Ole Miss Rebels

Vegas has five SEC players atop early 2016 Heisman Trophy race

Published Jan. 19, 2016 5:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Las Vegas sportsbook Bovada came out with its first installment of the 2016 Heisman Trophy odds on Tuesday afternoon.

Of the 13 players listed within the top group, five hailed from the SEC. It's the most-represented conference of the bunch.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette currently is tied with Stanford rusher Christian McCaffrey as having the second-best odds at winning the award.

2016 Heisman Trophy odds per Bovada. pic.twitter.com/PgGAeo08iA
— Ted Miller (@TedMillerRK) January 19, 2016

Georgia running back Nick Chubb, Ole Miss signal-caller Chad Kelly, and Alabama pass-catcher Calvin Ridley all are regarded as early 12-to-1 favorites.

Rounding out the SEC contingent includes Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs (16-to-1).

Fournette was the potential odds-on favorite for the award for much of 2015 -- until LSU's three-game losing streak effectively took him out of the running. With LSU primed for a big year in 2016, he figures to be in the mix throughout the '16 slate (injury permitting).

Dually, Kelly and Dobbs appear to be the top-two signal-callers returning in the SEC. Kelly will have an explosive corps of skill players to utilize. UT fans hope Dobbs can finally put it together and compile a consistent -- and perhaps breakthrough -- year for the Volunteers.

Assuming Chubb has fully recovered from injury, he too could find himself in the final five group for the award next December.