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 5 here.
Ohio State’s C. J. Stroud finds his spot atop the Heisman odds leaderboard more secure after Week 5. Stroud jumped from +150 last week to -150 this week with USC’s Caleb Williams the closest at +1000. Bryce Young (Alabama) is still in that third spot, but Tennessee QB Herndon Hooker has pulled even with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at +1400 odds this week.
The biggest surprise is the appearance of Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the No. 5 spot. UCLA’s quarterback accounted for five touchdowns on Saturday in a win over No. 11 Utah, helping him jump from off the board in Week 5 to +1600 in Week 6.
Let’s get to it. Odds via BetMGM.
Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV (+3000)
The Georgia Bulldogs got an emphatic 42-10 win over a struggling Auburn team in Week 5, but they did it without Stetson Bennett throwing a single touchdown. Bennett did rush for one touchdown and threw for 208 yards as the Bulldogs found all their scoring on the ground against the Tigers.
Bennett dropped from +2000 odds to +3000 from Week 5, however, and clings to a top 10 spot in the Heisman Trophy odds.
Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs (+3000)
Like Bennett, Gibbs dropped in the standings this week. The Crimson Tide eked out a win against an unranked Texas A&M, and Gibbs went without a touchdown despite picking up 165 yards rushing. Backup QB Jalen Milroe tossed three touchdown passes in the victory, but it’s still unclear exactly what the Alabama offense will look like going forward with questions remaining around Bryce Young’s injury.
North Carolina QB Drake Maye (+2500)
Despite tossing two interceptions against Miami — he only had one coming into the game — freshman phenomenon Drake Maye improved in this week’s Heisman odds. He led Carolina to a road win in Coral Gables, and now 21 touchdown passes to just three interceptions.
The Tar Heels are in control of the Coastal Division right now, and Maye’s ability to put up points is a huge reason why.
Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez (+2500)
The Wildcats squeaked out a 1-point win against Iowa State, and Martinez continued his impressive season. His odds stumbled a little this week, however. Martinez has odd stats for a Heisman candidate as a quarterback with just four passing touchdowns and nine rushing, but he’s been in the top-10 in odds for two weeks now.
Michigan RB Blake Corum (+2000)
Corum is the non-QB with the highest odds this week, coming in at +2000. He rushed for 124 yards with a touchdown in Michigan’s win over Indiana, bringing his touchdown total to 11 this season. It is looking more and more like the season finale between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes will decide which Big Ten squad finds a spot in the playoffs, and Corum will be a huge piece.
Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei (+2000)
Uiagalelei was one of the week’s big climbers, improving from +2500 odds to +2000 after a dismantling of the hapless Boston College Eagles. We are now seeing the QB that a lot of fans expected last season as he’s shown off his impressive arm and ability to make plays with his legs.
The Tigers are in control of the ACC Coastal with wins over Wake and NC State, but Uiagalelei has a chance to improve his odds further with a trip to a very frisky Florida State this weekend.
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (+1600)
Hello, DTR. UCLA’s quarterback was nowhere to be found in last week’s rankings, but he’s catapulted into the top-5 after an impressive five-touchdown day against No. 11 Utah. He tossed four touchdown passes and rushed for another with just one interception.
On the season, Thompson-Robinson has thrown for over 1,500 yards with 15 touchdowns and two INTs, all while adding another 231 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (+1400)
It somehow feels like Hendon Hooker is still being underrated and undervalued despite an incredible season with the Vols. Tennessee is undefeated at 5-0, and Hooker has thrown 10 touchdown passes with no interceptions. His odds dropped slightly after Tennessee handled LSU, but he has a huge opportunity to gain a “Heisman Moment” with Alabama coming to town in Week 7.
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+1400)
Young didn’t play against Texas A&M on Saturday, but he was dressed. The likelihood of him starting this week as the Crimson Tide face No. 8 Tennessee is high.
His odds have stayed right around the same spot during the injury, but the reigning Heisman Trophy holder will have to make up some ground on C. J. Stroud. We thought the +900 odds were good value last week. Well, they might have gotten better.
USC QB Caleb Williams (+1000)
Caleb Williams stayed in the No. 2 spot yet again this week as the Trojans handled Washington State in Week 5. His odds, however, dropped from +400 to +1000. This feels less like it has something to do with Williams and more like the powers that be think this is now C. J. Stroud’s to lose, so it might be a good time to get great value on Williams.
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (-155)
This is really starting to feel like the Heisman is Stroud’s to lose. The Buckeyes are up to No. 2 in the AP Poll and have doubled their first place votes from last week. Now they head into the bye week with momentum and the chance to really spend time preparing how they want to keep Iowa’s struggling offense off the scoreboard next week.
