The long wait is finally over as the new college football season is set to get underway later in a matter of days. Florida State pulled off a remarkable 34-31 victory over the Auburn Tigers in the BCS National Championship last season as 2013 Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston delivered one of the most impressive drives in college football history, going 6-for-7 with 77 passing yards in a stunning 80-yard drive to complete the famous comeback.
With Winston returning to the Seminoles this season for his second stint, the onus is on his fellow competitors to step up their game as the race not only for the national championship but for the Heisman trophy begins anew. Read our preview of Winston’s Seminoles here, and read on to learn more about this year’s Heisman hopefuls.
[sc:Football ]Heisman Trophy Betting Preview and Prediction
Favorites – Jameis Winston (Florida State) and Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
Winston was simply unstoppable last season as he torched the opposition for 4,057 passing yards and 40 touchdowns on his way to bagging the Heisman Trophy as a freshman.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]A year removed from that magical season, which saw the Seminoles go a perfect 14-0 to win the BCS National Championship, Winston is back to terrorize defenses in his sophomore season and is the odds-on favorite at +375 to win back-to-back Heismans.
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota provides the biggest hurdle to Winston’s Heisman plans this season according to bookmakers as he embarks on his junior year with the Ducks. Mariota became the first player in Oregon history to surpass 4,000 yards in a single season as he compiled an impressive 4,380 yards of total offense last year.
He was outstanding in the 2013 Alamo Bowl where he was the MVP in the Ducks’ convincing 30-7 win over Texas, their third-straight Bowl victory. If they are to contend for the national championship this season, Mariota must display the same form or better for them to have a chance against other big teams. He is priced at +575 to win the Heisman this season.
High-Value Sleepers – Braxton Miller (Ohio State) and Bryce Petty (Baylor)
Many media observers have listed Braxton Miller as the best player in the Big Ten, and why not? His athleticism was there for all to see last season, where he passed for at least 2,000 yards (2,094) and rushed for at least 1,000 yards (1,068) for the second-consecutive year. If he did not miss Ohio State’s two games against California and Florida A&M last year, chances are he would have been a Heisman Trophy contender as well.
Miller has another shot at claiming the historic trophy (+650) , as he returns for his final year of eligibility with the Buckeyes. He is a dual threat who possesses that special ability to turn broken plays into big plays, either with his arm or his feet. That lethal combination will spell trouble for the opposition next season.
Bryce Petty, on the other hand, was a beast for the Bears last season as he passed for a total of 4,200 yards to lead Baylor to an 11-2 record. That second defeat was a tough one for Petty and the Bears though, as they lost the Fiesta Bowl to Central Florida 52-42 even though they were massive 17-point favorites.
Defeat, however, may spur Petty to work harder even more, so expect the Bears quarterback to bounce back stronger this campaign. He is listed at +1,000 to win the Heisman Trophy this season.
Long Shot – Trevor Knight (Oklahoma)
Trevor Knight finished last season on a high note as he led the Oklahoma Sooners to a stunning 45-31 upset victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He was the best player on the field against the Crimson Tide as he connected on 32-of-44 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Interestingly, that was the only game last season where Knight surpassed the 200-yard mark as a passer. Talk about saving your best performance for last.
Expectations are high that Knight will continue that great form in the Bowl game to the coming season ahead and he is priced at +1,600 to lift the coveted Heisman trophy.
Writer’s Prediction
Jameis Winston (+350) will prove that last season was no fluke as he’ll bag his second consecutive Heisman trophy next season. Create a betting account now and predict who will take college football’s top individual prize.
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