Kyler Murray, the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback, is the sports bookmakers’ latest favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday.
He has moved up from his 2nd place last week to No 1 this week.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy, to give it its formal name, is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in College Football in the United States. His performances ‘should best have exhibited the pursuit of excellence with integrity’.
The Trophy is presented annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust before the post-season Bowl games and right now Murray is generally the bookmaker’s favorite.
The odds of a leading international sportsbook on Murray are now at 1/2 as against 7/2 last week, with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in second place at 3/2 after leading at 1/5 last week and Dwayne Haskins, the Ohio State quarterback, third at 60/1 from his 33/1 last week
The three were named as the award finalists on Monday. The trophy will be presented at a ceremony in New York on Saturday, December 8.
Statistically, Murray currently ranks first nationally in passing efficiency rating (205.7) and yards per pass attempt (11.9).
He is tied for first in PPG responsible for amongst P5 players (23.5) and is second in the FBS in total offense per game (380.4) and yards per completion (16.82).
But what might have edged him ahead of his two rivals is the effectiveness he has shown as a runner – he has rushed for 11 TDs and 892 yards (7.3 yards per attempt).
He has also impressed with his big match temperament in the tighter games, a notable example being his match-winning drive on Saturday with his 3 on third-down opportunities capped off by a magnificent touch-down pass to Grant Calcaterra