Heisman Trophy odds update: Louisville quarterback Micale Cunningham takes big jump up board

There's still a lot we don't know about this college football season but as of now the Heisman is scheduled to be handed out as previously scheduled – although Big Ten players could be part of that race if numerous rumors are to be believed. Clemson's Trevor Lawrence remains the +200 clear-cut favorite to be the first player from his school to win the Heisman, but another ACC quarterback has made a big jump from once an afterthought: Louisville's Micale Cunningham. He's priced +2000 to win it.

The Cardinals opened their season this past Saturday against a pretty solid Western Kentucky program and beat the Hilltoppers 35-21. Cunningham threw for 343 yards (career high) and three touchdowns and rushed for another score. His 12 career rushing scores are second all-time at the school. Cunningham led the country in passing yards per completion in 2019 at 18.4 yards and averaged 18.1 yards per completion in the win over WKU.

Louisville had four touchdown drives of at least 85 yards Saturday. Cunningham has two other terrific skill position players around him in running back Javian Hawkins and receiver Tutu Atwell.  Of course, the only Louisville player to win the Heisman was Lamar Jackson in 2016. Whatever happened that that guy!?

The Cards jumped from unranked to No. 18 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and they have a huge game this Saturday against visiting and 17th-ranked Miami. The Canes have their own Heisman candidate in QB D'Eriq King, who is +800. In his UM debut last Thursday in a 31-14 win over UAB, King threw for 144 yards and a score and rushed for 83 and a TD. In the process, he extended his FBS record to 16 straight games with at least one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown.

Miami-Louisville is the first ranked matchup of the young season and is a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. The Cards opened as 2.5-point favorites on the NCAA odds. It could be a Heisman elimination game of sorts for the losing QB.

There are a few SEC players among the Heisman favorites but those schools don't open play until Sept. 26. Georgia's Jamie Newman had been among the favorites but opted out so now his replacement, USC transfer JT Daniels, is among them.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: 2020 Heisman Trophy favorites

• Trevor Lawrence +200
• Spencer Rattler +500
• D'Eriq King +800
• Sam Ehlinger +850
• JT Daniels +1000
• Travis Etienne +1200
• Mac Jones +1500
• Kellen Mond +1800
• Micale Cunningham +2000
• Kyle Trask +2000

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