Entering the first true week of the college football season, the Heisman conversation revolves around quarterbacks, with only one non-quarterback truly in contention for the Heisman entering the season. Among the top candidates are Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah.
Every year, Manning is projected to be a Heisman finalist or even win, but has yet to live up to the expectations of his name. Meanwhile, Carr is coming off his first season as the starting quarterback for the Fighting Irish, while Moore is entering his final year of collegiate football, and Mensah just arrived in Miami after previously starting for Tulane and Duke.
Below are the eight
players with the best Heisman Trophy betting odds entering Week 1 via BetMGM:
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss
Current Odds: +1600
If winning his court battle, Chambliss is returning to college football to lead Ole Miss to the playoffs and, hopefully, a national championship berth for one final year. Chambliss led the SEC in passing yards last year and was No. 8 in the Heisman voting, so he is a real contender for the Heisman this year.
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
Current Odds: +1600
Smith is the only non-quarterback in the top eight odds to win the Heisman Trophy He was named an All American last year and finished No. 6 in the Heisman voting after leading the Big Ten in receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,243) last season An Ohio State player has not won the Heisman since quarterback Troy Smith won it in 2006, but this could be the year that finally changes.
Indiana QB Josh Hoover
Current Odds: +1600
Perhaps this is the Fernando Mendoza effect since Hoover is coming into Indiana as Mendoza's replacement. Hoover spent the past three seasons as the quarterback for TCU and led the Big 12 in interceptions last year with 13. As of right now, there seem to be stronger candidates in the Heisman race than Hoover, but only time will tell.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin
Current Odds: +1400
Sayin was actually a Heisman finalist last season after leading the Big Ten in completions and posting the highest completion percentage in the FBS at 77 percent. It certainly helps to have fellow Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith on the roster. Still, Sayin is also an elite quarterback in his own right and is my personal favorite to win the Heisman at this point.
Miami QB Darian Mensah
Current Odds: +1100
No quarterback in the ACC attempted as many passes last season as Mensah did. Now, he goes from a struggling Duke team that shockingly won the ACC Championship to the best team in the conference in the Hurricanes. If Miami is as competitive as they were last season, it will be because of Mensah, and it will put him squarely in the conversation for the Heisman.
Oregon QB Dante Moore
Current Odds: +1100
Dante Moore could have gone to the NFL last season and been a top-five pick. Instead, he chose to return to Oregon for one more season to try to lead the Ducks to a national championship. Last season's numbers were very good, and if he can bring his interceptions down from 10 last year, that would make him one of the best in college football this season.
Texas QB Arch Manning
Current Odds: +850
If his last name was not Manning, I do not believe he would be in the conversation for the Heisman. In his first season as the starter for the Longhorns, Manning had a 61.4 percent completion percentage, over 3,400 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He did not pass the eye test when watching Texas' games last year. Maybe he finally makes the jump everyone has been expecting of him and becomes a true Heisman candidate, but I would not bet on him right now.
Notre Dame QB CJ Carr
Current Odds: +700
Quarterback CJ Carr for the Fighting Irish is currently the favorite to win the Heisman. It makes sense - Notre Dame is a powerhouse that could seriously win the national championship this year - and Carr is their quarterback. His numbers last season were not Heisman-worthy, but now that Notre Dame will have to rely on their quarterback more instead of just running the ball with Jeremiyah Love. Carr could really emerge as a Heisman candidate this year.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Heisman Trophy betting odds entering Week 1 of college football season
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