The glorious game is upon us. Never has an offseason felt longer, and never will an upcoming season have so much anticipation.
Well, until next offseason.
But here we are. Week 1 is just days away, and the window to burn some extra coins on some Heisman futures is beginning to close. My job is to make sure you are in a position to run to the ticket cashier on December 10, 2022 with a wide smile on your face and some more coins heading to your pocket.
To those who followed last year, you know these rankings change depending on performance on the field for the week and where the odds adjusted to as a result.
For Week 1, however, the power rankings will reflect the best bets by odds, not just who is in the best position to win the most coveted trophy in collegiate athletics.
Without further ado, we are back.
5.
Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke (+3500)
Okay, bear with me here.
Van Dyke is a longshot to hoist the Heisman in December. But with his odds currently sitting at +3500 at WynnBET, it is worth at least a small flier.
He's certainly the most unlikely on the list to lift the trophy, but if you combine his numbers from last year and the fact that Miami (FL) should be improved, that could be the perfect storm for the Hurricanes' quarterback.
In 2021, Van Dyke threw for 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in just 10 games. Half of those picks came in one single outing against North Carolina.
The schedule also sets up very nicely for a preseason wager on Van Dyke. Should the Hurricanes beat Texas A&M on Sept. 17, those odds will drop very quickly.
Here is the kicker. A loss to A&M likely means those odds rise to +5000, which may provide a better opportunity to hop on the train.
Miami (FL)'s backend of the schedule is loaded with UVA, Florida State, Clemson and Pitt. A 9-10 win season — with hype in the second half — should have Van Dyke in the conversation.
4.
Texas RB Bijan Robinson (+2200)
Robinson was a common name on the Heisman Power Rankings last fall early in the year. But just like Texas, he disappeared in the second half.
What I like about this bet is the expected workload heading Robinson’s direction. Robinson averaged a smidge under 20 carries per game in 2021, and did so while behind one of the worst offensive lines in the country.
Still, he was third in college football in forced missed tackles, according to PFF, with 79 in just 10 games.
Texas will have three new faces on its offense line, including five-star freshmen Kelvin Banks at left tackle and Devon Campbell at right guard. There should be many more running lanes for the Big 12’s top running back in 2022, at least, significantly more than what we saw in 2021.
On top of the revamped rushing attack, Steve Sarkisian has been working Robinson out in the slot more and more this spring to get mismatch looks.
I like +2200, and I like it a lot.
3.
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (+220)
There is a clear reason why Stroud is the Heisman front runner in 2022. He has the best receiver corps in the country, a top-five running back and his team is going to win a lot of ball games.
What keeps him at No. 3 on this list is the price tag. For a Heisman future bet, the value just is not great for a power ranking listing the best possible bets available for the upcoming season.
And I hope you all understand that.
But let’s be honest, Stroud has the best shot at winning this year’s Heisman Trophy. Had it not been for a slow start to the season — and a loss to Michigan — he likely would have been the one in New York hearing his name called last season.
It will be tough to top 4,400 yards and 44 touchdowns, but with the group of playmakers beside him, I think it is certainly doable.
2.
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (+4500)
Tennessee has never had a Heisman winner. That was a bit surprising when doing my research for this piece.
However, Hooker provides the Vols with their best chance at bringing the trophy back to Knoxville since Peyton Manning finished second to Charles Woodson in 1997.
The 2021 season really put Hooker on a nice trajectory to receive some preseason Heisman recognition, and I have consumed the Kool-Aid.
The stat sheet alone might be enough to get Hooker’s name in the conversation this fall. Last year, Hooker finished with 2,945 passing yards, 31 touchdowns through the air and just three interceptions, all while adding 600 yards and five scores with his legs.
Josh Heupel’s brilliant offensive mind has many thinking that the Vols could shock some folks this fall. Their No. 26 ranking in the AP Poll proves that voters see the same thing after coming off of a 7-6 season in 2021.
1.
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+450)
You can grab the reigning Heisman winner at +450 right now at WynnBET. Yes, please.
Now, the only hesitancy here is there has not been a back-to-back Heisman winner since Archie Griffin in 1975 — back when photos were in black and white.
But the odds for Young at 9/2 are too good to pass up. Alabama is hungry coming off of a loss in the National Championship game, and the Tide just added to their already talented group of wide receivers with the addition of Georgia's Jermaine Burton.
Young threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns last year en route to lifting the Heisman. Those numbers will be very tough to duplicate, but he has a great chance at starting the season off with a bang in Week 2 against Texas on the road.
