Jalen Milroe Heisman odds soar after first half vs. Georgia, make him clear favorite

There’s a new leader in the clubhouse for the Heisman Trophy: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. And spending 30 minutes blowing away the Georgia defense in the 1st half on Saturday night vaulted him into the lead.

Milroe now has +225 odds to win the award, according to FanDuel. Those odds put him comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack.

Currently, only two other players — Miami QB Cam Ward (+550) and Colorado DB/WR Travis Hunter (+750) — have a line better than +1000.

Ward entered the week with the best odds, trailed by Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart and then Milroe.

And Milroe certainly earned his shine during the first half against the Bulldogs.

Milroe completed 18-of-22 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown, plus an interception on a deflection, and rushed for more than 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

It was all part of an onslaught that put the Crimson Tide ahead of the Bulldogs, 30-7, at the half.

So intense was the offensive onslaught from Milroe that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Co. were scrambling to adjust.

Alabama marched easily down the field for touchdowns on the Crimson Tide’s first two possessions and as the third approach, Smart and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann were already marshaling their players with adjustments. ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe recounted the hectic scene.

“Well guys its all hands on deck on defense right now. Glenn Schumann, the defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart, the head coach, they have all been up in the defenses face trying to make some quick adjustments,” Rowe said on the broadcast.

She added that the motions being dialed up by Kalen DeBoer and Co. were causing the most problems and breakdowns in coverage and run fits.

“The motion that Kalen DeBoer’s offenses are so well-known for are causing problems. They keep telling the players, ‘When they go in motion, you have got to adjust your eyes.’ That last touchdown drive, the motion was a problem. That’s what they are trying to fix.”

And shortly after Rowe’s report, Alabama tacked on another touchdown to make it three in three drives and take a 21-0 first quarter lead.