CJ Stroud 2021 Heisman Trophy odds: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback taking massive betting action despite not having won starting job yet

The University of Michigan has decided its fall camp quarterback battle, but it's ongoing at rival Ohio State. However, OSU coach Ryan Day said Monday that redshirt freshman CJ Stroud has taken the lead … and it was always going to be an upset if he didn't win it. A lot of bettors at Caesars Sportsbook sure seem to believe that's the case as Stroud was once +4000 to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy but has rocketed up to +1000 because has taken the second-most overall action behind Oklahoma quarterback and favorite Spencer Rattler.

Stroud had been battling redshirt freshman Jack Miller and true freshman Kyle McCord during training camp and Quinn Ewers, the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation via sister site 247Sports, recently reclassified and joined the team for preseason practice for the first time Monday. If Ewers had the entire spring and all of fall camp to compete for the job, he'd probably be the favorite but joining the team this late in the process obviously has him well behind.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Stroud, the No. 42 overall recruit and No. 2 pro-style QB in the Class of 2020, appeared in three games last year when Justin Fields was the starter and didn't attempt a pass but had a 48-yard rushing score in a blowout win over Michigan State. Stroud was tremendous in this year's spring game in completing 16 of 22 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

Day attributed Stroud's lead to "a body of work." He said the reps in the quarterback room would also begin to separate "a little bit" in Stroud's favor: "Every day he's been competing, he's been taking care of the football, he's making good decisions, he's been a leader." The coach also implied Stroud has done a good job in scrimmage scenarios of "moving the ball down the field to score touchdowns."

"I would say right now, we're not gonna name a starter today," Day said Monday. "But I do think there has been a little bit of separation. I think that C.J.'s separated a little bit here over the last couple of weeks. We'll see what this week brings. Certainly not making any decisions right now. But we have seen a little separation, yes."

Day is likely to officially name Stroud the starter by the end of the week to get him more first-team reps, and it's not clear who might be leading for the backup job. Day said it's too early to say whether Ewers will see playing time this season.

Ohio State, No. 4 in the preseason AP Top 25, opens the season Sept. 2 at dangerous Minnesota team in Big Ten action. The Buckeyes are 14-point favorites.

The Sooners' Rattler is the +550 Heisman favorite and leads all players in taking 14 percent of all money wagered on the 2021 Heisman Trophy prop at Caesars and 12 percent of all tickets. Stroud is second in both with 10 percent of all money and seven percent of tickets – the tickets percentage tied with Texas running back Bijan Robinson (+2500) and Georgia QB JT Daniels (+1200). 

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