Each week this college football season, BetFTW will take a look at the 2022 Heisman Trophy race and break down the contenders. Check back each Monday as the best college football players in the country jockey for position with both oddsmakers and bettors. Preseason odds can be found here and Week 6 here.
Every year, there’s talk about a player having their “Heisman moment”. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker may have had his on Saturday as he threw for 385 yards and completed five touchdown passes to help the Vols lock down their first win over Alabama since 2006. That’s the kind of performance that will get everyone’s attention, and that came through in his Heisman odds jumping from +1400 in Week 6 to +600 in Week 7.
He’s still chasing Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, however.
Let’s get to it. (Odds via BetMGM)
Drake Maye, Spencer Sanders, Adrian Martinez (+3000)
This trio of quarterbacks from UNC, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, respectively, is hanging out at the edge of the top-10 in this week’s odds. Maye led the Tar Heels to a late victory against rival Duke, while Sanders and Martinez have continued to impress in the Big 12.
All three are long (read: impossible) shots to make the College Football Playoffs, so it’s unlikely their odds improve much more.
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (+2500)
UCLA continues to impress this season, and DTR is a huge reason why. The Bruins QB had a bye this week, but UCLA is up to No. 9 in the latest AP Poll. Thompson-Robinson will have a chance to have his own “Heisman Moment” this weekend as they make a trip to face No. 10 Oregon.
His odds dropped from +1600 last week, but it might be a good time to get value on DTR before the big UCLA-Oregon matchup.
Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs (+2500)
Gibbs is moving up the board, but it’s likely that if an Alabama player wins the Heisman again this year, it’ll be the reigning trophy holder in Bryce Young. Against Tennesee, Gibbs had three touchdowns and 103 yards on the ground.
Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei (+2500)
Another QB with a chance to make noise this weekend. Clemson will face No. 14 Syracuse — the only other unbeaten in the ACC — to decide the favorite in the Atlantic. Uiagalelei’s odds dropped a bit this week, but the Tigers are cruising. Can the Orange slow them down?
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+1800)
Young returned to the field after missing a game with a shoulder injury and shone with 455 yards passing and two touchdown passes. His chances at repeating as Heisman winner took a hit with the loss, but if there’s anyone on any team that can make a late push, it’s Young and Alabama. This might be a good time to get good value on Young.
Michigan RB Blake Corum (+1200)
Corum has rushed his way into the top 5 this week with an impressive performance against Penn State. He is the non-QB with the best odds at winning the Heisman and rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6.
USC QB Caleb Williams (+700)
USC may have dropped its first game of the season, but it wasn’t for lack of effort from Caleb Williams. The Trojan slung the ball for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the one-point loss, and while his odds improved this week (from +1000 last week), he slipped from second on the board to third. That’s more due to Hendon Hooker’s big week, but Williams is making a great case for himself.
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (+600)
We’ve already said a lot about Hooker here, but it’s impressive what the transfer QB has been able to do in Knoxville. He did throw his first interception of the season last weekend against Alabama, but he’s got 15 touchdown passes to balance it out.
There’s a lot of football left to play, and Hooker might have a few more opportunities to get highlight-worthy moments with matchups against No. 19 Kentucky and No. 1 Georgia still to come.
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (-110)
Stroud’s still in the top spot, but things tightened up a little bit with Hooker’s big performance. Ohio State was on a bye this weekend, but Stroud will have to face Iowa’s stout defense in Week 8.
