Heisman Watch 2015: Latest Predictions in Race for Coveted Award

Derrick Henry is running away in the race for the Heisman Trophy.

But is he, really?

The Alabama Crimson Tide running back will go into New York as the outright favorite to become the second Alabama running back since 2009 (Mark Ingram) to take home college football's most prestigious trophy. Odds Shark has Henry as the runaway favorite at -300.

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports thinks Henry's Heisman chances grew stronger after his 271-yard performance against the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl:

It's easy to understand why Henry is the favorite for the Heisman. Not only has he broken the Crimson Tide single-season record for rushing yards, but he's ran for more yards in his junior year (1,797) than he did in his first two years combined (1,372).

Plus, he plays in the SEC. The powerhouse of college football will always get first dibs in Heisman consideration before any other conference. Take a look at Henry's stats on the year:

Carries	Yards	Touchdowns	YPC	100-yard games
295	1,797	22	6.1	8

Thomas O'Toole from USA Today feels the race is between Henry and no one else:

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The clear leader in the weekly survey of editors and reporters with Heisman votes from properties own[ed] by Gannett is Alabama running back Derrick Henry, whose team will meet Florida on Saturday in the SEC Championship game.

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Right behind Henry, at +500 per Odds Shark, is the guy who needs to be getting more consideration for the award than what he's getting right now, and that's Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

The true sophomore quarterback has the Tigers on the brink of a spot in the College Football Playoff. The only thing he needs to do is beat the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday, and he'll get that chance.

Watson has had an efficient season. He's throwing 2.7 touchdowns per interception and is completing 70.4 percent of his passes. Other than the yards and touchdown passes, his stats aren't that far off from that of Jameis Winston, another ACC quarterback that went undefeated and won the Heisman Trophy:

Player	Yards	Passing Touchdowns	Interceptions	Completion %	Rushing Yards	Rushing Touchdowns
Watson	3,228	27	10	70.4	756	9
Winston	4,057	40	10	66.9	219	4

The difference between Watson and Winston is that Watson is a more complete player from a dual-threat perspective. Winston won the award by being a true pocket passer, whereas Watson is getting his yards through both the ground and the air. Watson only has eight less total touchdowns in two less games than Winston, who scored 44 in 14 games in 2013.

The one aspect of Watson's game over the last month and a half has been reducing his turnovers. He's thrown only three interceptions, compared to 13 touchdowns, in his last six games. Freelance journalist David Ubben noted that poise and efficiency in Saturday's win against South Carolina:

As the season has worn on, there have been other worthy candidates that have emerged. For instance, Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds set the Football Bowl Subdivision record with his 78th rushing touchdown on Nov. 15. ESPN's Danny Kanell and Mike Golic thought Reynolds should be one of the few invited to New York for the presentation, per Navy Athletics.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey is another name that will get recognition. He broke the Pac-12 single-season record for all-purpose yards on Saturday against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. McCaffrey surpassed Reggie Bush's mark from 2005, when he won the Heisman Trophy. 

Unless anything drastic happens during conference championship weekend, it's going to be Watson and Henry at one and two. If the Tigers beat North Carolina on Saturday, not giving Watson the Heisman would be a crime. He's the best player on the best team in the country right now. It's only right. Henry has had a great year and has saved Alabama's season, but until Clemson loses, it's Watson's to lose.