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Sportsbooks Fear Travis Hunter's Heisman Win as Odds Shift

2024-12-12

Travis Hunter, a name that has been making waves in the world of college football. With his remarkable two-way skills, he has captured the attention of bookmakers and fans alike. Let's delve into the story of how this Colorado superstar is on the verge of winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

The Underdog's Journey to Heisman Glory

Early Doubts and Longshots

Back in the summer, despite Travis Hunter's immense popularity, the idea of him winning the Heisman Trophy seemed like a longshot. Quarterbacks had dominated the award in the past 24 years, with only a few cornerbacks or wide receivers managing to claim it. Some bookmakers even questioned if Hunter could handle the demands of playing over 100 snaps per game. As a result, he opened as a +3500 underdog.However, as the Heisman Trust prepares to announce its annual award for individual excellence in college football, the odds have shifted significantly. Sportsbooks now list Hunter around -2000, indicating a near-certainty of him winning. This is bad news for the bookmakers who initially underestimated his chances.

The Betting Public's Favorite

According to ESPN BET, Hunter holds 17.5% of the tickets and 31.5% of the handle to win this season's awards. He trails only Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, who has 45.8% of the bets and 37.7% of the handle. Jeanty is also a Heisman finalist due to his historic rushing season.From the start of the betting market until Week 1 of the season, Hunter took 17% of the bets and 16.2% of the handle at ESPN BET, just behind Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, the preseason favorite. But after Week 11, when Hunter's odds became +125, and then -400 after Week 12, he became the clear favorite.

Injury and Comeback

Hunter's season was not without its challenges. He was injured during Colorado's Week 7 loss to Kansas State, and his odds briefly lengthened to +1100. The next week, he had just two catches for 17 yards, and his odds increased again to +2500. But in Week 9, he had a remarkable 153-yard, two-touchdown performance, bringing his odds back down to +375.These ups and downs in his odds show the impact he has had on the betting market. All those big plus-money bets have created a significant liability for the sportsbooks.

The Impact of Team Success

“As far as Hunter is concerned, he plays both ways and the team was winning,” said DraftKings sportsbooks director Johnny Avello. “If Colorado wasn't a winning team this year, if they were a four- or five-win team, he probably wouldn't have won it. But I think the fact that they did win and he helped them in a lot of those wins… it played out well for him.”Bookmakers also cite the lack of a standout quarterback as a reason for Hunter and Jeanty standing to win this year's award. This shows that Hunter's all-around skills have made him a standout player in a season where quarterbacks have not dominated.In conclusion, Travis Hunter's journey to the Heisman Trophy has been a rollercoaster ride. From being a longshot to a near-certainty, his performance on and off the field has captured the hearts of fans and the attention of bookmakers. It will be interesting to see if he can bring home the award and make history.

The University of North Carolina is on the verge of a significant transformation in its football program. The addition of 72-year-old Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the New England Patriots, is set to take the Tar Heels football program to new heights. But the question remains: how much success will North Carolina football find in its first season under the Belichick regime? The Tar Heels had a 6-6 record this season and a 3-5 record in ACC play. Can Belichick lead the team to more wins in his first year as head coach in Chapel Hill? Let's take a closer look at the 2025 UNC football schedule and the projected number of wins for the Tar Heels.

Unlock the Potential of UNC Football with Bill Belichick

2025 UNC Football Schedule and Projected Wins

TCU will face North Carolina on August 30. This highly anticipated matchup is sure to draw a lot of attention. The Tar Heels then travel to Charlotte to take on their in-state rivals on September 6. Tickets for this game are available for purchase. Richmond will visit North Carolina on September 13, and fans can also get tickets for this game. After that, North Carolina will travel to UCF on September 20. Another crucial game on the schedule is when North Carolina takes on California at an undisclosed time. They will also face NC State at an unknown date. Clemson will come to Chapel Hill on a specific date, and tickets for this game are on sale. Duke will also pay a visit to North Carolina at a particular time. Stanford will be another opponent, and tickets for their game are available. Virginia will battle it out with North Carolina at a designated time. The Tar Heels will also travel to Syracuse and Wake Forest at unspecified dates.

Although odds for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff have not been released yet, some sportsbooks have started taking wagers on how many games Belichick and the Tar Heels will win in 2025. The current over/under varies depending on the sportsbook. FanDuel has UNC at 7.5 wins, while DraftKings set the number at 6.5 wins. FanDuel offers odds of UNC over 7.5 wins (+124) and UNC under 7.5 wins (-158). DraftKings has UNC over 6.5 wins (-170) and UNC under 6.5 wins (+130). These odds give an indication of the expectations for the team's performance next season.

On Thursday, the Dow futures faced a downward trend following the release of the latest batch of U.S. economic data. This data encompassed reports on inflation and jobs. A reading on producer-price inflation came in slightly higher than anticipated, and a weekly report on the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits showed an unexpected increase. As a result, stock futures declined, further adding to their earlier losses. Treasury yields also witnessed a slight decrease, reversing an earlier upward movement.

Where Futures Stood in Recent Trade

S&P 500 Futures

In recent trade, the S&P 500 futures were down 17 points, which is equivalent to 0.3%, and stood at 6,074. This decline indicates a certain level of uncertainty in the market. The movement of these futures reflects the overall sentiment and expectations based on the economic data. It shows that investors are closely monitoring these indicators and adjusting their positions accordingly.

Dow Futures

Dow futures were down 50 points, representing a 0.1% decrease and reaching 44,176. The Dow, being a key indicator of the market, is highly sensitive to economic data. The slight drop in Dow futures suggests that the latest economic reports have had an impact on investor confidence. It also indicates that there may be some concerns regarding the future direction of the economy.

Nasdaq-100 Futures

The Nasdaq-100 futures fell 123 points, which is 0.6%, and settled at 21,675. The Nasdaq-100 is known for its focus on technology and growth stocks. The significant decline in these futures highlights the potential challenges faced by the technology sector in the current economic environment. It may indicate that investors are reevaluating their positions in these stocks and seeking more stable investment opportunities.Overall, the latest economic data has had a notable impact on the futures markets. Investors are carefully analyzing these trends and making decisions based on their assessment of the economic outlook. The movements in Dow futures, S&P 500 futures, and Nasdaq-100 futures provide valuable insights into the market's sentiment and the potential direction of the economy.