Denard Robinson Catapults Himself Into Heisman Race, Vegas Still Favors Pryor

When Vegas released the Heisman Trophy odds earlier this summer, they failed to include one important name, Denard Robinson. However, just two games into the 2010 season, the University of Michigan Wolverines quarterback have the bookies attention.

 After racking up insane statistics versus the University of Connecticut and Notre Dame, Sportsbook.com has Robinson at +450 to win this year’s Heisman; behind only Terrelle Pryor (+350).
 
In Michigan's opening week 30-10 victory over the UConn Huskies, the sophomore signal caller threw for 186 yards and a touchdown while piling up 197 yards and one score on the ground. He finished the game with a 172.39 QB rating.
 
Then this past Saturday versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Robinson passed for 244 yards and a score through the air, in addition to churning out 258 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, en route to a 28-24 upset over the Irish.

If Robinson is to become the fourth sophomore in a row to take home college football's most prestigious individual award, not only will he need to continue to put up big numbers, but the Michigan will need to keep winning as well.

Since its inception in 1935, only one player was able to take home the Heisman despite playing for a losing team, Paul Hornung in 1956. Additionally, eight of the last ten Heisman winners played in the BCS National Championship game that very year.

Despite Michigan's fast start, making it to the BCS Championship game, or anywhere close would shock just about everyone outside of Ann Arbor. Sportsbook.com had the Wolverines' Over/Under Season Win total set at 7 (under -130) and they are currently +3000 to hoist the BCS Championship trophy in January. Therefore, according to the bookies, Robinson’s Wolverines have plenty of work to do to satisfy the Heisman voters lofty standards.

Then again, if Michigan can tally at least nine victories and Robinson continues lighting up the stat sheet, +450 might be good value.

As mentioned, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is currently Robinson’s biggest competition to win the Heisman. Although his stats may not be as impressive as Robinson's, they are certainly nothing to laugh at. Through his first two games, Pryor has registered a passer rating of 158.7 while leading the Buckeyes in rushing with 130 yards.

If these two remain the favorites to win the Heisman, how much more interesting will the November 27^th Michigan vs. OSU be? Oh and by the way, Denard and the Wolverines are currently 13 point underdogs versus the #2 ranked Buckeyes at Sportsbook.com for The Game.