Best Heisman Contender Player Prop Bets Week 8: How to Bet Jeremiah Smith, Dante Moore & More

At the midway point in the season, the Heisman Trophy race remains fairly wide open, and I'm breaking down my top college football player prop picks and Heisman contender bets for Saturday, as part of our college football predictions for Week 8.

This week's college football picks project QBs like Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson to continue their Heisman-level play, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss to struggle on the road against Georgia, and Dante Moore to bounce back in a big way against Rutgers.

🏈 College football player prop picks: Week 8 Heisman contender bets

College football player prop odds subject to change.

• Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: Over 5.5 receptions (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: Over 2.5 passing TDs (-148 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M: Anytime TD (-140 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
• Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss: Under 49.5 rushing yards (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
• Dante Moore, QB, Oregon: Over 2.5 passing TDs (+148 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama: Over 2.5 passing TDs (-105 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💰 Best Heisman contender bets today

Our college football player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.

⬆️ Jeremiah Smith Over 5.5 receptions (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While Ohio State sophomore star Jeremiah Smith isn't the most productive wide receiver in the nation this season, he still has the shortest Heisman Trophy odds of any non-QB for a reason. Smith is fourth in the Power Four in receptions (40), sixth in yards per route run (3.32), and seventh in first down catches. 

With fellow Heisman contender Julian Sayin getting more comfortable as Ohio State's QB1, Smith's productivity should climb. And with Wisconsin on a four-game losing streak, the Badgers' defense could be in trouble - it's just No. 77 in EPA per pass.

Smith has gone for at least six receptions in four of five FBS games this season, averaging seven catches per game against top-flight competition. If he catches at least six passes against Wisconsin, a $10 bet pays an $8.77 profit. I dive deeper into this matchup with my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction.

⬆️ Fernando Mendoza Over 2.5 passing TDs (-148) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Coming off Indiana's upset win over Oregon, Fernando Mendoza has the third-shortest Heisman Trophy odds, which is why the price on him throwing Over 2.5 TDs against Michigan State is this short at our best college football betting sites. Still, Mendoza should continue his hot play against a struggling Spartans team.

The California transfer has played his way into top-five pick buzz and ranks top 10 in the country in QBR (84.6) and TD passes (17). Michigan State's defense doesn't stand a chance, with it ranked No. 123 in EPA per pass and having given up the most TD passes in the Big Ten (13) as Jonathan Smith's seat continues to heat up.

Mendoza is averaging 3.4 TD passes per game since Week 2, and has thrown at least three in three of his last five games. A $10 bet pays a $6.76 profit if he pulls it off again.

🔥 Marcel Reed anytime TD (-140) ⭐⭐⭐

The least talked about Heisman contender, Texas A&M's Marcel Reed, has been a steady presence behind center for a loaded Aggies offense. With studs at wide receiver in Mario Craver and KC Concepcion, and a dominant O-line, Reed hasn't needed to run as much this season, but he's still found the end zone in two of three SEC games.

The sophomore is set to have a massive day against an Arkansas run defense that's arguably the worst in the SEC. The Razorbacks' defense is ranked No. 120 in EPA per rush, is allowing the most rushing yards per game in the conference (184.0), and has given up the most rushing TDs in the SEC (14).

With Reed's ability to make defenders miss, he's forced the 16th most missed tackles among P4 QBs (11); he should be able to score for the third straight game. A $10 bet on the Aggies' star to hit pay dirt pays a $7.14 profit. I have Reed leading A&M to a comfortable victory with my college football predictions for every top 25 game.

⬇️ Trinidad Chambliss Under 49.5 rushing yards (-115) ⭐⭐⭐

Coming off a near-upset loss to Washington State, Ole Miss could be in trouble on the road against Georgia if the Bulldogs slow Chambliss in the run game. In the Rebels' 24-21 win, the Cougars managed to hold Chambliss to 15 rushing yards on 11 carries, his lowest output since taking over as the starter.

The rise of Chambliss from a Division II transfer (Ferris State) to becoming a Heisman contender has been one of the best stories in the SEC this season, but this is one of the best run defenses he'll see. Kirby Smart's defense, led by star linebacker CJ Allen, is No. 8 in EPA per rush and allowing just 91.7 rushing yards per game.

Helping this prop bet is the fact that Lane Kiffin's game plan might lean heavily on Chambliss' arm, with Georgia's pass defense having far more holes than its run defense. And if the Bulldogs keep Chambliss to fewer than 50 rushing yards, a $10 bet pays an $8.70 profit. Our Mike Spector expect offense early in this matchup with his college football best bets.

⬆️ Dante Moore Over 2.5 passing TDs (+148) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A week ago at this time, Moore was the Heisman favorite with his odds sitting at +700 ... now they're as long as +3000 after losing to Indiana last week. That feels like an overcorrection, and he's definitely worth betting on at that price, with his Heisman odds likely to be cut down to +2000 following Saturday's game against Rutgers.  

The Scarlet Knights have a fun offense, but they're 5-1 betting the Over this season due to Greg Schiano's horrific defense. Rutgers is No. 132 (out of 136) in EPA per pass on defense and is allowing 35.6 PPG in Big Ten play. It just allowed Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. to become the 16th player in FBS history to throw for 400-plus yards and rush for 100-plus yards in a game.

So, I expect Moore to remind everyone why he's a potential No. 1 pick against a defense that gave up 31 to a MAC team (Ohio). If the Ducks QB throws for at least three TDs for the fifth time in seven games, a $10 bet pays a $14.80 profit.

⬆️ Ty Simpson Over 2.5 passing TDs (-105) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

No passer in the country is playing quarterback at a higher level than Simpson right now. He has the second-shortest Heisman Trophy odds (+380), and is my pick to win the award entering Week 8. Don't let his inconsistent Week 1 play on the road against Florida State cloud your vision; this is a potential first-round talent.

Simpson's ability pre-snap is arguably the best in the country, and it's a huge reason why he's the only QB in the country with at least 16 TD passes and fewer than two interceptions. It's not hard to see he's the son of a coach (his dad is UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson), with the former blue-chip recruit as efficient as he is aggressive - Simpson is the only P4 QB with a big-time throw rate of at least 6% and an adjusted completion rate of at least 80%.

While Tennessee poses a challenge for Alabama, it's also an opportunity for Simpson to put on a show against a Vols team that's been prone to shootouts due to poor defensive play (it ranks No. 98 in EPA per pass on defense). If Simpson can take advantage and throw at least three TDs for the fourth time in six games, a $10 bet pays a $9.52 profit. 

- via my college football player props picks for Week 8

Our Mike Spector dives into the game lines for the Game of the Week with his Tennessee vs. Alabama prediction.