Heisman Trophy Odds, Post-Tyrann Mathieu Dismissal

Tyrann Mathieu was heading into his senior season and was considered by many to be the best defensive player in the country. Last season, he was a first-team All-American, first-team All-SEC and of course a Heisman Trophy finalist.

It is incredibly hard for a defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy, as we all know, but if there was going to be anybody who could do it, it was certainly Mathieu.

Now there is simply no chance for the Honey Badger, as he has been dismissed from the LSU Tigers for violation of team rules.

This now removes one less Heisman candidate and makes things a little bit easier for everybody else who wants to walk away with the hardware.

Here are the top five candidates for the 2012 Heisman Trophy now that Mathieu is no longer eligible.

5. Geno Smith, West Virginia

Geno Smith really stepped up to the plate last season, throwing for over 4,300 yards, completing nearly 66 percent of his passes and scoring 33 total touchdowns.

He finished his junior season out with a bang, throwing for 407 yards and scoring seven touchdowns in the 2012 BCS Orange Bowl, a 70-33 victory over the Clemson Tigers.

Now as the Mountaineers head into the Big 12, Smith is in perfect position to compete for the award. He has the hype after a tremendous season, has oodles of weapons at the wide receiver position, and is in a conference that isn't known for great defense. (Only one Big 12 defense was ranked in the top-50 a season ago.)

4. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Say what you want about Landry Jones, but he has thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.

Sure, he may turn the ball over a little more than we would like, but the guy is going to shatter nearly every passing record in Oklahoma history, if he stays healthy. He has thrown over 12,000 yards and 93 touchdowns throughout his three-year career.

I am a little cautious about the wide receiver questions and all of the recent injuries to his offensive line, but how do you not like a quarterback that threw for over 300 yards eight times last season? Jones has the experience and a proven track record to be an early contender for the most prestigious award in college football.

3. Denard Robinson, Michigan

Denard Robinson has been an early Heisman candidate the last two seasons, but due to the amount of interceptions that he has thrown, he always falls short of receiving an invite to New York.

But this will be his last season at Michigan and you have to expect that he will come through this time.

Robinson had led the Wolverines in rushing and passing yards in each of the last two seasons. Throughout his career, Robinson has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards, rushed for over 3,000, and has scored 75 total touchdowns. He is, by far, the most exciting player to watch in college football, as he usually creates something when nothing is there.

He has been working to improve his passing game during the offseason, and if that improves, expect "Shoelace" to be holding the hardware this season.

2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Montee Ball was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, who decided to return for his senior year after not liking his NFL draft stock. The guy rushed for over 1,900 yards last year and scored a record-tying 39 touchdowns.

Do I really have to say much more about him?

The numbers Ball put up last season are something most of us couldn't achieve in a video game. He rushed over 100 yards in eight games and scored at least two touchdowns in every game but one.

With a terrific offensive line blocking for him, I truly wouldn't be surprised if he continues the great success. And if his numbers are anywhere close to where they were last season, it would be a tragedy if he doesn't win the Heisman.

1. Matt Barkley, USC

Matt Barkley had his best season of his career last year, completing 69 percent of his passes, throwing for over 3,500 yards and scoring 41 total touchdowns. He could have easily been a Heisman finalist last season as well.

Now that USC is no longer banned from postseason play, there are no excuses. Barkley is set to go off this year, which is the only reason he returned for his senior season and put his NFL dreams on hold. The senior has arguably the best wide receiving corps in the country led by Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. He also has a backfield that includes two 1,000-yard rushers in Curtis McNeal and Penn State transfer Silas Redd.

While every other candidate is great in their own right, this award is really Barkley's to lose.