Whoa, hold up! If you blinked this past Saturday, you might have missed Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith just absolutely detonating the Heisman trophy race. The dude went off against Illinois, pulling in a mind-blowing 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns in #5 Ohio State’s 42-19 demolition job. That’s not just a big game, that’s a statement.
Smith’s Electric Start Put Everyone Else on Notice
Seriously, four touchdowns? That’s video game stuff! It’s not just one game either. Smith has been a consistent monster all season, chalking up at least five catches and 85 yards in every single outing, totaling seven touchdowns before this latest explosion. You know what that means, right? Oddsmakers at BetMGM wasted no time, installing Smith at +275 as the brand new, undisputed betting favorite for the Heisman. Think about that for a second. He was sitting at 10-1 odds coming into the weekend. He didn’t just climb the ladder, he rocket-launched past guys like Miami (FL) quarterback Darian Mensah and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, who were *co-favorites* before Week 4! This isn’t just about talent, it’s about big money too. Smith currently holds the most wagers (9.2%) and the most cash wagered (18.2%) of any player for the Heisman at BetMGM, making him their biggest liability. It’s a rare feat for a receiver too, with only Alabama’s Devonta Smith pulling it off in 2020 since way back in 1992.
The QB Race Just Got a Whole Lot Spicier
So, where does that leave the other contenders? Darian Mensah is still looking good, but he’s now at +400, second-best odds, even after throwing eight touchdowns and leading #4-ranked Miami to a perfect 4-0 start. Then there’s Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor, who’s been on an absolute heater. He opened the season at a ridiculous 150-1 and has rocketed all the way up to +700, making him the third-best odds right now. Taylor is tied for the lead in college football with 14 touchdown passes, and his Bulldogs are also 4-0. They’ve got a massive showdown with #7 Alabama coming up this Saturday, so you know that’s gonna be must-watch TV. Meanwhile, preseason Heisman favorite CJ Carr from Notre Dame is hanging around at 12-1 odds, and poor Arch Manning from Texas has seen his odds tumble all the way down to 30-1. The landscape just totally shifted.
What a weekend for college football! Smith just blew the Heisman race wide open, and now every snap matters even more. Keep an eye on that Mississippi State-Alabama game this Saturday, because Kamario Taylor could either cement his place or fall back in the pack. It’s Heisman season, baby!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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