The first week of college football is in the books. From the disastrous collapse of Nebraska in the final five minutes on Thursday to the crazy ball games in Orlando and Durham, everything we missed about college football is now back in our daily schedules.
With football back, the top of the priority list features the chase for the next Heisman Trophy winner and ensuring that a winning betting slip is in our hands when the next member of the illustrious award is announced.
If you're holding Jayden Daniels or Cade Klubnik tickets, at least now you have some extra fire wood.
But here's to the power rankings as we head into Week 2.
Odds as of Tuesday, September 5 and via BetMGM.
5
QB Quinn Ewers
Texas Longhorns · +2000
Week 1 was less than encouraging on the Heisman front for the Texas quarterback. Texas was unable to get the ball moving against Rice in the first half, but at the end of the day, a four-touchdown performance with no turnovers and nearly 300 yards of offense won't be something that's scoffed at.
The case for Quinn Ewers is based off of opportunity, and no quarterback in the country has a bigger chance to make a Heisman splash this weekend than Ewers does when he heads to Tuscaloosa.
Ewers doesn't need to be perfect against the Tide this weekend; the Longhorns just have to win for his odds to shrink a good bit.
Taking Ewers at this price will be looked at as a bargain in a week should the Longhorns come away victorious.
His odds will certainly take a hit if Texas loses, but even then, you'll be getting Heisman odds on the favorite to win the Big 12 Conference at an above market price compared to Week 1.
4
QB Sam Hartman
Notre Dame Fighting Irish · +2000
What a start to the season it's been for the Irish. So far in 2023, Notre Dame has outscored opponents 98-6, with Sam Hartman posting back-to-back outings of nearly perfect football.
Hartman has completed 82.5% of his passes in two consecutive weekends, he sits with a 6-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio and currently holds the second-highest rating in the land for quarterbacks.
Notre Dame has an awesome 2023 schedule, and there will be plenty of instances for Hartman to win votes in future bouts against Clemson, Ohio State and USC.
At 20/1, the bet on Hartman is a bet that the Irish continue winning in blowout fashions until tougher competition comes. It's a great price for a quarterback who's had a great start to the season.
3
QB Michael Penix Jr.
Washington Huskies · +850
If you're a ticket holder for Michael Penix Jr., you couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. Boise State is no slouch of an opponent and yet, the Huskies molly-whopped the Broncos into oblivion over the weekend.
On the Heisman front, how does 450 yards, five touchdowns, no turnovers and a completion percentage sitting north of 70% sound for Penix?
Last week, I mentioned Washington is on the shortlist of schools with an elite wide receiving corps, and that certainly was on display this weekend.
Penix gets the opportunity to build off of those stats against Tulsa this weekend.
One thing that might be something to keep an eye on is the competition in the Pac-12 this season. The conference started 11–2, with Utah, Oregon State, USC and Oregon all having crazy hot starts to the season.
Regardless, getting Penix at close to 9/1 is too much value to pass up.
2
QB Caleb Williams
USC Trojans · +450
I almost want to copy-paste what I put last year in this section for Caleb Williams, but I will reemphasize it for new readers.
Yes, Williams is the best quarterback in college football, and I understand he's the Heisman favorite for a reason. But we're looking for value here.
Below 5/1 odds isn't getting me excited, yet he still ranks second on this list. I may be talking in circles here, but it isn't enough to earn the top spot in this week's edition.
On the season, 600 yards and nine touchdown passes is nothing to scoff at. Williams will be back in New York this December, but we're hoping to snag those joining him for the Heisman ceremony at higher odds at the current moment.
1
QB Jordan Travis
Florida State Seminoles · +1000
This may come as a reactionary pick to some, but Jordan Travis' stat line against a top-five team in the country currently boasts as the best resume in college football.
Five total touchdowns and nearly 350 passing yards in a game the entire country was watching? Yeah, that will do, and that will do just fine.
The biggest takeaway for me was how dominant Florida State looked in its entirety. The 'Noles can certainly win the ACC and find their way right into the middle of the College Football Playoff conversation. And if that's the case, I would be kicking myself if I wasn't already holding a Travis Heisman ticket.
These odds will only decrease as the season continues, and I love it at 10/1.
