After another thrilling week of college football, one filled with several down-to-the-wire finishes and a shakeup in the polls, we’re left with a fascinating Heisman board.
The current favorite might be the only clean candidate in a season of flawed contenders, but as a running back, the odds might be stacked against him.
Then there’s a quarterback in Oregon who shot up the board following his team’s victory over Ohio State, but the train left the station when his odds shortened to +250, wiping away any value he had remaining.
Let’s look at the updated odds for the Heisman market and find where the value lies heading into Week 8.
Week 8 Heisman Trophy odds
Player | Week 8 Odds | Week 7 Odds | Week 8 Opponent |
---|---|---|---|
Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) | +185 | +220 | Bye |
Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) | +250 | +1600 | at Purdue |
Cam Ward (Miami) | +650 | +450 | at Louisville |
Cade Klubnik (Clemson) | +1500 | +1400 | vs. Virginia |
Jalen Milroe (Alabama) | +1500 | +1000 | at Tennessee |
Travis Hunter (Colorado) | +1500 | +320 | at Arizona |
Carson Beck (Georgia) | +1500 | +1800 | at Texas |
Quinn Ewers (Texas) | +1500 | +2000 | vs. Georgia |
2024 Heisman Trophy: Week 8 leaders
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (+200, Caesars)
The odds-on Heisman favorite for the second straight week, Jeanty has 1,248 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns through just six games, putting him on pace to break Barry Sanders’ single-season record for yardage.
He will undoubtedly be on the podium if he maintains his current pace, but the current betting number does not offer value.
I still have questions about a running back from Idaho earning Heisman votes from East Coast media members. Only one running back has won the award since 2010 (Derrick Henry in 2015).
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel (+350, BetMGM)
Gabriel stormed up the odds board after beating Ohio State on Saturday. The Ducks quarterback was electric in the winning effort, finishing with 341 passing yards and two touchdowns.
He threw three interceptions in his two previous games, but he was clean against the Buckeyes, finishing with no turnover-worthy plays.
The Ducks still have games against ranked Illinois and Michigan on the horizon, but there’s no question that they’ve gotten past the most challenging game of their schedule.
As Gabriel gains more talent with his receivers and comfort in Will Stein’s offense, he could wind up with prolific numbers that would justify his current +300 odds.
Miami QB Cam Ward (+900, BetMGM), Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (+1500, FanDuel)
Ward and Milroe are in a similar camp. Milroe’s win over Georgia is more impressive than any resume point for Ward, but both quarterbacks have been relied upon for late-game heroics against inferior opponents in recent weeks.
An undefeated season feels like an uphill battle for the Hurricanes, and Alabama still has to get past ranked Tennessee, Missouri, and LSU in the next three weeks.
Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter (+1500, FanDuel)
Hunter left Saturday’s loss to Kansas State with an injury, and his status is unclear going forward.
The do-it-all Colorado star is down to +1500 odds to win the Heisman (he was +320 just a week ago), which would make this an intriguing buy point, but I can’t recommend that until we know more about his status.
If he misses games, it would be a death knell on a 4-2 Colorado team with an uphill battle to win eight games.
2024 Heisman Trophy: Week 8 value picks
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (+1500, FanDuel)
If there’s a player on the board who still carries upside at his current price point, it might be Klubnik.
The Tigers were severely outclassed in their opening game against Georgia, but they’ve been nearly flawless since.
Klubnik now has 21 total touchdowns and just two interceptions this season, and he looks far more comfortable in his second season in Garrett Riley’s offense.
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Clemson’s schedule has left a lot to be desired, but the same can be said of Miami at this juncture. At +150 to win the ACC Championship, just ahead of Miami, the Tigers might not lose another game before the College Football Playoff based on their schedule.
Klubnik would likely leapfrog Ward in the Heisman rankings if they outlast the Hurricanes in the conference.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Jacob Wayne handicaps college football and the NFL for the New York Post. He’s up 84.5 units across the two sports with a 6.27% ROI.