posted October 9, 2009 at 17:23 EST in NCAA F Props
College Football Props - Heisman Trophy Candidates
by Charles Jay
Let's take a look at how Heisman contenders are doing, as we look at it through the perspective of the BetUS college football betting odds.
CJ Spiller, Clemson RB (+7500) -- Spiller has 72 yards in 18 carries against Maryland, in a 24-21 loss. He ranks first in the nation in punt return yardage and is fourth in kickoff returns, but he's only got one hundred-yard game from scrimmage. Not inspiring.
Colt McCoy, Texas QB (+300) -- he sat idle this past week. McCoy is ranked 26th nationally in passing efficiency, completing 71% of his passes. He's thrown five interceptions, and he'll have to cut down on that as he faces upcoming battles against Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State.
Daryll Clark , Penn State QB (+4000) -- Clark has completed 61%, with nine TD's and six INT's, which is not exciting when you consider that with the exception of Iowa, he has played against patsies. He is a non-contender.
Evan Royster , Penn State RB (+4000) -- In his last game against Illinois, Royster had 1056 yards rushing. He's on track to gain 1000 yards on the ground, and in this company, that is not the kind of production that is going to get him votes.
Jacquizz Rodgers , Oregon State RB (+7500) -- Rodgers started the season well, with 166 yards against UNLV in his first outing against Division I competition, but he's had only 73, 85 and 81 yards in three games since. With stiffer challenges ahead, this is nothing to get anyone excited, although he ranks 20th in the nation in rushing yards per game.
Jahvid Best , California RB (+1500) -- Best was supposed to be really stepping it up and presenting his Heisman credentials, but he’s faltered, and so has his team. Cal has been outscored 72-6 in the last two games, against Oregon and USC, with Best gaining just 102 total yards on the ground in those contests. He's out of it for now, and would have to do something earth-shattering to get back into it.
Jevan Snead , Ole Miss QB (+2000) -- Snead has only completed 51% of his passes. In no game has he completed 20 passes, and he was intercepted three times last time out against Vanderbilt. He looked much better as a pre-season candidate. Cancel his ticket.
Joe McKnight , USC RB (+3000) -- McKnight is the type of player who really should be a good candidate. After all, he averages seven yards a carry, and plays for a very high-profile team. But as a non-quarterback, he isn't the type of true workhorse who gets Heisman votes.
Jonathan Dwyer , Georgia Tech RB (+5000) -- Dwyer has over six yards a carry, but he's only carried the ball 65 times in five games. Last week he had 83 yards against Mississippi State. He is a victim of his team's depth at the running back spot.
Noel Devine , West Virginia RB (+3000) -- Devine made one of the big moves last week, rambling for 220 yards against Colorado. He's always going to be the kind of guy who makes his runs count, and this year he has 7.4 yards a carry, but he's also third in the nation with 135 yards per game. You've got to have him in the top eight by now, and if he can drive the Mountaineers to a few more victories, he'll gain even more ground.
Terrelle Pryor , Ohio State QB (+4000) -- Pryor was 17 of 28 for 166 yards against Indiana, and rushed for 63 more. When it comes down to it, I doubt he's good enough in either category. Would you vote for him ahead of Tim Tebow? Ho-hum.
Tim Tebow , Florida QB (+200) -- The best hope for the rest of this field would be if Tebow missed some more time with his concussion. I don't think that's going to happen. He'll come back, lead a triumph over LSU, and that will add to his legend. He is third in passing efficiency with six TD's, one interception and 64.7% completions, and had 123 rushing yards against Kentucky before going out of the game.
Toby Gerhart , Stanford RB (+2000) -- Gerhart ranks fourth nationally with 130 yards a game. He followed his 200-yard effort against Washington with 134 against UCLA. If his team doesn't lose too many games, he might get a trip to New York out of this whole thing.
Todd Reesing , Kansas QB (+2000) -- He's steady and reliable, with 67% completions, nine TD's and two interceptions, and he gets to pad his stats this weekend against Iowa State. He's just not Heisman material.
Jimmy Clausen , Notre Dame QB (+700) -- Clausen had 422 passing yards against Washington last week, and has 12 TD passes on the year, with two interceptions. That is good enough to make him the nation's leader in passing efficiency, and if you do that at Notre Dame, you are automatically a candidate.
His 10.4 yards per attempt leads everybody too. He is solidly third on the Heisman list right now, and a big effort at home against USC on October 17 could move him up into the #2 spot very easily, depending on what McCoy does against Oklahoma.
Mark Ingram , Alabama RB (+5000) -- With 487 rushing yards and 147 through the air, this running back is a productive star on the #3 team in the country, but he's got no buzz associated with him. He's got Ole Miss and South Carolina upcoming, but I don't know that is going to make a difference.
Jacory Harris , Miami QB (+2000) -- Harris got himself back into top ten contention with 202 yards and three TD's against Oklahoma in a Miami win. His stats aren't as gaudy as some of the others, but he didn't fatten his numbers against stiffs either; all of his games have come against teams who were ranked at the time.
Max Hall , BYU QB (+5000) -- With ten interceptions already to go with 11 TD passes, I don't think Hall can be rehabilitated, even as a fringe candidate.
Tate Fourcier , Michigan QB (+7500) -- As a true freshman, he's done a good job in leading Michigan into the Top 25, until the loss in Lansing this past week, but he's "futures" candidate at best. You want freshmen? How about Pittsburgh's Dion Lewis?
Case Keenum , Houston QB (+5000) -- The nation's leader in total offense had 536 yards passing and five TD's against UTEP, and that brought him up to 1696 yards overall. However, his legitimacy as a candidate is more tired to his team's record than others, and losing to UTEP, even if it's not his fault, doesn't do him any good.
Tony Pike , Cincinnati QB (+1500) -- Pike is up among the leaders in touchdown passes (13), yards (1493) and completions (116). He was 23 of 42 for 270 against Miami of Ohio. On the 15th, he gets South Florida and its pass rush. We'll see, but right now he's a legitimate top five guy.
Greg McElroy , Alabama QB (+5000) -- He's doing a more than adequate job in holding the fort down for the Tide. With nine TD passes and one INT, he's doing just what they need him to do, and ranks 6th in the nation in passing efficiency. With 9.1 yards an attempt, he's far from just a guy who "manages" the game. Keep an eye on him; if 'Bama stays unbeaten for a while (Ole Miss is next), he can play "Survivor" with this field.
