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2022 Heisman Trophy Long-Shot Picks: Will Robinson Put up the Numbers Necessary?

Brenden Schaeffer

Last Updated: August 7, 2022 11:08 AM EDT • 2 min 32 sec read.

Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns features in our NFL draft bold predictions.
Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Oct. 16, 2021. Tim Warner/Getty Images/AFP

If you’re looking to call your shot in advance of the college football season, futures odds on individual player awards can be a juicy way to find an edge. Here are our Heisman Trophy longshot picks for the 2022 college football season.

If you believe the odds, the 2022 Heisman Trophy race is going to come down to a trio of quarterbacks — C.J Stroud, Bryce Young, and Caleb Williams. Aside from those three, no player has odds shorter than +1000.

But what fun is it to bet only the favorites? For this article, we’re looking to identify players with explosive upside who could be undervalued on the futures market for the Heisman Trophy.

Here are my long shot picks for the 2022 Heisman Trophy Award (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook).

Heisman Trophy Longshot Picks

Heisman Trophy Longshot Predictions

Smith-Njigba (+5000)

Though Smith-Njigba faces an uphill battle to have a season spectacular enough that his greatness won’t simply be attributed to his quarterback in the Heisman voting, this wide receiver might just possess the explosiveness to get it done.

Wide receivers winning the Heisman is not without recent precedent, as Alabama’s Devonta Smith accomplished the feat in 2020. Smith logged a whopping 1,856 yards on 117 receptions for 23 receiving touchdowns in his award-winning senior campaign for the Tide. Though Smith-Njigba’s numbers lagged behind that pace last season — he had 95 catches, 1,606 yards, and nine TDs — he accomplished those stats with first-round NFL picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave soaking up nearly 2,000 of the team’s receiving yards while pulling down 25 receiving TDs.

As a sophomore, Smith-Njigba was the most prolific receiver on a roster that contained two other first-round draft choices. This year, he doesn’t have to share with that duo. His numbers should enter the stratosphere as a result.

Smith-Njigba is a distinctly better value at FanDuel (+5000) compared to a depleted return on your potential investment at DraftKings (+2500) or BetMGM (+3000).

https://twitter.com/johnewing/status/1552304048585420800

Robinson (+4000)

The annual quandary as to whether Texas is “back” will rage once again following a disappointing 5-7 overall record for the Longhorns under Steve Sarkisian in 2021. Though there’s reason to doubt this Texas team from reaching national acclaim in 2022, the probable engine for the offense would be largely responsible if it happens.

Last season, Robinson ran for 1,127 yards as a sophomore while averaging 5.8 yards per tote and finding the endzone 15 times overall. That was a proof-of-concept season for the bruising, yet shifty Robinson, who can clearly handle a boost to his workload. If the Longhorns’ defense turns out this season, Texas could rely heavily upon Robinson to rack up the kind of numbers it could take to earn him a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist.

FanDuel continues to provide the best value for our longshots, as Robinson sees +4000 odds there compared to only +2000 at DraftKings and +1600 at BetMGM. Don’t get caught making a savvy wager at the wrong sportsbook!

Cunningham (+8000)

Cunningham is a rare breed of passing and rushing ability. Historically, when a player elevates to his ceiling in both regards, that tends to result in gaudy numbers worthy of award consideration.

The only QB to rush for more than 1,000 yards in college football last season, Cunningham also went for nearly 3,000 yards through the air. Though he passed for only 19 TDs, running for another 20 put him within striking distance of the total scores brought down by Young and Stroud. If Louisville can win at a rate that puts Cunningham under a national spotlight, he merits consideration at these odds.

Cunningham is a long shot to win the Heisman anywhere you look, but the most favorable odds for the bettor on this wager once again comes from FanDuel (+8000) rather than DraftKings (+6000) or BetMGM (+6600).

Where to Bet on the Heisman Trophy Long Shot Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

Heisman Trophy long shot picks made 8/4/2022 at 2:35 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer
Since graduating from the University of Missouri in 2016, Brenden Schaeffer has covered the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues hockey as a writer for KMOV in St. Louis. He also co-hosts 'The Big Show' on KTGR radio in Columbia, Missouri. The show airs in afternoon drive, weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Brenden has contributed to SBR since 2021, providing insights on NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, and the NBA. You can download his daily baseball podcast, B-Schaeff Daily, on Spotify or Apple podcasts, and you can find Brenden across social media @bschaeffer12.