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 1 here and Week 2 here.
J.J. McCarthy wasn’t even Michigan’s starting quarterback when the season began. Now he’s a bonafide Heisman Trophy bet. That will tend to happen when you complete 88.2 percent of your passes for 473 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions to open the year.
The QB moved from +3500 last week to +2500 after a short day against UConn.
Here’s how the rest of the board looks.
8
Honorable Mentions
It would be foolish to say these players are out of the Heisman race. But each were considered preseason contenders and have seen their stock fall in the last week. They’ll need some big performances to jump back into favor with oddsmakers. Fortunately there’s still plenty of season left.
- Braelon Allen (+15000)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+15000)
- TreVeyon Henderson (+8000)
- Anthony Richardson (+6600)
- Bijan Robinson (+6600)
- Tyler Van Dyke (+5000)
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Drake Maye, Spencer Sanders, Will Rogers, Jahmyr Gibbs, Hendon Hooker, Will Anderson, DJ Uiagalelei (+4000)
Will Anderson, DJ Uiagalelei and Hendon Hooker didn’t see much movement the last week, but Drake Maye and Spencer Sanders are now on the periphery of the Heisman race.
Don’t feel too bad for Anderson, he still collected a nice bonus after his pick-six on Saturday.
Will Anderson on a $20 kitty the defense had for the first turnover of the season: "They were saying 'Will has so much NIL, he doesn't need it.' That's horse crap. I'm getting my $20 out of everybody."
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) September 19, 2022
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Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy (+2500)
Last Week: (+3500)
McCarthy completed 15 of 18 passes for 214 yards against UConn, which isn’t really saying too much, but still shows a good amount of accuracy and precision. He should be able to light up the scoreboard again in Week 4 when No. 4 Michigan hosts Maryland. In fact, McCarthy might not really be tested until mid-October when No. 14 Penn State comes to Ann Arbor.
Up Next: No. 4 Michigan (-17) vs. Maryland
5
Georgia QB Stetson Bennett (+1600)
Last Week: +1800
Honestly, shame on all of us for not having Bennett higher up on the list of favorites to begin the year. The QB for the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs passed for another 284 yards and two touchdowns on the year against South Carolina. A few upcoming cupcake games (Kent State, Auburn, Mizzou, Vanderbilt) should help him continue to pad those stats.
Up Next: No. 1 Georgia (-44.5) vs. Kent State
4
Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (+1600)
Last Week: +2500
Here’s where things stand for Dillon Gabriel: The quarterback of the No. 6 team in the country, who has passed for 759 yards, seven touchdowns and no picks while rushing for another two scores has the fourth-best Heisman odds, but isn’t currently the best quarterback in his own conference.
That would be (checks notes…..checks them again) Kansas’ Jalon Daniels. The Jayhawks’ junior leads the country in QBR (97.5) while Gabriel is back at 78.3. Daniels has passed for 566 yards, seven touchdowns and one pick in three games while rushing for another 237 yards and three scores on 27 carries.
Here’s another stat that makes little sense. Big 12 Offensive Players of the Week: Daniels 1, Gabriel 0.
Anyways, Daniels is +10000 to win the Heisman and will have to continue an absurd pace in Big 12 conference infamous for high-scoring games to catch up to Gabriel and the Sooners.
Up Next: No. 6 Oklahoma (-13.5) vs. Kansas State
3
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+450)
Last Week: +400
And here’s the downside to playing those cupcake games: The good things you do don’t matter as much, and the mistakes you make are magnified. Young passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-7 route over UL-Monroe while rushing for another score, but those two interceptions on his stat sheet stand out.
Young should be able to similarly beat up on his Week 4 opponent.
Up Next: No. 2 Alabama (-40.5) vs. Vanderbilt
2
USC QB Caleb Williams (+300)
Last Week: +300
Give Fresno State credit, they tried to make a tilt against USC interesting. But after cutting the Trojans’ lead to 28-17, Southern California just ran away with the game, scoring 17 unanswered points and keeping a stunningly easy path the playoff alive. Williams passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns with two more TDs rushing.
1
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (+250)
Last Week: +275
He’s been the odds-on favorite since the year began. A five passing touchdown performance against Toledo isn’t changing that. Certainly not after he did all that damage on 22-of-27 passing with 367 yards. It also helps that Ohio State plays its first five games at home.
Up Next: No. 3 Ohio State (-17.5) vs. Wisconsin
