close on his heels
  
• Spencer Rattler (+1000) is stepping into Lincoln Riley’s Heisman QB-producing factory in Oklahoma
• Georgia transfer Jamie Newman (+1400) will put up big numbers in Todd Monken’s Air Raid attack
  

The 2020 Heisman Trophy odds have experienced a bit of a market correction since we last checked in two months ago with a number of starting quarterbacks falling down the board.

The two heavy favorites — Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence — have seen their odds drop with Fields falling from +400 to +450 and Lawrence dropping from +350 to +475.

This is of course all good news for gamblers with better value available up and down the board. Let’s look at the latest odds and break it all down.

JUSTIN FIELDS OR TREVOR LAWRENCE?

With college football cancelling spring workouts and spring games amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, Fields and Lawrence probably gain an edge over most of the field. Both junior quarterbacks return to the comfortable confines of Ryan Day- and Dabo Swinney-led offenses, so they should be able to hit the ground running this August.

The lack of practice time, however, might have an impact on the defensive side of the ball in Ohio State given the school is entering the season with a new defensive coordinator and has to replace defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah, two presumptive top-five picks in this April’s NFL Draft.

2021 1st pick: Justin Fields or Trevor Lawrence? pic.twitter.com/9mJPGPMG7f

— PFF (@PFF) March 26, 2020

This gives the Buckeyes signal-caller the edge in the Heisman race. With his team blowing out the competition throughout the 2019 season — only two of Ohio State’s 13 regular-season wins were within 20 points — it was common for Fields to take a seat on the bench midway through the third quarter.

After accounting for 51 total touchdowns in 14 games last year, there’s no telling what kind of video-game numbers that the 20-year-old dual-threat star can put up with increased playing time.

NOTABLE RISERS AND FALLERS

USC’s Kedon Slovis (+1000 to +2500), Florida’s Kyle Trask (+1600 to +2500), Alabama’s Mac Jones (+1000 to +2500), UNC’s Sam Howell (+1600 to +2500) and LSU’s Myles Brennan (+1600 to +2500) have all seen their Heisman odds tumble in recent months.

Of the five quarterbacks, the soon-to-be 19-year-old Slovis is probably the best value after impressing in his true-freshman season. The young Trojan threw for 3,502 yards, 30 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 11 games in 2019, finishing third in the country in completion percentage (71.9% for a national freshman record) and seventh in efficiency (167.60 efficiency rating).

ICYMI: We take a look at what Todd Monken brings to #UGA

What it means for Jamie Newman, will Georgia actually go air raid, and a full film session https://t.co/Zshqt4IsQ9

— Bulldog Maven on SI (@BulldogsSI) January 18, 2020

The optimism for Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler, who hasn’t budged from +1000, makes perfect sense given the five-star recruit will be stepping into a Lincoln Riley scheme that produced Heisman winners in 2017 (Baker Mayfield) and 2018 (Kyler Murray). Conversely, we’re fading Ian Book at +2000 after the Notre Dame senior rose up from +3300.

Finally, keep an eye on Jamie Newman (+1400), Jake Fromm’s replacement in Georgia. The Wake Forest transfer should put up big numbers working with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who will be bringing his Air Raid attack to Athens.