B/R College Football 2024 Betting Locks with Adam Kramer: Way-Too-Early Heisman Bets

For the most part, the movement has stalled. The rosters as they currently sit are largely the rosters that will take the field come fall.

There will, of course, be exceptions. College football is never fully dormant these days. The recruiting cycle still has plenty of legs and the portal isn't closed. But the snapshot as it sits right now is nearly fully formed.

Which means it's time to bet on the Heisman. Odds on who will win next season's award are out, and we are ready to pounce. Although it's the offseason, Locks of the Week never sleeps.

If you like quarterbacks—and the Heisman always loves quarterbacks—this feels like the year. While that has become the annual ritual, returning QBs are once again dominant among the predicted contenders.

As for names we have our eyes on, well, let's get to that. To keep things interesting, we're targeting a slew of players with varying odds. (Picking just one would be boring.)

Just to be clear, these picks could change before the season begins. We'll revisit this conversation come August, but it's never too early to get a jump on next year.

For the latest spreads and future bets, go to DraftKings.

Quinn Ewers, Texas (+900)

The talent is clearly there. Let's start with that.

Quinn Ewers improved last season, led his team to the College Football Playoff and should benefit greatly from another offseason with Steve Sarkisian. His decision to return was a brilliant one for all parties involved.

Ewers' case for the Heisman, however, is about much more than himself.

The offensive line will again be one of the best in the country, and Sarkisian has completely reloaded his offense after a slew of key departures. In particular, the additions of wideouts Silas Bolden, Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden were huge. As was the addition of former Alabama tight end Amari Niblack.

Offensively, the nation's No. 15 scoring offense from a season ago shouldn't skip a beat. In fact, it has a chance to get better.

All of this should benefit Ewers, who will lead Texas' debut voyage into the SEC. The schedule, while not easy, could be worse.

Texas will play Michigan at Ann Arbor early on. Georgia is also on tap, although that game will be played at home. There are plenty of landmines to account for, but the talent on this team is growing.

As we know, wins matter. The logo on the helmet matters. Stats matter.

All of these factors are working in Ewers' favor, who is currently the co-favorite to win the award with Georgia QB Carson Beck.

There is a ton to like about the team and this specific player, even if the value isn't superb.

Cameron Ward, Miami (+2500)

If you watched Miami play last year, you're probably wondering what exactly is going on.

That's a reasonable response in many ways. The play was erratic, the coaching decisions were baffling, and the general output from the Hurricanes was unacceptable. This team started reasonably well. It then fell apart.

With that acknowledged, this is an intriguing marriage. After deciding on the NFL, Ward ultimately flipped to the Hurricanes. To say this was a critical moment for head coach Mario Cristobal would be an understatement.

Ward is a certified playmaker. In 2023, he accounted for 33 total touchdowns. His 3,736 passing yards ranked fourth nationally.

While Washington State couldn't sustain after a strong start, he emerged as one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country—albeit in a conference where the quarterback play was exceptional.

At Miami, he is a star. There will be no blending into the backdrop here. And the most intriguing aspect of a potential Heisman push, beyond his ability, is this schedule.

The Hurricanes open with Florida. The rest of the ACC slate is largely manageable. Miami plays Florida State at home, and this will be a much different team. The most difficult road trip on the docket is Louisville.

Simply put, this one has fascinating potential. Miami's roster has quietly gotten better, and Ward should be better for it.

Although people are down on the Hurricanes, this is one to keep an eye on. The path is there for a lot of wins, as is the talent.

We stick with a quarterback, and we return to the SEC.

Missouri was a college football darling in 2023, winning 11 games and being fiercely competitive in its two losses. And while that team will certainly lose some pieces, the two most important ingredients return.

Brady Cook is undoubtedly one of those pieces, and his favorite target, Luther Burden III, will be back as well.

Burden might just be the best wideout in college football for this upcoming year, and Cook should be able to feed him passes time and time again.

Last year, the quarterback accounted for 29 touchdowns and six interceptions. The numbers weren't gaudy, but the production was impactful. And with ultra-productive running back Cody Schrader off to the NFL, Cook will be asked to do more.

For Cook to ascend into the Heisman discussion, he will have to do more when asked. It wouldn't shock in the least to see him reemerge as a greater threat to run the ball, which he did plenty of late in the year.

There's no question that his team will rely on him for more yards and touchdowns. How he responds will likely dictate where this goes.

If Mizzou can come close to an encore season, he should be in the Heisman mix. A game against Oklahoma and trips to Alabama and Texas A&M are on tap, although both of those programs are currently building new foundations.

The potential of Cook is off the charts, as is the potential for Missouri to be a disruptive force in the SEC once more. If both of those things happen, the quarterback of one of the hottest programs in college football should find himself very much in the mix.