Heisman Watch 2011: Breaking Down Odds for Every Finalist

Two national championship participants, the top prospect in the country, a Big Ten touchdown machine and a quarterback known better by just his initials. These are are the five finalists for the 2011 Heisman Trophy.

Tyrann Mathieu of LSU, Trent Richardson of Alabama, Andrew Luck of Stanford, Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Robert Griffin III of Baylor will sit together on Dec. 10 when the 2011 Heisman Trophy is announced in New York.

The five names have been synonymous with success all season long and have been supremely important to their respective football teams.

Only one can win though, and this year's vote will be extremely close.

Where: Best Buy Theater; New York, New York

When: Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. EST

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One of these five following finalists will be awarded the trophy by 1995 winner Eddie George.

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

The nation's most prolific touchdown scorer, Ball helped lead the Badgers to a Big Ten title and an upcoming Rose Bowl appearance against Oregon.

Along the way he scored a ridiculous 38 total touchdowns and is on pace to break 1988 Heisman winner Barry Sanders' touchdown record of 39.

Ball averages over 135 yards per game on the ground and was the nation's fourth leading rusher.

Despite the stellar season, his Heisman chances take a major hit at the hands of his starting quarterback Russell Wilson. The Badgers averaged nearly 45 points per game this year and a lot of it had to do with ball and Wilson, who threw for 31 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Ball was great this season, but one could muster an argument that he's not even the most valuable player on his own team.

Odds to Win: +1500

Projected Finish: 5th

Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU

We can say one thing about the LSU Tiger defensive back: The Honey Badger don't care and it takes what it wants.

We know this, not just because the famous YouTube video tells us so, but because the nation's top defensive playmaker is all over the football field, does what he wants and takes what he wants.

Mathieu finished the regular season as the Tigers' leading tackler along with six forced fumbles, five recovered fumbles, two interceptions and four touchdowns.

He makes plays on defense and special teams and has to be accounted for on every single snap.

The Honey Badger deserves to be one of the top five finalists for his impact on the football field, but not enough to warrant a win.

Odds to Win: +2000

Projected Finish: 4th

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

We know all about the nation's No. 1 prospect. He's lost only two games in the last two years—both to Oregon—and he's considered the next Peyton Manning but with more mobility.

Luck has had the benefit of playing in a pro-style offense with a heavy emphasis on the run game, but also makes ridiculous play after ridiculous play. He finished the year with 35 touchdowns, nine interceptions on 70 percent of passes completed.

Without Luck Stanford would be a run-heavy offense with no balance whatsoever. He had to take the field with injured teammates week in and week out, as well as dealing with the pressure of being the top prospect nearly two years running.

All in all, Luck lived up to his end of the bargain but didn't blow anyone way this year because we've come to expect so much from him.

He's a legitimate contender to win the Heisman Trophy depending on how voters are swayed by late season performances from others.

Odds to Win: +200

Projected Finish: 3rd

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The key component of the Crimson Tide offense, Trent Richardson took on the burden of carrying an inexperienced quarterback all the way to the BCS National Championship Game.

The Tide's defense is certainly their driving force, but they score points too and a lot of them thanks to Richardson.

The running back, the second Alabama running back to be nominated in the last three years, finished the season with 1,583 yards, on six yards per carry and rushed for 20 touchdowns. He also caught 27 balls for over 300 yards and three touchdowns and did so in the nation's toughest conference.

The junior is a likely top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Odds to Win: +175

Projected Finish: 2nd

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Nobody expected to see RGIII atop the Heisman ballot at the beginning of the season and that is what many will look at as a reason to give him the nod.

The Baylor Bears performed extremely well in an uber-competitive Big 12 this season, and all of it had to do with RGIII.

He threw for 3,998 yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions on 72.3 percent of passes completed and ran for 644 yards and nine touchdowns.

He led Baylor on a five-game winning streak to close the season and everyone took notice as he did. No quarterback (possibly Heisman snub Matt Barkley actually) closed the season on a higher note.

If Heisman voters are looking for a "what have you done for me always and lately" then they have to look no further than RGIII.

Odds to Win: +150

Projected Finish: 1st

When all the votes are counted it will come down to a quarterback earning the Heisman and a running back finishing in a close second.

RGIII has a slight edge over Luck because of shock value and "wow" factor. Thus, Richardson and his importance to Alabama will bump him into second leaving Luck to sit third.

The Honey Badger and Ball have had great seasons, but their accomplishments and overall importance to their teams were not on a Heisman-winning level.