While the University of Texas has had two Heisman Trophy winners all-time, none of them were a quarterback. One bettor at William Hill Sportsbook, however, seems to think that drought will end in 2021 as a big wager was placed on presumed Longhorns starting signal-caller Casey Thompson. His futures odds got considerably shorter after that wager and the book is now more exposed on Thompson than any player in early Heisman wagering.
Technically, the Texas starting job is a battle between Thompson, a junior, and redshirt freshman Hudson Card under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. However, it's widely assumed it will go to Thompson. He was the No. 2 to long-time starter Sam Ehlinger (a 2021 late-round pick by the Colts) last year, completing 12 of 17 for 225 yards, six scores and no picks. Card was just 1-for-3 for five yards and took a redshirt year.
Thompson also got nearly all the snaps with the first team in the Orange-White spring game. For the Orange, Thompson completed 23 of 42 passes for 242 yards with no TDs and two picks. He completed passes to 10 different receivers and was sacked three times. For the White, Card was 16-for-26 for 191 yards with a TD no picks and five sacks. Thompson switched to Ehlinger's former No. 11 this spring after wearing No. 8 since he got to Austin.
It's not uncommon for fans to bet heavy on their school/player futures when a heralded new coach takes over like Sarkisian is doing – heralded as an offensive coordinator, anyways – this year. Thompson was +10000 to win the 2021 Heisman but is now way down to +2000. A total of 15 percent of all money waged on the Heisman prop is on Thompson. One Nevada bettor put down $3,000 on Thompson at +10000 for a total potential payout of $303,000.
"We get obliterated with Thompson," said Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading for William Hill US. "He's our biggest liability, no one else is even close. I get it, he has a new coach [Steve Sarkisian] and that offense should be lighting up the Big 12. There have been some bombers who have cashed Heisman tickets the past couple years, and they're looking for another nice score."
Teas opens the season on Sept. 4 against Louisiana. The Horns are given an Over/Under of 8.0 wins on the season, with the Under a -140 favorite – an eight-win regular season isn't winning any player the Heisman Trophy these days.
Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler is the +350 Heisman favorite, down from +450. The potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is taking 20 percent of all money wagered on this prop and 17 percent of all tickets sold.
Thompson is second on the money percentage (not Top 5 in tickets sold), while No. 2 in tickets at seven percent are Georgia's JT Daniels (+1000) and Texas running back Bijan Robinson (+2500). UT fans are out in droves because Robinson is fourth in money wagered at six percent.
Texas and Oklahoma play in Dallas on Oct. 9. There's actually an early line already: Sooners -9.5.
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