It's difficult to come to terms with the fact that we're entering Week 6 of the college football season, but on the bright side, games are more meaningful, rivalries get better and each individual performance tilts the scales that much more in the race for the most coveted trophy in sports.
If you're holding a Pac-12 quarterback ticket, you're probably in good hands. Whether it's Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix, there's plenty of chances for you to cash at this point in the season.
(Sorry Colorado ticket holders.)
But to the race itself, a very important week is upon us.
Odds as of Tuesday, September 26 and via BetMGM. Make sure to take advantage of Action's BetMGM bonus code if you're new to the sportsbook.
5
QB Jordan Travis
Florida State Seminoles · +1300
The Seminoles have done everything asked of them this season to remain 5-0 and in the top five of the AP Poll. It took overtimes heroics and some help from the defense to get the job done last weekend against Clemson, but one of the biggest hurdles on the FSU schedule has been cleared.
The stat sheet isn't popping off the page for Jordan Travis — as it was once expected. However, he's doing enough to remain in the conversation, and the 'Noles shouldn't be going anywhere with Virginia Tech and Syracuse coming up in the next two weeks.
On the season, Travis has totaled 10 passing touchdowns to just one interception. He's added two additional running touchdowns as well.
A bet on Travis at this point is a gamble that he lights it up the next two weeks and closes the gap statistically on the names ahead of him.
4
QB Quinn Ewers
Texas Longhorns · +700
For whatever reason, Quinn Ewers hasn't been able to replicate his Alabama passing touchdown numbers versus inferior teams.
Also, Ewers threw his first interception of the season against Kansas this weekend in a two-minute drill right before the half.
Still, Texas is earning more first-place votes by the week, and there's a massive opportunity this weekend for it to jump to No. 1 in the country with the Red River Rivalry set to kickoff in Dallas.
If there's one thing we have come to learn about Ewers is that he comes ready to play for big games, and this is no different.
For Ewers ticket holders, you have to be thrilled with the five rushing touchdowns the Texas quarterback has collected already.
That number is good for third-best in the country among quarterbacks. The 10-to-1 TD:INT ratio is quite impressive as well.
3
QB Bo Nix
Oregon Ducks · +800
Bo Nix and Oregon have been lighting it up this season. A 36-point victory for the Ducks this past weekend against Stanford continues Oregon's streak of scoring 38+ in every game this season.
Nix's numbers are quite impressive as well. He has 15 touchdown passes to just one interception and leads the country in completion percentage (80.4%).
To put it lightly, Oregon is cruising.
The Ducks get their biggest test of the season this weekend when they head north to face Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies.
There's great value right now for Nix in the Heisman race. At 8/1 odds, it's likely we're at the peak of his Heisman odds right now should Oregon defeat Washington.
I would have no issue hopping on the Nix train should Oregon come away victorious this weekend. However, that's the hesitancy at the moment.
2
QB Caleb Williams
USC Trojans · +175
An absolutely monster performance for Caleb Williams last weekend against Colorado lowered his Heisman odds to +175. We're under 2/1 odds for the reigning Heisman holder, which is crazy at this point in the season.
To Williams' credit, he's been spectacular.
Williams is sixth in the country in passing yards (1,601) and leads the country in passing touchdowns — being the only quarterback with 20 through the air thus far.
He's absolutely lit it up this season.
However, I'm a bit hesitant on USC, and as a result, Williams. The Trojans' defense is not good. The Trojans' defense allows teams that should be blown out to stick around and make things interesting; we've seen that for two straight weeks.
While that's great for Williams' overall numbers, it's not good for when teams like Oregon and Washington face the Trojans. The opportunity to then hold USC out of the College Football Playoff becomes quite realistic.
For the most part, that's the reason for Williams remaining at No. 2 in this week's Heisman Power Rankings.
1
QB Michael Penix Jr.
Washington Huskies · +450
Michael Penix Jr. has been a main-stay at the top spot of the Heisman Power Rankings for a couple of weeks now. The Washington quarterback leads the country in passing yards, with 218 more yards through the air than No. 2 in the country.
As I mentioned earlier with Nix, this weekend is huge for both quarterbacks. Oregon has a sound defense and the Ducks are 18th in the country at getting home for sacks this season.
Penix will find himself under pressure this weekend, however, the Washington offense has looked nothing short of incredible this season.
Washington is averaging the fourth-most points of any team in the country this season and Penix has been lighting it up with Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan.
There will be a lot of points in this weekend's ball game and should Washington come away with the home victory, Penix should take the top spot in the Heisman odds.
