Seven weeks into the season, Georgia and Ohio State are tied as frontrunners to win the College Football Playoffs.
Usually a bye week can't hurt you. Unless, of course, it's the Heisman Trophy race, where idle might be just as harmful as an average outing.
Especially if you are trying to hold or make-up ground.
Ohio State quarterback and Heisman Trophy front-runner for most of the season, C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes were off this past Saturday. Heading into the weekend, Stroud was a near runaway favorite to hoist the most prestigious individual award in college football.
This week, however, it's not such a sure thing.
Why? Two words: Hendon Hooker.
The Tennessee quarterback and his Volunteers played Alabama on Saturday, in case you missed it. And, boy, was it a doozy.
Tennessee, now ranked third in the nation, beat the Crimson Tide, 52-49, for the first time in 15 years, scoring the most points ever on a Nick Saban Alabama defense, as well as the most points on the program since 1907.
Hooker's numbers were video-game like, and put him right on Stroud's heels in the Heisman race midway through October.
FrontPageBets takes a look at the most-recent odds for the contenders heading into Week 8 of the season, with it being virtually a two-quarterback race.
(All odds are courtesy of DraftKings and are subject to change)
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (+100)
Last week at this time, Stroud was -130 to win the Heisman. And while he's still the favorite, according to the sportsbooks, we now know it's a much closer race.
And the Ohio State QB is heading into the meat of its schedule.
Ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Buckeyes come off their bye week to face Iowa this Saturday at the Horseshoe in Columbus. Then they have back-to-back road games at No. 16 Penn State on Oct. 29 and at Northwestern on Nov. 5.
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (+500)
Last week, Hooker was +1100 odds to win the Heisman. Then Alabama happened.
Hooker threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns, completing 70% of his passes. All five TD passes were caught by wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who finished with six catches for 207 yards. The Vols offense put up 567 yards of total offense and 52 points.
For the season, undefeated Tennessee is averaging 47.7 points and 551 yards per game, good for second and first, respectively, in the nation. And Hooker is the one piloting the ship.
The Vols have UT Martin up next and then they play host to No. 19 Kentucky before a massive showdown against No. 1 Georgia between the hedges on Nov. 5.
USC QB Caleb Williams (+800)
Another quarterback moving up the odds boards is Southern Cal's Caleb Williams, who was +1200 last week.
And even though the Trojans lost on the road at Utah, Williams had a huge day, throwing for 381 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for 57 yards.
In this week's FPBcast, Gerry Ahern and Mike Szvetitz talk Heisman, title contenders and surprise teams.
Williams' performance kept him close to Stroud and Hooker, with a chance to perhaps make it a three-QB race in the coming weeks as USC doesn't play another ranked team until No. 9 UCLA on Nov. 19.
Michigan RB Blake Corum (+1200)
Running onto the scene this week is Michigan tailback Blake Corum, who rushed for 166 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns in the fourth-ranked Wolverines' win over then-No. 10 Penn State on Saturday.
Corum averaged almost 6 yards a tote, including breaking a 61-yarder.
Corum is second in the nation in rushing yards (901), first in rushing touchdowns (13) and sixth in rushing yards per game (128.7).
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+1800)
The defending Heisman Trophy winner, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is now fifth in the odds.
Young, who missed a game with a shoulder injury, has a lot of ground to make up. But it's not like he played bad in Saturday's loss to Tennessee.
In fact, he was downright spectacular, throwing for 455 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, while Alabama piled up 569 yards of total offense in the loss.
Young can get back into the mix down the stretch with a home game this week against No. 24 Mississippi State and then back-to-back road games at LSU and No. 7 Ole Miss.
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 22-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
