Heisman Watch 2014: Predictions for College Football's Most Prestigious Award

Marcus Mariota, Amari Cooper and Melvin Gordon would make one heck of an offense. 

Those names are the finalists for the 2014 Heisman Trophy, although it seems like an obvious outcome given the positions of all involved.

The selections do not reek of a search for adversity, though. All deserve the distinction as one of the final three thanks to epic seasons the globe will not soon forget.

While a tad strange not to see someone such as Jameis Winston or J.T. Barrett around, the voters have spoken. All that remains is to crown a winner.

Heisman Predictions

3. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Given the dire state of his position, Gordon should be proud he even has an invite to New York.

Were this a decade ago, Gordon would stand more of a chance. He just does not play quarterback, nor did his play elevate Wisconsin when it was most in need of a boost.

Gordon's numbers are gaudy. Not often does a back go for 2,336 yards and 26 scores on a 7.6 per-carry average. As for a Heisman moment, look no further than 408 yards on the ground against Nebraska, although that record only stood for one week.

Outside of his position, Gordon came up short in the Big Ten Championship, gaining just 76 yards on 26 attempts in a 59-0 loss. Bleacher Report's Ian Kenyon hit the nail on the head after the outcome:

In a time when voters need strong performances across the board and title contention is necessary, Gordon's numbers are not enough to sway the argument in his favor.

Wisconsin and Gordon are losers of three games this season. He has numbers, but little else—especially in comparison to the other two names on the list.

2. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Cooper will come much closer to Mariota's Heisman than most think. 

The man's name is all over several records thanks to 115 catches for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns. Impressive, right? He was also quite clutch for Alabama this year.

In a major showdown with then-No. 1 Mississippi State, Cooper caught eight balls for 88 yards and a score. An Iron Bowl win was a fireworks show thanks to 13 grabs for 224 yards and three scores. Even the SEC Championship was a strong outing in some ways thanks to 12 receptions for 83 yards.

The point is simple—the Crimson Tide do not get to the College Football Playoff without Cooper.

Butch Dill/Associated Press

His numbers are impressive, but put it in this context: Alabama as a whole finished with 268 catches for 3,653 yards and 30 touchdowns. The next receiver down the list after Cooper's 115 receptions, DeAndrew White, caught 37 passes for 439 yards and four scores.

Still, Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus provides a dose of reality:

Cooper does not play quarterback. His numbers are also not enough in comparison to what Mariota has on the year to date.

Unless voters decide to throw weight behind the best NFL prospect of the three or arguably the best player on the best team, Cooper will come in second place. That is not a bad place to end up, though, especially since he is the reason the run-first stereotype that enshrouds the Crimson Tide is no more.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

It takes a whole lot to outshine the two names above. 

Mariota seems to do that with ease.

The Oregon signal-caller completed an eyebrow-raising 68.3 percent of his passes on the season for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns to two interceptions. Forget not the 669 yards and 14 scores on the ground, either.

Also, keep in mind that Mariota did a large portion of damage without some of his best offensive linemen considering Tyler Johnstone and Hroniss Grasu are out for the year.

As far as Heisman moments go, feel free to throw a dart at the schedule while blindfolded. Mariota expelled Stanford demons, upended Utah and blew away Oregon State in the Civil War with 367 passing yards and six total touchdowns. He also has a measure of revenge over Arizona thanks to a 51-13 win in the Pac-12 Championship.

The character for the award is present, too, as Seth Davis of CBS Sports illustrates:

"It is humbling to be considered for an award that I have admired for a very long time," Mariota said, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "I would like to thank my teammates and coaches as I could not have been recognized as a finalist without their help."

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Point blank, Mariota is the most important player in the nation. Oregon is nowhere close to the Pac-12 title or CFP without him under center.

Borderline unbelievable efficiency, stats, adversity hurdles surpassed and a potential national title before moving on to the pro game are just nice bonuses that add up to one perfect Heisman package. 

Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.