We’re a little over a month away from college football Week 1 action. Heisman Trophy odds remain active, and there has been another notable shift at the top of the futures board.
Just a few short weeks ago, Georgia QB Carson Beck was in sole possession of first place at odds of +750. The board has tightened, and he now finds himself tied with Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel for first place, with the two signal callers each at +900.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers is alone in third at +1000. Based on what we’ve seen thus far, the Heisman Trophy odds race could take more twists and turns as opening week approaches.
Beck and Gabriel battle for the lead in betting odds
Last month, Beck was fending off Ewers to hold on as the lone favorite in Heisman Trophy odds. Beck remains atop the charts at college football betting sites, but he has some company for the top spot in the form of Gabriel.
Beck is the returning starter for a Georgia team that’s the favorite to win the national title in the latest College Football Playoff odds. The Bulldogs fell just short of a CFP berth a season ago. Beck did his part and showed plenty of flashes while leading the offense, throwing for 24 TDs and rushing for four more.
Gabriel spent last season at Oklahoma and delivered prolific stats, accounting for 4,033 total yards plus 30 passing and 12 rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 10-2. He has transferred to Oregon for his senior season. The Ducks have joined the Big Ten, and expectations are high for the club to be a big part of the CFP chase.
In the latest odds to reach the playoffs, Georgia is at -600, with Oregon at -290. To win it all, the Bulldogs (+400) are the favorite, with Oregon (+1200) in fourth place, behind Ohio State (+800) and Texas (+900). In short, Beck and Gabriel appear as though they will have lots of time in the spotlight this season and plenty of chances to state their respective cases.
Ewers controls the chase for third place
Ewers, the returning starter for the national title-hopeful Longhorns, is right behind the co-favorites at +1000. Texas reached the CFP last season before losing to Washington in the semifinals. Ewers delivered a slew of impressive outings, including throwing for 452 yards and four touchdowns as the Longhorns defeated Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game.
Behind Ewers, there has been a lot of jockeying for position. Three QBs are currently battling for the fourth spot on the board: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (+1500), Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart (+1500), and Ohio State’s Will Howard (+1600).
Milroe was among the top favorites at the initial release of this season’s Heisman Trophy odds. His odds have shifted in the wake of the retirement of Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Dart is a returning senior for the Rebels, while Howard has transferred from Kansas State to the Buckeyes for his senior campaign.
The tightness in the odds has also led to some diversified interest among bettors. According to recent numbers from BetMGM Sportsbook, three QBs top the charts in the highest ticket percentage at the book to date: Beck (10.7%), Ewers (10%), and Gabriel (7.2%).
How does EA Sports rank the quarterbacks?
The highly-anticipated release of EA Sports College Football happens this week. In advance of that, EA Sports ratings were unveiled for the top 100 players in the game. Here are the QBs who made the cut, along with their latest odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
| Quarterback | EA Sports Rating | Heisman Trophy Odds |
| Shedeur Sanders, Colorado | 93 | Shedeur Sanders +4500 on BetRivers |
| Carson Beck, Georgia | 93 | Carson Beck +50000 on DraftKings |
| Quinn Ewers, Texas | 92 | Quinn Ewers +50000 on BetRivers |
| Dillon Gabriel, Oregon | 92 | Dillon Gabriel +50000 on FanDuel |
| Jalen Milroe, Alabama | 92 | Jalen Milroe +1400 on BetRivers |
| Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss | 90 | Jaxson Dart +50000 on DraftKings |
| Jalon Daniels, Kansas | 90 | Jalon Daniels +35000 on Bet365 |
| Kaidon Salter, Liberty | 90 | Kaidon Salter +50000 on Bet365 |
Five of the six current top Heisman favorites made the grade. The first outlier is Sanders, the starting QB for a Colorado team that continues to receive a ton of hype. After an electrifying 3-0 start last season, the club struggled the rest of the way to finish at 4-7.
Despite that, Sanders more than showed his promise, contributing 31 total touchdowns. In the latest NFL Draft odds, he’s right behind Beck and the second favorite to be the first overall selection.
Daniels is returning from a back injury that limited him to three games last season. He threw for five TDs in limited time. There’s optimism that he’ll quickly return to form for a Kansas team that ranks fourth in odds to win the Big 12.
Salter is outside the top 50 in Heisman odds, but the EA rating clearly demonstrates his talent and potential. He had 44 total touchdowns for Liberty last season. The Flames are the current favorites to win Conference USA.
What’s on tap for the Heisman hopefuls in Week 1?
Week 1 of the college football season will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 24. The lengthy opening week will then run through Monday, Sept. 2. Over that span, all of the top early Heisman candidates will be in action.
- Beck: Georgia (-13.5) vs. Clemson
- Gabriel: Oregon (-43.5) vs. Idaho
- Ewers: Texas (-35.5) vs. Colorado State
- Milroe: Alabama (-30.5) vs. Western Kentucky
- Dart: Ole Miss (-42.5) vs. Furman
- Howard: Ohio State (-49.5) vs. Akron
According to current college football odds, five of the above games shape up to be mismatches. In one of the highlights of opening week, the Bulldogs will battle Clemson. It’s one of the highest-profile games of the week, providing Beck with an opportunity to make a statement in front of a national audience.
