Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams Appears in Heisman Odds After Week 7; Kenny Pickett Surges

• Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams impressed in his first start against TCU in Week 7
• Williams immediately became a top-10 favorite in the Heisman odds
• Read below to see the updated Heisman Trophy odds, plus betting analysis

It didn’t take long for Oklahoma freshman quarterback Caleb Williams to appear in the Heisman odds. The Sooners’ pivot is listed as a top-10 favorite in the updated odds after impressing in his first collegiate start against TCU.

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is another QB rising in the odds, while running backs Kenneth Walker III and Bijan Robinson both saw their odds lengthen following Week 7.

Is Williams actually a smart bet for the Heisman Trophy?

Updated Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds as of Oct 17th at DraftKings. 

WIlliams Shines In First Start

Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams lived up to the hype in his first collegiate start against TCU in Week 7. The true freshman threw four TD passes and ran for another score to lead his team to a 52-31 victory over the Horned Frogs. Williams got the start after Spencer Rattler was benched in last weekend’s Red River game.

WIlliams became the true freshman to start at quarterback for Oklahoma since Cale Gundy in 1990. The youngster was super poised against TCU, finishing 18-of-23 passing for 295 yards, while adding another 66 yards rushing. Williams had a 41-yard scoring run in the third quarter in which he made a defender miss at the line of scrimmage.

Caleb Williams leads No. 4 Oklahoma over TCU, 52-31

Williams: 18-23, 361 total YDS, 5 total TDs 😳

Boomer. Sooner. pic.twitter.com/XyKtmWW8w2

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 17, 2021

The Sooners have gotten a jolt offensively since Williams took over for Rattler midway through the Red River Shootout. Oklahoma scored 35 points in the second half against Texas before exploding for 525 yards of offense ( 9.1 yards per play) against TCU. Williams is a dual-threat QB who has the type of mobility that Rattler was lacking.

Williams may have a Heisman in his future, but it’s best to pump the brakes when it comes to this season. The true freshman has already missed five games this season, which means his end-of-year numbers won’t compare to the country’s top quarterbacks. Notre Dame’s Angelo Bertelli (1943) is the only player to win the Heisman despite missing more than one game.

Kenny Pickett Makes Push

Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett continues to rise in the Heisman odds after impressing in Week 7 against Virginia Tech. The senior pivot threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a score to lead the Panthers to a 28-7 victory over the Hookies. Pickett’s Heisman odds improved from +3000 to +2200 after the game.

Pickett is generating Heisman buzz as Pittsburgh continues to make noise in the ACC. The Panthers have won three straight games to take sole possession of first place in the conference. A down year for Clemson has opened the door for a new contender to emerge in the ACC. The Tigers had won six straight titles entering 2021-22.

Windy day in a tough environment? 💨

Didn’t matter for Kenny Pickett 🔥

22-for-37, 241 total yards, 3 total TD#H2P 📈 pic.twitter.com/VosijNiwpz

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 17, 2021

Pickett is among the top college quarterbacks this season, throwing for 1,934 yards and 21 TDs with only one interception. The experienced QB has also been very accurate, completing 69.8 percent of his 205 passing attempts. Pickett’s efficiency is a prime reason the Panthers lead the ACC in total offense (554.4 YPG).

Pickett will have a big opportunity to bolster his Heisman resume when he faces Clemson in Week 8. The veteran was eaten up by the Tigers’ defense last year, throwing four interceptions and getting sacked six times in a 52-17 loss. If you like Pickett as a Heisman longshot, you’ll want to bet him before the rematch.

Walker III, Robinson Fade

Two running backs who showed out in Week 6 both saw their Heisman odds lengthen following Week 7. Texas’ Bijan Robinson and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III both experienced hiccups in their Heisman campaigns for different reasons. Robinson picked up another loss, while Walker III was bottled up by an inferior opponent.

5 is a BEAST. That is all…@Bijan5Robinson pic.twitter.com/ACBN1bnNZU

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 16, 2021

Robinson saw his Heisman odds fade from +1800 to +3000 despite rushing for 135 yards and three TDs in a loss to Oklahoma State. Robinson has put together five consecutive 100-yard games, yet is fading in the Heisman odds due to Texas suffering back-to-back losses. The Heisman winner almost always comes from a top team in the country.

Walker III, meanwhile, saw his Heisman odds lengthen from +1400 to +1600 after rushing for 84 yards in a close win over Indiana. Walker III still remains the country’s leading rusher with 997 yards through seven games. His week 7 performance was disappointing, but he has the chance for redemption with upcoming games against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Bryce Young vs Matt Corral

Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral remain neck-and-neck atop the Heisman odds following Week 7. Young followed up his first loss against Texas A&M in Week 6 with an excellent showing against Mississippi State in Week 7. The sophomore threw for 348 yards and four TDs in a blowout victory over the Bulldogs.

Rollin’ #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/yBXdvFk3ib

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 17, 2021

Corral threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 195 yards in a 31-26 victory over Tennessee. The Ole Miss pivot put the team on his back with several teammates out due to injury. The Rebels were without their left guard, two of their top three receivers and their best tight end.

Corral may just be the best player in college football, but will he win the Heisman? Young has thrown for more yards and TDs, but Corral has done more with less. One reason an Alabama QB is yet to win the Heisman is due to the team’s skill at every other position. That may just be the reason Corral comes out on top when all is said-and-done.