2021 Heisman Trophy odds, top picks, predictions: College football expert fading D.J. Uiagalelei in best bets

SportsLine's Emory Hunt has locked in his 2021 Heisman Trophy picks

By CBS Sports Staff

Aug 24, 2021 at 1:34 pm ET • 2 min read

Quarterbacks are getting the best 2021 Heisman Trophy odds, with Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler heading the list at 11-2 odds, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Also garnering the most attention are Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei (7-1), Bryce Young (9-1) of Alabama and J.T. Daniels (12-1) of Georgia. Rattler started for the Sooners in 2020, throwing for more than 3,000 yards with a 67.5 completion percentage. He also tossed 28 touchdowns, while throwing just seven interceptions. Other top 2021 Heisman Trophy contenders include Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (14-1), North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (16-1) and D'Eriq King (20-1) of Miami.

Non-quarterbacks with the best odds include Texas running back Bijan Robinson (25-1), Iowa State running back Breece Hall (40-1) and Brian Robinson Jr. (50-1) of Alabama. Robinson led the Longhorns in rushing last season with 703 yards on 86 carries (8.2 average) and four touchdowns. He also made 15 catches for 196 yards (13.1 average) and two scores. Before making any 2021 Heisman Trophy picks, be sure to see the college football predictions from SportsLine's Emory Hunt.

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player's perspective.

Hunt went 178-149 on his college football picks over the past two seasons, returning $1,477 to $100 players. Anybody who has been following him is way up.

Now, Hunt has set its sights on finding value in the 2021 Heisman Trophy odds. You can see who to back over at SportsLine.

Top 2021 Heisman Trophy predictions

One surprise: Hunt is fading on Clemson's Uiagalelei (7-1). Hunt knows the Tigers will get their wins, but Hunt says history indicates Uiagalelei won't have the numbers to bring home college football's top individual award. A case in point is last year when Trevor Lawrence put up good numbers, but failed to wow the voters. Lawrence finished with 3,153 yards passing, completing 69.2 percent of his passes, and threw for 24 touchdowns against five interceptions.

He ended up finishing a distant second to Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, a wide receiver for Alabama. Hunt actually thinks a couple of Uiagalelei's teammates have just as good or even a better chance to earn the Heisman.

"If anything, RB Lyn-J Dixon or WR Justyn Ross has more of, if not equal, opportunity to win the trophy as does Uiagalelei, based off what we've seen from the Tigers as of late," Hunt told SportsLine.

How to make 2021 Heisman Trophy picks

Hunt has locked in his top Heisman pick, and he's also found a massive triple-digit long shot who, "has the potential to wow and dazzle every weekend." Be sure to see his Heisman Trophy picks and full breakdown at SportsLine.

So what other 2021 Heisman Trophy future bets can you make with confidence? And which massive long shot should you back? Visit SportsLine now to see the top 2021 Heisman Trophy bets, all from the college football expert who has crushed his picks, and find out.