Is There Value on Spencer Rattler as a Longshot to Win the Heisman Trophy Next Season?

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Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners Kyle Rivas/Getty Images/AFP

Spring practices are wrapping up across the college football world, and the picture of the 2022 college football season is coming into place. Some players will transfer in the upcoming weeks as classes end, but we know most about teams’ rosters and coaching staffs.  

When one looks for storylines in 2022, it’s hard to avoid the South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina was not supposed to be competitive last year, but they found a way to make it to a bowl game and win. They upset many teams, and the Gamecocks will try to build on that success with a new quarterback.  

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Spencer Rattler was supposed to take Oklahoma to the next level, but he struggled to remain the team’s starter. After two down years as the team’s starting quarterback, Rattler transferred instead of heading to the NFL. He is now set to be under center for the Gamecocks.  

According to Bovada (visit our Bovada Review), Rattler’s Heisman odds are at +4500, which is 18th overall. Is there value with a longshot bet? Can Rattler turn his career around in South Carolina? 

Why Rattler Struggled at Oklahoma 

Rattler had the world on his shoulders in Norman. The quarterback was Riley’s first high-school recruit to start at quarterback, and he was already seen as a first-round lock in the NFL Draft.  

However, decision-making was a red flag. Rattler turned the ball over too often, and this kept the Sooners from winning key games. He made highlight plays, but it came with too many mistakes.  

In Riley’s first three years as Oklahoma’s head coach, the team made it to the College Football Playoff three straight times. He also coached two Heisman winners and the 2019 runner-up. In two years with Rattler under center, the team failed to make it to the CFP or have a Heisman finalist.  

So, is this fixable? The humbling of losing your job may help Rattler this year. He had his own fans chanting for his backup, so a change of scenery is probably good for everyone. Still, that doesn’t mean that he will win the Heisman Trophy. Does he have a realistic path to New York? Here is South Carolina’s schedule for the 2022 college football season.  

Rattler’s Path to the Heisman Trophy 

The Gamecocks have one of the toughest schedules in college football this year. They play on the road against Clemson, Florida, and Arkansas. In the SEC West, they have to play the Texas A&M Aggies. They also have to play the Georgia Bulldogs, the reigning national champions. That game will be at home, but South Carolina will be heavy underdogs.  

Even if the Gamecocks defy the odds and win the SEC East, they’d almost certainly have to play the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship. That would be a daunting gauntlet for any team. 

The bad news is that South Carolina will struggle to remain relevant in the SEC with this daunting schedule. The good news is that they will have plenty of big games. If they win them, Rattler will be in the Heisman conversation.  

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Most college football players have no path to winning the Heisman Trophy. Rattler’s is scary, but it at least exists. So, is he a good bet? 

Can Rattler Win the Heisman Trophy? 

If Rattler wins the Heisman Trophy, one would reason that Oklahoma was somehow holding him back. That’s a program that has only vaulted quarterbacks since Riley took over, so I find this hard to believe. However, we’re not asking about Rattler as a favorite. We’re looking for underdog picks.  

Rattler is more talented than anyone behind him in value. He has plenty of Heisman moments lined up, and he will be motivated to prove the doubters wrong. At 45-1 odds, I like an underdog wager on Rattler to win the Heisman Trophy. It’s unlikely, but there is still value. 

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College football is months away, but now is the perfect time to find value in Heisman future bets. There just might be value with Spencer Rattler winning the Heisman Trophy