24 for 32 passing, 404 yards, 5 touchdown passes and 1 interception in a 73-7 rout. That’s Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence’s line from last Saturday’s romp over Georgia Tech. His team is 5-0 with the closest result being 18 points thus far. Is the Heisman Trophy race over even before the Big 10 & Pac-12 take the field?
As far as I’m concerned, the answer is YES.
From 2000-2019, only two non-QBs have won the Heisman, Alabama running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015). The Crimson Tide have a pretty good one this year in Najee Harris, whose nearly 500 yards rushing and 11 TDs in four games is awesome…but he has no chance. But the award for college football’s best player is pretty much a cinch for a QB on a top-4 team.
This year I see only one true challenger to Lawrence, Ohio State QB Justin Fields, but his season debuts this Saturday against Nebraska. I just don’t see how he can make up that much ground in only two months.
Our ‘experts’ mostly agree with me as Lawrence and Fields are 1-2 on each of our imaginary ballots, with two first place votes to each of the two QBs.
Cohen’s Corner Heisman Poll: Week of October 19th
(3 points for top spot, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd)
T-1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (10)
T-1: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State (10)
3: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama (2)
T-4: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida (1)
T-4: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU (1)
Vegas also agrees with me as Lawrence is better than an even money choice to win. My advice, place your money on the Heisman curse coming to fruition in early-2021, with the Buckeyes over the Tigers in the National Championship Game.
On to this week’s picks where Lester leads a close race straight up while JB is dominating against the spread. We’re going with an expanded 11 game slate for Week 8:
Bold Predictions:
EC: After much too quiet days in Big 10 stadiums on opening weekend, the conference reverses course to allow a small amount of fans / additional personnel (including bands and mascots) into games starting the weekend of Halloween.
AL: Taking the field for the first time since the heartbreak in the Fiesta Bowl, OSU and Ryan Day show no signs of rust, racking up 40 points in the first half against Nebraska. The offense led by Justin Fields and the bevy of 4 and 5 star talents on offense fulfills Day’s promise that this is the best offense he’s coached in his 20 plus years.
JB: Wisconsin-Illinois 2019 was a pre-Halloween nightmare for Badgers fans last year that has fans coast to coast still spooked. The rematch proves that round I was no fluke, as the Illini D bullies around a revamped and relatively young Badgers offense. The Badgers hang on thanks to their D, but leave their fans (at home) concerned about a brutal Big Ten-only schedule.
SM: Justin Fields makes his Heisman statement right off the bat leading Ohio State to a huge win. Fields accounts for six touchdowns, four through the air and two on the ground. The massive Ohio State wins puts them into the #3 spot in the polls after only playing one game.
EC’s Week 7 Pick 5 Selections:
Last Week: 4-1
Season: 14-16
Ohio State -26.5 vs. Nebraska
Iowa -3 at Purdue
Cincinnati +2.5 at SMU
Bengals +3.5 vs. Browns
Patriots -2.5 vs. 49ers
To read previous entries of my blog, click here. Also make sure to follow me on Twitter @CohensCornerAZ.
Cohen's Corner 
Okay, I know I’ve had many Jack Daniel’s straight-up while hanging out in Vegas today but I think your graph in this article is blurry. I had a hard time reading it.
Also, shout out to John Bell for his almost “right on” score prediction last week with UCF/MEMPHIS.
This week I’m really looking forward to the Cincinnati/SMU game. I’m liking Steve Malina’s score prediction 31-27.
The biggest thing I find hard to believe about the picks this week is that 2 of you are picking LSU to win; have you seen them play? They are horrible.
Oops, It might actually be me that’s blurry; I accidentally closed the page and when I reopened it, the graph was clear. So enough from me,
Good Luck everybody.
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Thanks for the feedback as always, Papa Mike! I had to edit the score predictions graphic late last night…but no more blurriness. Didn’t realize JB nailed his score prediction for the UCF game dead on last night. Might have to keep a bullseye tracker next year!
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