Mayfield leads Barkley, Adams on updated Heisman Trophy odds

It’s Week 11 of the college football season, and that means the stretch run for the Heisman Trophy. On the updated college football futures, it appears that it’s down to a two-man race to win the sport’s most important individual award: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Barkley had been the betting favorite for weeks but is now No. 2 on the board at +175. That’s because the junior, who is all but a lock to be the first running back taken in the 2018 NFL Draft (Barkley won’t be returning to State College), has been slowed of late. Since a 211-yard rushing game at Iowa on September 23, Barkley was held under 76 rushing yards in four of the next five – and his Nittany Lions have lost their past two.

Team success plays a big role in the Heisman. In a Week 10 upset loss at Michigan State, Barkley rushed 14 times for 63 yards (zero yards in first half) and saw his streak of 15 straight games scoring a touchdown by any method end. While Barkley is also a fine returner, he only ranks third in the Big Ten in rushing with 864 yards. Is that Heisman worthy? Wisconsin freshman running back Jonathan Taylor is having a better season.