Pamela Maldonado, Sports activities Betting Analyst
Because the 2024 faculty soccer season enters its essential ninth week, the Heisman Trophy race and nationwide championship image are as unpredictable as ever. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty continues to defy expectations, racking up yards and touchdowns at a historic tempo, whereas Miami’s Cam Ward has the Hurricanes dreaming of their first nationwide title since 2001. To not be outdone, Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke has led the Hoosiers to a stunning 7-0 begin, catapulting them as potential contenders for the nationwide championship.
In the meantime, the SEC finds itself in unfamiliar territory, with six groups sporting 6-1 data and no undefeated squads for the primary time since 2007. This unprecedented storyline has thrown the convention’s playoff outlook into disarray, with conventional powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama going through stiff competitors from resurgent packages akin to Texas A&M and LSU.
As we dive into the newest Heisman and nationwide championship odds, one factor is obvious: on this expanded 12-team playoff period, each sport counts greater than ever. From the Mountain West to the Huge Ten to the guts of SEC nation, the race for faculty soccer’s most prestigious awards and supreme prize is extensive open, promising an electrifying second half of the season.
All odds are correct as of timestamp. For the newest odds go to ESPN BET.
Heisman race: Shifting traces and rising contenders
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Broncos (+225)
Final week: +175
What hasn’t been mentioned about Jeanty? His efficiency this season has been essential in Boise State’s success, together with a top-25 rating (No. 17). In a Heisman race usually dominated by quarterbacks, Jeanty stands out, doubtlessly turning into solely the fifth non-quarterback to win the award since 2000. He is amassed 1,248 dashing yards and 17 touchdowns in simply six video games, each main the nation amongst working backs. Jeanty is at the moment on monitor break Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS dashing report (2, 628) if Boise State performs within the Mountain West championship sport and a bowl sport.
Jeanty’s mixture of remarkable statistics, consistency, and influence on his group’s success make him a powerful candidate for the Heisman Trophy. His efficiency stands out much more in a 12 months the place quarterback play has not dominated the Heisman dialog, doubtlessly giving him an edge within the voting.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami Hurricanes (+225)
Final week: +600
Ward is now the co-favorite with Jeanty by means of six video games. He is been instrumental in revitalizing Miami’s soccer program, which hasn’t received the ACC since becoming a member of the convention in 2004 however is now 7-0. His efficiency at Miami exhibits vital enchancment from his time at Washington State, demonstrating development and adaptableness.
By seven video games, Ward has thrown for two,538 yards, 24 touchdowns, main the nation in each classes, throwing for over 300 yards in each sport performed. In a current sport in opposition to Cal, Ward led a comeback victory down 35-10 halfway by means of the third quarter, throwing for 437 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his capacity to carry out below strain.
His big-play capacity, constant high-level efficiency, and his position in Miami’s resurgence additional strengthen his case for faculty soccer’s most prestigious particular person award.
Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana Hoosiers +3500
Final week: +6000
Rourke noticed the most important odds transfer after Week 8. He has led Indiana to a shocking 7-0 begin (4-0 in Huge Ten play), a dramatic turnaround from their 3-9 report final season. The Hoosiers at the moment are No. 13 within the AP High 25 rankings and are first place within the Huge Ten.
By seven video games, Rourke has thrown a 74.6% completion charge, behind solely Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel to go together with his QBR of 91.8, second greatest within the nation behind Ward. He has been instrumental in reworking Indiana, which now ranks because the third-best scoring offense within the nation and Twelfth-best passing assault.
His odds had been lower in half regardless of struggling a thumb harm on his throwing hand in the course of the Week 8 sport in opposition to Nebraska. The harm occurred when his hand hit the helmet of a Cornhuskers defensive participant within the second quarter. Rourke has been dominated out indefinitely, together with his precise timetable to return unclear. He’ll miss at the very least the upcoming sport in opposition to Washington, the place the Hoosiers are at the moment 6.5-point favorites at dwelling in Week 9.
The character of the harm makes it troublesome to evaluate his Heisman possibilities going ahead. Though Rourke is just not fairly within the Heisman dialog from a broader perspective, he did see a major soar after Week 7.
Title Hunt: Newest nationwide championship odds and key movers
Getting into Week 9, Georgia (+360), Ohio State (+400), and Oregon (+500) are the highest three favorites to win the nationwide championship.
Georgia moved as much as No. 2 within the rankings after a dominant 30-15 win over beforehand No. 1 Texas. It was a powerful defensive efficiency, permitting simply -0.337 EPA per move. Georgia now has two wins over top-10 ranked groups in Texas and Clemson. The Buckeyes have been persistently ranked within the prime 5 all through the season. Loaded with a gifted roster with potential NFL first spherical draft picks, Ohio State has a positive remaining schedule, together with a key matchup in opposition to Penn State. The Geese are the brand new No. 1 ranked group in each AP and coaches ballot with an undefeated 7-0 report after a shutout 35-0 win over Purdue in Week 8, after a formidable victory over Ohio State a few weeks in the past.
Indiana’s odds to win the nationwide championship improved from +15000 to +7500 after a 7-0 begin to the season, solely the second time in program historical past they’ve achieved this begin since 1967. What’s much more spectacular, the Hoosiers have received all seven video games by double-digit margins, matching a program report set in 1905-06, scoring 40-plus factors in six video games straight. They’re 4-0 in Huge Ten play and No. 13 within the rankings.
Whereas Indiana remains to be thought of an extended shot for the nationwide championship, their spectacular begin has given them a greater probability of creating the playoffs. The well being and return of Rourke might play an enormous position of their playoff future.
SEC playoff image: Breaking down the contenders and paths to the playoff
The playoff outlook for the SEC is advanced and unsure, with no group sure to make the faculty soccer playoff. There aren’t any undefeated groups remaining within the convention heading into November for the primary time since 2007.
As an alternative, the SEC has six groups with a 6-1 report, indicating a excessive stage of parity throughout the convention. Texas A&M and LSU are the one groups nonetheless unbeaten in convention play, however each misplaced non-conference video games earlier within the season.
If LSU wins, they may soar to the highest of the SEC odds board as the one undefeated in convention play group. Texas A&M wins, the Aggies could be accountable for their future transferring ahead.
In the meantime Alabama wants a win to remain alive within the SEC race. Missouri might solidify its standing as a convention lengthy shot with an upset win. Alabama wants a win and an LSU loss in Week 9 to remain in rivalry.
If Vanderbilt upsets Texas and Missouri beats Alabama, it might create a log-jam on the prime of each divisions. A Texas A&M win over LSU might arrange a possible winner-take-all sport in opposition to Texas later within the season for the SEC West.
Week 9 has the potential to both solidify the present favorites or throw all the convention race into chaos. The expanded playoff format retains extra groups within the nationwide title hunt, however convention standings stay key for figuring out who performs within the SEC Championship sport.
Bets to contemplate: Again underdogs in SEC play
Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are a mixed 13-16 ATS in SEC convention play. Georgia has the worst SEC report ATS at 1-4, with Alabama the second worst at 1-3, whereas Vanderbilt has the perfect at 3-0.
Contemplating the SEC futures market, in earlier articles, we discovered worth in Texas A&M (+120 to make the playoff). At this level, maybe it is price backing underdogs ATS in SEC play and watch these groups cannibalize one another with no clear favourite to pinpoint.
