Heisman Watch: Ranking the Top 5 Heisman Odds Candidates Heading into Week 8

Heisman Watch: Ranking the Top 5 Heisman Odds Candidates Heading into Week 8

Here we go. The college football season is kicking into gear and that means so is the Heisman Watch list as we enter Week 8.

Last week, CJ Stroud was the overwhelming favorite as a group of QBs tried to chase him down from behind. This week...it's the exact same thing. However, there is a certain QB from Knoxville that has made huge strides when it comes to his Heisman odds and his place on our Heisman Watch list.

College football picks are the most popular way to bet NCAAF on a week-to-week basis, but there is good money to be made on Heisman odds and betting, and that's where our Heisman Watch list comes in.

So, let's break down this week's Heisman Watch list and check where your favorite player finds their Heisman odds going into Week 8.

Click here to check out the latest Heisman odds

Heisman Watch: Top 5 Heisman Odds

1. CJ Stroud - Ohio State QB (+110) (Bet $100 to collect $210)

In last week's Heisman Watch, CJ Stroud found himself as the odds-on favorite and running away from the field as his Heisman odds sat at -130. This week, he's still the favorite, but his odds are no longer odds-on and the rest of the field is seemingly catching up. It's not Stroud's fault, either, it's just the nature of the Heisman odds and Heisman Watch season. Last week, Stroud and the Buckeyes had the week off, but he's still put up some of the most impressive numbers in the country to this point in the season. Stroud has 1,737 passing yards, 24 passing TDs and a QBR of 94.4, all while throwing just three picks. His TD passes and QBR are both first in the entire nation, meaning not only is he slinging the rock but he's doing it efficiently as well. This week, Stroud and the Buckeyes host the 3-3 Iowa Hawkeyes. Sure, Iowa has been disappointing, but it's their offense that has fallen flat. A good showing against a good Iowa defense should keep Stroud firmly in the driver's seat when it comes to his Heisman odds.

2. Hendon Hooker - Tennessee QB (+500) (Bet $100 to collect $600)

The biggest college football news last week was that Alabama lost to Tennessee in Knoxville. But, it was how they lost that really put the rest of the country on notice. That was no fluke from Hendon Hooker and the Vols, and the latest Heisman Watch list and Heisman odds reflect just that. Against an Alabama defense that boasts multiple former first-round picks and that had yet to give up more than 26 points in a game, Hooker led the Vols to an astonishing 52 points. In the win, Hooker threw for 385 yards and five TDs while rushing for 56 more yards. Hendon Hooker, the former Virginia Tech transfer, is going nowhere when it comes to his Heisman odds. The biggest threat to his place on the Heisman Watch list is a letdown game. This week against UT Martin will be fine, but the following week they play No. 19 Kentucky. After that, they get No. 1 Georgia and the vaunted Bulldogs' defense. I love Hendon Hooker right now, but he still has a hill to climb if he's going to win the Heisman Trophy.

3. Caleb Williams - USC QB (+900) (Bet $100 to collect $1000)

I'm not entirely sure what to do with Caleb Williams as a Heisman contender. He has steadily been either No. 2 or No. 3 on our Heisman Watch list all year long, but his recent performances have left me confused. In wins over Oregon State and Washington State, Williams looked awful, completing less than 50% of his passes and averaging 184 yards through the air. Then, he takes on his biggest test of the year in Utah on the road and tears them apart for 381 passing yards and five TDs plus 57 more yards on the ground. It was Williams' best game as a Trojan, but the catch is that they lost. Still, last week's Heisman Watch list has Williams at +1200 and now his Heisman odds sit at +900. I still think Williams has a chance to win the award, but he's going to need some help. For starters, USC is going to have to win out and he's going to have to outduel DTR when the Trojans take on UCLA. In addition, he's going to need CJ Stroud and potentially Hendon Hooker to come back down to earth as well.

4. Blake Corum - Michigan RB (+1200) (Bet $100 to collect $1300)

I don't know how likely it is that we'll get a Heisman winner that plays running back in the near future, but Blake Corum is doing his best to try and make sure he's part of the conversation. Throughout history, the running back has done well when it comes to winning the award. However, RBs have struggled recently. The last running back to win the Heisman was Derrick Henry in 2015 and before that, it was Mark Ingram in 2009. If we want to go back in time and try the last non-Alabama RB to win the Heisman Trophy, it was Ron Dayne in 1999 (Remember, the Heisman Trust wants you to forget Reggie Bush won the award in 2005). So, having said all that, despite the fact that Blake Corum is fighting an uphill battle, he's been amazing this season and his Heisman odds reflect that. In his team's biggest game of the year against No. 10 Penn State, Corum put up 166 yards and two TDs. On the year, Corum has rushed for 901 yards and 13 TDs.

5. Bryce Young - Alabama QB (+2000) (Bet $100 to collect $2100)

When we started the season, Bryce Young was second on our Heisman Watch list with Heisman odds sitting at +450. Now, he finds himself on the verge of falling out of the top five completely. The funny thing about this is that he had his best game of the season this past week. But, when you play for Alabama and you lose, that's all that anyone remembers. Young, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, doesn't have the kind of talent around him this year that he did last year. Still, he's put up some pretty big numbers. Despite the fact that Bama lost to Tennessee, Young threw for 455 yards and had his team in a position to win. When he left the field, the Tide were tied. But, Hendon Hooker led his offense down the field, they got the game-winning field goal and the rest is history. Now, Young is going to need to perform well for the rest of the season if he expects to keep guys like Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Adrian Martinez off our Heisman Watch list.