Paul Finebaum names his 'prohibitive favorite' to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy
When it comes to the early betting odds to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields are the heavy favorites to capture the award.
However, if you were to ask Paul Finebaum about the most prestigious individual award in college football, the SEC Network host believes there’s only one viable option among those two players.
Here’s how Finebaum responded during a recent appearance on SportsCenter when asked to share his thoughts on the two players currently listed as the betting favorites to win the award by Caesars sportsbook next season, Lawerence or Fields.
“You have asked me some tough questions in our experience together, that’s the easiest, it is Trevor Lawrence and I don’t know what Caesars is thinking,” Finebaum answered. “Maybe being out of the betting business for a month, they’ve lost their edge.
“Trevor Lawrence is going to be the odds on favorite in my book and he was the favorite last year and Joe Burrow came out of nowhere. Trevor Lawrence is, I think should be the prohibitive favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.”
That’s an entertaining take as always from Paul but the fact of the matter is only one of them were Heisman Trophy finalists last season and it wasn’t Lawrence. Dismissing the Ohio State quarterback after he had a 41-3 touchdown to interception ratio, with another 10 rushing touchdowns, could prove to be a mistake if Fields manages to match that production next fall.
Remember when it seemed obvious DeShaun Watson was going to win the Heisman his third year? The problem as best I can tell is Clemson QBs get so bored during their regular season games they get sloppy and start playing bad. Lawrence will beat Fields in the playoffs again and go #1 but I’m expecting a dull season from him.
The problem with being the favorite at the beginning of the year is that if you merely live up to those expectations, it isn’t good enough. You have to exceed expectations to win the Heisman. Not just for the whole season but basically every week. The voters seem to get bored with the same guy being the front runner week after week.
Plus those late-season, big games really impress the voters….Ohio State vs. Michigan….but Clemson’s only late “big game” is vs. South Carolina….a rival but not much competition recently. Trevor was really sloppy during the first six(6) games in 2019 & the voters remembered. I’ll take Fields every day.
He may be the favorite, but that doesn’t mean he will win it. Many of the recent Heisman winners came out of nowhere.