Preseason College Football: Top 5 Heisman Trophy Betting Favorites

The 2011 Heisman Trophy race will likely be one of the most competitive in recent memory, as five of the top six vote-getters from a year ago return to the college football landscape. 

Last year’s winner, Auburn Tigers quarterback Cam Newton, is now throwing passes for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League, finishing 222 points ahead of Stanford Cardinal signal caller Andrew Luck.

This year’s ceremony will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 and will likely be won by a quarterback, as nine of the last 10 winners have played the position. 

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram’s win in 2009 is the only thing standing in the way of 10 consecutive wins by quarterbacks, while Michigan’s Desmond Howard was the last wide receiver to earn the distinction.

Let’s take a closer look at this year’s front runners from a betting perspective.

Andrew Luck, Stanford Cardinal, Quarterback

The Stanford campus was likely shocked when quarterback Andrew Luck decided to return for his junior season, as many figured he’d move on to the NFL draft and be selected with the No. 1 pick.

He has led the program to its top two scoring seasons, including a school-record 524 points in 2010. 

Luck was named the 2010 Pac-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as his 70.7 completion percentage set a conference record.

League insiders are questioning the Cardinal offense this year, as the wide receiver and offensive line depth charts were hit hard by graduation. 

The Houston native is the established betting favorite at odds of plus-300.

Denard Robinson, Michigan Wolverines, Quarterback

Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson would have won the award in a landslide if it was handed out at the midway point in 2010, but the punishment he received by opposing defenses slowed him down at the end of the season.

The junior did manage to become the first player in NCAA history to pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards in a single season.  Former head coach Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense seemed to fit him perfectly, which has many around Ann Arbor wondering about how he’s going to react under new offensive coordinator Al Borges.

The Deerfield Beach, Florida product is overvalued due to the change in offensive philosophy at odds of +500.

Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina Gamecocks, Running Back

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier was not afraid of pounding his true freshman running back in 2010, including a school-record 40 carries against Florida.  Marcus Lattimore finished the year with 249 carries for 1,197 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.

He was the unanimous choice for National and SEC Freshman of the Year honors, while also being named the conference’s player of the week on two occasions.

Lattimore will likely have to gain at least another 700 yards this season in order to make it to New York in December, as George Rogers won the award for the Gamecocks in 1980 by rushing for 1,894 yards.

The Duncan, South Carolina native is currently tied as the second choice at odds of +500.

LaMichael James, Oregon Ducks, Running Back

Leading the nation in rushing last year was not enough to win college football’s biggest award, but Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James still finished with 1,731 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns in 2010.

Oregon will likely continue lighting up the scoreboard at a frantic rate, after leading the country in scoring and total offense a year ago. 

James' consistency of nine 100-yard rushing games last season makes him an obvious contender and he’ll get an early chance to showcase his skills in front of voters when opening the season against the LSU Tigers at Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 3.

The running back from Texarkana, Texas is getting little respect from line makers at current odds of +600.

Landry Jones, Oklahoma Sooners, Quarterback

Oklahoma has had five Heisman Trophy winners and two of those happened to play quarterback over the last seven years, with Jason White and Sam Bradford winning in 2003 and 2008, respectively.

Junior signal caller Landry Jones comes off a fantastic 2010 campaign, throwing for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns.  He managed to thrown for 300-plus yards on 10 occasions, while leading the nation in completions and attempts. 

He will get plenty of chances to play in front of a nationally televised audience this year and has a top-flight receiver to target in senior Ryan Broyles. 

The Artesia, New Mexico native is starting to get some betting attention and currently sits at odds of +600.