The Heisman may be the most well-known of the awards handed out, but the Heisman is not the only college football award that sportsbooks carry odds for. Bettors can also find odds for the Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver), top running back (Doak Walker), and head coach (Bear Bryant).
Players and coaches have been making their case all year. With the season winding down, a few candidates are starting to stand out from the rest.
Let's review the odds available for each of these 2023 college football awards at some of the top sports betting sites in the U.S.
College football award odds: Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers headline Fred Biletnikoff Award betting board
You can find odds for the Fred Biletnikoff Award at Bet365 and FanDuel. Here is a list of players at or near the top of the betting board of both sportsbooks (odds for additional players are available at all both sports betting apps):
- Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State -200 (Bet365)
- Malik Nabers, LSU +300 (Bet365)
- Rome Odunze, Washington +3000 (FanDuel)
- Troy Franklin, Oregon +3000 (FanDuel)
- Luther Burden, Missouri +4000 (FanDuel)
- Xavier Legette, South Carolina +5000 (Bet365)
- Keon Coleman, Florida State +5000 (Bet365)
- Tahj Washington, USC +10000 (FanDuel)
- Tory Horton, +6000 (Bet365)
- Roman Wilson, +6000 (Bet365)
The odds vary wildly for some players from one sportsbook to the next. We highly recommend you line shop to ensure you wager on the most profitable odds. Here are a few trends from the last 20 seasons that bettors should be aware of:
While any player that catches passes (i.e., running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, etc.) is eligible, wide receivers have won every Biletnikoff Award since 1994.
- Winners had between 67 and 134 receptions; four ranked first in receptions and 10 ranked in the top five.
- Seven winners led the NCAA in yards; 15 ranked inside the top five.
- Seven led the country in touchdowns; 18 ranked inside the top five.
- DeVonta Smith (2020) and Michael Crabtree are the only two to lead the nation in all three statistical categories; Smith also won the Heisman.
- Troy Edwards (1998) and Randy Moss (1997) are the only winners that were not from a Power 5 school.
Odds to win Doak Walker Award: Notre Dame's Audric Estime the betting favorite
The Doak Walker Award goes to the player deemed the top running back in college football and must be someone who predominantly plays running back. DraftKings had odds on who will win it this season, but does not currently have odds posted.
These odds were current as of Oct. 27:
- Audric Estime, Notre Dame +500
- Jonathon Brooks, Texas +750
- Bucky Irving, Oregon +800
- Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State +900
- Blake Corum, Michigan +1000
- Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss +1200
- Trey Benson, Florida State +1800
- Jawhar Jordan, Louisville +1800
- Braelon Allen, Wisconsin +2000
- Ashton Jeanty, Boise State +3500
Like with the Biletnikoff, there are trends bettors should know before placing a bet:
- Twelve winners since 1994 led the nation in rushing; 18 ranked inside the top five.
- Eight since 2022 were on teams ranked inside the top 10 in the AP Poll; 13 were on teams ranked inside the top 25.
- Every winner since 2003 averaged over five yards per carry; 10 averaged over six; four averaged over seven.
- Nine winners recorded 20-plus rushing touchdowns; four led the nation.
- Only one winner in the award's history did not play for a Power 5 school (Luke Staley, BYU, 2001).
More CFB Week 12 betting action: Colorado vs. Washington State | Georgia vs. Tennessee | SMU vs. Memphis | North Carolina vs. Clemson | Heisman Trophy odds | National Championship odds
Bear Bryant Award odds: Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer favored to win
According to the award's website, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award "recognizes the masters of coaching and allows them to take their deserved place in history beside other legends like Bear Bryant.
DraftKings has odds on who will win it this season. Here is a partial list of the coaches listed and their odds (as of Oct. 27):
- Kalen DeBoer, Washington +300
- Mike Norvell, Florida State +300
- Dan Lanning, Oregon +600
- Steve Sarkisian, Texas +1100
- Ryan Day, Ohio State +1100
- Jeff Brohm, Louisville +1200
- Curt Cignetti, James Madison +1200
- Kirby Smart, Georgia +1500
- Jedd Fisch, Arizona +1800
- Nick Saban, Alabama +2000
Bettors can narrow down the field by reviewing the following historical trends from the last 20 seasons (2003-22):
- Seven led their team to the national championship.
- Nineteen of the last 20 winners led their team to a top-seven finish; the one outlier was Bill O'Brien, who took over for Joe Paterno at Penn State in 2012.
- Four winners were in their first season as head coach; three of those four had teams that were not ranked the year before, and two had losing records the year before.
- Eleven winners had teams that were not ranked the year before; two led their teams to national championships while the other nine went from unranked to inside the top seven.
- Four coached teams not a part of one of the Power 5 conferences.
Bets to consider
Fred Biletnikoff Award
- Pick: Malik Nabers
- Fade: Marvin Harrison Jr. (no value)
Nabers is having an exceptional season. His statistics are comparable to Harrison Jr.'s, if not better. The only problem he has to overcome is the perception that comes with playing for a 3-loss team, while Harrison plays for an undefeated Ohio State team that would qualify for the playoff if they started this week.
Bear Bryant Award
- Pick: Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Mike Norvell (FSU), Dan Lanning (Oregon)
- Fade: Kirby Smart (Georgia), Ryan Day (Ohio State)
- Darkhorse: Nick Saban (Alabama)
If Washington and Oregon end up playing in the Pac-12 title game, the head coach of the winner will probably become the odds-on favorite to win the award. DeBoer will undoubtedly have an excellent chance if the Huskies are still undefeated.
But he'll have stiff competition from Norvell if FSU remains undefeated and wins the ACC (as expected).
Smart and Day are in the conversation only because their teams are ranked No. 1 and 2. One loss will be all it takes to knock them out of the conversation.
With how Alabama has rebounded after a dreadful start (by their standard), Nick Saban would be a worthy candidate if he can lead the Tide to a win over Georgia in the SEC title game.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.