It’s a bittersweet moment. We’ve reached the final game of the 2021 college football season.''So, what better way to wrap up the season than to look at next season’s futures and to evaluate prospects for fantasy football?
Alabama enters this game as the No. 1 team in the country following its demolition of Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl.
After losing a midseason matchup against Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide rallied and secured their place in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. They then defeated their National Championship game opponent, Georgia, in a one-sided contest.
Georgia enters this game after a dominant win over No. 2 ranked Michigan. The Bulldogs sat atop the rankings for the majority of the season with only one regular-season win within a single touchdown margin.
They slipped up in the SEC Championship game against Alabama but are once again favored in the rematch.
Finding Value with Futures
The 2021 Heisman trophy has been sorted so it’s time to take a look forward. Current odds for the 2022 winner are limited, but we can identify early move opportunities based on the current available odds.
Unfortunately for this matchup, there aren’t many players I’ll be running to the counter to bet on, but there are several longshot options to go along with betting the presumptive favorite.
Winning back-to-back Heisman Trophies is a monumental task, so I’m not jumping at the chance to bet Bryce Young as the presumptive favorite, but he checks the boxes for a strong Heisman bet.
Since 2000, 72% of Heisman trophy winners have been a part of a conference champion, including each of the last five, and 81% of winners have been quarterbacks.
It’s nearly impossible to win multiple Heisman Trophies – it has only been done once – but Young is likely the safest bet of any player in this game to be a finalist, which makes him worth a small wager.
Will Anderson finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting this season, so he’ll have odds posted at most books when the season kicks off. His resume included 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for a loss to lead the nation in both categories.
This award continues to be an offensive award, even if voters are showing a greater willingness to include defenders on their ballots. Because of his low likelihood of winning, he’s likely a stay-away bet for anything longer than +10000.
Arguably the best value for any Alabama player is for a player who won’t be featured in the National Championship game. Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to take over Brian Robinson Jr.’s running back position atop the Crimson Tide depth chart.
The Yellow Jacket import has averaged 5.2 yards per carry for each of his first two seasons. He also proved to be a dynamic athlete with 59 receptions and while returning kickoffs as well. While running backs will always be operating at a disadvantage compared to quarterbacks, Gibbs represents a good longshot bet if you can find odds at +3000 or better.
One final name to consider is wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks. Brooks was a five-star high school prospect who has emerged as an option toward the end of the season.
With both Jameson Williams and John Metchie III likely to leave for the NFL, over 170 receptions will be vacated. If Brooks is overwhelmed with the type of volume DeVonta Smith received in 2020, he could steal the vote from Heisman voters who refuse to give Young a second win. I’ll be holding a ticket at any odds over +5000.
Either Stetson Bennett or J.T. Daniels will be in position to win the Heisman Trophy based on team performance entering SEC Championship week.
Georgia will enter the 2022 season as a strong favorite to win the SEC East, and the starting QB for this offense will have a chance. But it may require a dramatic shift in offensive style.
Bennett averaged 11.0 adjusted yards per attempt for the season, but he attempted 230 fewer passes than Young this season. Whoever wins the job will likely have odds around +2500, but barring any coaching changes, they’re likely stay-away plays for me.
There are several solid running back options for Georgia who could emerge as viable Heisman candidates if the Bulldogs once again rely on a strong running game and defense.