It’s not quite October yet, but a clear-cut favorite has emerged in the Heisman Trophy race.
After Alabama mauled Georgia on Saturday, Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe became the new betting favorite to win the award.
Milroe starred in Alabama’s big 41-34 win against the Bulldogs, finishing with 374 passing yards and a game-high 117 rushing yards while accounting for four touchdowns.
After Alabama got out to a huge early lead, Milroe became the new betting favorite to win the award before the game even reached halftime. He is now +200 to win the Heisman on BetMGM.
Milroe opened the season at +800, making him one of the co-favorites to win the award, along with Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck and Dillon Gabriel.
Ewers has missed the last two weeks, which has led to his odds of winning the award getting longer (+2500). Alabama’s Beck struggled on the other end of the big night for Milroe, so his odds have also gotten much longer (+3000). Gabriel and Oregon haven’t played a marquee game yet, so he is at +1400, while others have moved up.
Miami’s Cam Ward, who was the Heisman favorite entering last weekend’s action at +400, now sits second on the Heisman trophy betting board after Milroe. Ward is listed at +500 even after having three turnovers in a dramatic win against Virginia Tech on Friday.
Despite his breakout game, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams is not listed in the Heisman odds on BetMGM. Williams got plenty of attention on the broadcast for being just a 17-year-old freshman while scoring the game-winning touchdown as part of a 177-yard night, but he’s not viewed as a contender yet. The other freshman wide receiver sensation, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, is listed at +6600.
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Colorado’s Travis Hunter is the other trendy pick moving up the odds board in a hurry. Colorado isn’t a College Football Playoff contender like Milroe’s Alabama or Ward’s Miami, but Hunter is arguably the best talent in the sport. He plays almost every down as a wide receiver and cornerback and is elite at both.
In Colorado’s 48-21 upset win at UCF, a game in which Colorado was a two-touchdown underdog, Hunter had nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, as well as an interception.
After the pick, Hunter sent a message, striking the Heisman pose.
Potential Heisman-winner Travis Hunter made his ambitions known with this post-interception celly 🏆
🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/9ouSsBGrzD
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 28, 2024
Hunter’s campaign looked strong until Milroe and the Crimson Tide cut through Georgia’s defense like the Bulldogs were an FCS team in the first half.
Of course, the odds will continue to see big shifts as big games and surprising upsets occur, but Milroe is in the top spot for now.
2024 Heisman Trophy odds
On the flip side, Jaxson Dart’s Heisman stock took a big hit with Ole Miss’ 20-17 loss at home to Kentucky. Dart was +550 during the week and dropped to +1600.
Looking further down the betting board, a couple of other quarterbacks have been making some noise recently.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava got some hype after last week’s win at Oklahoma. The redshirt freshman has been a big part of the Volunteers looking like a national title contender. He currently sits at +1600 to win the award at BetMGM. Tennessee still has games against Alabama and Georgia on the schedule, so he will have time in the spotlight later this season.
Arch Manning is another up-and-coming name, but he is a long-shot bet to win the award this season at +6600. That said, he’s already looking like an early Heisman contender next season when he will be the full-time starter. Ewers is expected to reclaim the starting job once he is healthy, even after Manning threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-31 passing against Mississippi State.
Buy Now?
The Athletic’s Austin Mock, who uses advanced statistical models and simulations, chimed in on whether now is a good time to bet on Milroe to win the Heisman.
“Jalen Milroe is the current Heisman Trophy favorite at BetMGM, but I’m not sure there is value in betting him at that price. I was high on Alabama and Milroe coming into the season as head coach Kalen DeBoer has had a ton of success on the offensive side of the ball throughout his career. But as of right now, if you want some exposure to Milroe, it’s best to wait. Alabama is unlikely to go undefeated, and Milroe’s odds will likely be better after a loss, so I’d want to wait and not buy in at the worst price. If you recall, this time last year, Jayden Daniels had a 3-2 record and hadn’t recorded a 100-yard rushing performance yet. There is still a ton of time left in the college football season and Heisman Trophy’s aren’t won in September.”
(Photo of Jalen Milroe: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
