Back to the Futures: Optimus Klein Transforms Heisman Odds
by Ricky Dimon - 10/25/2012
It doesn’t take a long time for futures odds to be turned upside down; not when you have quarterbacks like Collin Klein, Eli Manning, and Aaron Rodgers on the scene.
Just a few weeks ago, Geno Smith looked like a lock for college football’s biggest individual award. Now it’s Klein who has a stranglehold on the thing. As for those who play on Sundays, a trio of Super Bowl favorites cannot be happy to see a pair of all-too-familiar intruders join them at the top of the heap. Manning and Rodgers are the two most recent Super Bowl MVPs; both look like they want another hoisting of the Lombardi Trophy.
A look at how recent developments have impacted future wagers (all odds at Sportsbook.ag):
Heisman Trophy
Collin Klein (-150) – One game does not a season make. Definitely not for a team, but for an individual in the Heisman Trophy race? Maybe so. In a 55-14 beat-down of Smith-led West Virginia, Klein completed 19-of-21 passes for 323 yards and three scores and he ran for four touchdowns. Every year the experts talk about the importance of a “Heisman moment.” That was a “Heisman game.”
Geno Smith (+350) – On the other side of the coin is Smith, who plummeted from a -250 favorite to a +350 underdog in one week. Smith’s stats are still insane (216-for-291, 2,414 yards, 26 touchdowns, two interceptions), but the Mountaineers have lost their last two contests by an outrageous combined score of 104-28. It will be hard to overcome such a lopsided head-to-head Saturday against Klein.
Matt Barkley (+350) – Barkley erupted for six passing touchdowns in a 50-6 thrashing of Colorado last Saturday. In four of his seven outings, Barkley has combined for 19 touchdowns and only two picks. But he’ll have to compile those kinds of numbers every time on the field from now until the end of the season if he wants to catch Klein. Meanwhile, former third-favorite Miller suffered apparent head and neck injuries in Ohio State’s overtime win against Purdue. Miller is questionable for the Buckeyes’ upcoming showdown with Penn State.
Super Bowl
Giants (+500) – New York didn’t exactly do it convincingly at home against Washington, but it apparently did enough to become a Super Bowl favorite (tied with Houston and San Francisco). Maybe it’s because the defending champs are looking a lot like last year, with Manning up to his old fourth-quarter tricks and Victor Cruz nearly impossible to defend. The Giants are -1.5 favorites in a big one at Dallas on Sunday.
Texans (+500) – A 43-13 blowout probably says more about Baltimore than it does Houston. That being said, the Texans continue to impress in all phases of the game. They are +175 to win the AFC and make it to New Orleans (a much bigger favorite than the Giants and Niners in a more crowded NFC).
49ers (+500) – San Francisco got back to playing San Francisco football, running the pigskin with Frank Gore and dominating on defense. Last Thursday’s win over Seattle put the Niners alone atop the NFC West (they are a whopping -800 to win it), but they have their sights set on much bigger things.
Packers (+600) – Nobody is making a bigger move here than the Packers, who are actually 5-2 despite being listed at 4-3. They’ve won two straight road games; both against tough opponents and both by double-digits. Rodgers is finally on point. And when Rogers is on point, he’s unstoppable.
Patriots (+600) – The Pats are still in the Top 5 of the NFL’s Super Bowl faves, albeit having been surpassed by New York and matched by Green Bay. That’s what happens when you are pushed to overtime at home by a Mark Sanchez-quarterbacked team. New England looks for a more encouraging performance as a seven-point favorite at St. Louis on Sunday.
Most Recent Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping
- Best Prop Bets Tonight: MLB Division Winner Odds
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
- Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza