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NFL betting: Trey Lance's Rookie of the Year odds continue to improve after dazzling preseason debut

sam cooper
College football writer
·3 min read
13

We got our first glimpses at rookie quarterbacks in their NFL uniforms this weekend.

It was only the first preseason game, but first-round picks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Justin Fields all made an impression.

Lance perhaps made the biggest impression with an 80-yard bomb to Trent Sherfield for a 49ers touchdown.

Lance, who went No. 3 overall, went 5-of-14 for 128 yards — a statline that included a few drops. Lance is behind Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart at quarterback in San Francisco, but has still seen his Offensive Rookie of the Year odds steadily increase as the offseason has progressed.

If he keeps throwing bombs like that in the preseason, the calls for Lance to replace Garoppolo will only grow louder. And his Rookie of the Year odds will only increase. Lance opened up at +1600 at BetMGM, but now he’s up to +750. He trails only Lawrence, the No. 1 pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Fields, who went No. 11 to the Chicago Bears.

Lawrence, listed at +325 after opening at +225, also made his preseason debut over the weekend and showed flashes of what made him so special at Clemson. There were some learning moments for sure, but he still turned in a promising effort: 6-of-9 passing for 71 yards.

Over in Chicago, Fields was the second quarterback on the field for the Bears after starter Andy Dalton. Fields struggled during his first few NFL series, but later found a rhythm. He led multiple scoring drives and scored twice — once on the ground and once through the air.

Overall, Fields went 14-of-20 for 142 yards with 33 rushing yards in his NFL debut. Fields’ Rookie of the Year odds currently are listed at +700.

Wilson also made his NFL debut on Saturday night for the New York Jets. The second overall pick out of BYU went 6-of-9 for 63 yards.

Wilson has the fifth-best Rookie of the Year odds at +1000.

Trey Lance is most popular Rookie of the Year bet

Bettors have been quick to put their money behind Lance.

According to BetMGM, Lance has received the most bets (14.9%) and money (20.3%) among all of the Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates.

Two non-quarterbacks are behind Lance among the most popular. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, listed at +1000 at BetMGM, has received 12.6% of the bets and 10.1% of the money. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, listed at +900, has received 12% of the bets and 15.1% of the money.

Lawrence and Wilson are next in line. Lawrence has received 10.6% of the bets and 10.2% of the money. Wilson has received 8.1% of the bets and 7.3% of the money.

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