Ricky Dimon
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The LSU Tigers did not exactly set the world on fire for their encore following a huge road win over Alabama. Their defense continued to underwhelm, but the Heisman Trophy bid of quarterback Joe Burrow only got stronger during a 58-37 win over Ole Miss this past weekend. Burrow completed 32 of 42 passes for 489 yards and five touchdowns. The senior also got picked off twice as the Rebels tried to mount a comeback, but it hardly mattered because a quick 28-0 lead for LSU was far too big for the home team to overcome.
Burrow has completed an incredible 78.6 percent of his attempts for 2,894 yards. He has thrown 38 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. He has also rushed for 215 yards and three TDs. The head-to-head victory over ‘Bama and now Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury have made Burrow an even bigger Heisman favorite than he was at the beginning of this month (currently -2000).
Justin Fields and Ohio State
Based on last week’s College Football Playoff rankings, top-ranked LSU would face No. 4 Georgia in the Fiesta Bowl while the Peach Bowl would pit No. 2 Ohio State against No. 3 Clemson. It is the latter two teams (Ohio State and Clemson, that is) who are favored to win the National Championship. Look no further than the schedule to find out why. The Buckeyes have two of their toughest games to conclude the regular season, but Penn State is at home this week (check out our college football predictions) and Michigan has been unspectacular with losses to Penn State and Wisconsin. Clemson is almost certain to blow out South Carolina and whoever wins the ACC Coastal Division. LSU will surely coast past Arkansas and Texas A&M (both at home) but then has to meet Georgia in the SEC Championship. Even a one-loss LSU squad would still have a chance of getting into the playoff, but losing to the Bulldogs would put head coach Ed Orgeron’s squad on thin ice and even in a best-case scenario it would probably have to battle either Ohio State or Clemson in the semis instead of the final.
Fields has the Buckeyes at 10-0 and they have won every game by at least 24 points. They beat then-No. 13 Wisconsin by 31. The sophomore is sporting a ridiculous 31-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has thrown for 2,164 yards to go along with 377 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. It is a testament to Burrow’s incredible year that Fields is only +1000 to win the Heisman even with those numbers.
Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma
Although they have a loss, do not discount the Oklahoma Sooners and QB Jalen Hurts. Oklahoma remained alive for a CFB berth by playing the role of the Patriots to Baylor’s Falcons, erasing a 28-3 deficit to triumph 34-31 last Saturday. With a Georgia loss to LSU in the SEC Championship, the Sooners would be right back in the thick of things for the No. 4 seed in the playoff. Thus they are a particularly intriguing play at +1600 to win it all right now. Hurts (3,039 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions, 983 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns) is a +900 third choice to take home the Heisman.
