Week 2 of college football is in the books. Looking ahead to the slate coming up this Saturday, it may not be the most encouraging slate of games.
However, there's always an opportunity to find value, and that's the job of this article.
Colorado and Deion Sanders continue to shock the country, Miami and Texas each had massive victories in Week 2 and anyone with a Texas Tech ticket is just beginning to come out of the abyss of depression.
But we're looking ahead to the upcoming week. This is why we love college football. You never know what's going to happen.
Odds as of Tuesday, September 12 and via BetMGM.
5
ATH Travis Hunter
Colorado Buffaloes · +3500
OK. It's time. I was very skeptical of the Travis Hunter hype as it pertains to the Heisman Trophy race.
But through two weeks, I now sit and realize if Hunter does continue his torrid pace and ends up in the conversation to hoist the sport's most prestigious trophy, I would feel like the world's dumbest for having every opportunity known to man to have previously snagged him at good odds.
First off, I still hold reservations that Hunter will be able to sustain playing 120+ snaps per game. But if he does …
I will just say this – folks have found themselves in midseason Heisman contention for much less. Remember Jabrill Peppers?
Hunter is averaging 95.0 yards per game on offense and holds an interception already. Conference play will help with the flashy moments, and at +3500, you don't need to risk a whole lot to get a remarkable payout.
4
QB Bo Nix
Oregon Ducks · +1800
A road victory in Lubbock is not something to be looked at lightly. AT&T Jones Stadium isn't an easy place to play at, and Bo Nix had himself a pretty solid evening.
Similarly to the Pac-12 QB that will arise higher on this list, Nix is going to have the opportunity to control his own destiny in the conference and ultimately find himself in College Football Playoff contention.
For those that have read this article in the past, being in CFP talks is a notable factor for Heisman races, and that remains the case this year.
Nix is averaging 323.0 yards passing per game through two outings and has yet to turn the ball over. The Ducks' offense is averaging just a tick under 60.0 points per game, as well.
Things are clicking in Eugene, and Nix will continue to put up video game-like numbers.
I love the value at 18/1.
3
QB Michael Penix Jr.
Washington Huskies · +850
To the surprise of many, USC QB Caleb Williams didn't make the cut for this week's Heisman Power Rankings. And the explanation for that is his current odds (+350) don't provide enough value for me in the long run.
Williams was essentially a buy preseason, or don't buy at all type of play for me.
On the flip side, what we've seen thus far from the Washington offense has been spectacular. Penix has thrown for 400+ yards in both of his games this season and currently sits fourth in the country in passing touchdowns and fourth in passing yards, despite having only two games under his belt.
The Huskies have a tremendous group of receivers at Penix's disposal and have the opportunity this weekend for a solid non-conference victory against Michigan State.
Typically, I try not to use the pace of previous performances to determine the future — especially for Pac-12 quarterbacks — but it's hard to not see the trajectory Penix is on through two games.
I think the Washington offense has the legs to continue its scoring trends, and Penix's numbers at the end of the season will likely be standing alone at the top of most leaderboards.
2
QB Jordan Travis
Florida State Seminoles · +850
I give Jordan Travis the nod over Penix at the moment due to Florida State's victory over LSU. It's hard to ignore both the quality of that victory to begin the season and the fact the entire country was tuned in to see Travis light up the second half and walk away with a blowout victory.
Heisman voters don't watch every game believe it or not, so it means something that the duel vs. LSU was a standalone game.
Travis would likely have been positioned in the top spot here, however, he had a sluggish performance against Southern Miss with just 175 passing yards and two touchdowns in the blowout win. His completion percentage took a tumble, as well.
But again, going back to the victory over LSU, the fact that odds for Travis have remained around 9/1 is encouraging for anyone who's yet to join the Travis bandwagon.
Florida State is also looking more and more like the only team in the ACC that will field a nationally competitive team this fall — with a hat tip to Duke of course. Ranked at No. 3 in the AP Poll, it's likely Florida State remains in the top five for the foreseeable future.
1
QB Quinn Ewers
Texas Longhorns · +1000
Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns had a very slow start to the season, with a first half to forget against Rice.
However, the Owls just knocked off Houston and Ewers just put up the game of his career in Tuscaloosa in a 10-point road victory over the Crimson Tide.
At 10/1, it's now or never to get an Ewers Heisman ticket. Texas is legit this season. Texas has the weapons to put up points, and it has the schedule to continue winning.
Throwing for 349 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama is probably the performance of the season so far for those in the Heisman race. That's not an easy task to accomplish.
Again, we're looking for value here and a possible 10x your investment is a great opportunity for anyone who's a believer in Texas this season.
