College Football Predictions: Andrew Luck Will Not Win the Heisman Trophy

Andrew Luck has been the front runner for the Heisman Trophy even before the season ever started. He is the sure-fire No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft, and his intelligence level is in the realm of Peyton Manning's when he was coming out of Tennessee.  

He has had a great season thus far, but he has recently faltered in the last four games, throwing a pick in each one. Luck also had a passer rating of over 170 in six out of the seven first games of the season, but that number has fallen off lately. 

Luck is definitely talented and warrants the top pick in next year's draft, but I am not sure if he deserves the prestigious college award. He is protected by three first-round offensive linemen and has a great running game to help him out, but he has had his share of problems lately.

Here are five players I believe that can supplant Luck in winning the Heisman Trophy award. 

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson was one of the players in the hunt for the Heisman award until the devastating loss to Michigan State and Ohio State, but he is back on track and is putting up insane numbers.  

He is leading the nation in passer rating and has only thrown three picks this season. Wilson continues to make the right play, and is one of the smartest players in the nation. 

Wilson is looking to take the Badgers to the Big Ten title game in his lone season in Wisconsin, and possibly a BCS bid. 

A big final game against a really good Penn State team can help Wilson challenge Luck for the trophy. 

Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore has been one of the most prolific passers in his four-year career at Boise State. He has been in the discussion for the Heisman award in every one of those years.

It will be difficult for the Broncos to receive a BCS bid this year with the loss to TCU and with the other non-BCS Houston team going undefeated. The loss to TCU really put a damper on Boise State and Moore’s senior year, but he has been great nonetheless. 

Moore currently has a better passer rating, more touchdowns and less interceptions than Luck. Numbers are a big factor in winning the award, and Moore does put up big numbers. Look for Moore to dominate against Wyoming this week so he can compete for the award.

Case Keenum

Case Keenum and his Houston team are having a Cinderella season. He is dominating the country with 4,269 yards passing and 38 touchdowns. He capped his regular season off with 457 yards and five touchdowns against a solid Tulsa team. 

Although Houston has not played anyone of relevance, they have been dominant. They are undefeated and looking for a BCS bid, all thanks to Keenum’s play. The voters should give the Cougars a chance against one of the BCS teams just so we can see what Keenum can do against better and faster defenses.  

Keenum should be in a suit on award day and might win the award solely on his stats.

Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III has had a solid season this year, and will look to cap it off with an electrifying performance against Texas Tech.  

Griffin has had five games where his passer rating was well over 200, and he has also thrown for 33 touchdowns with only five picks on the season. He is a running quarterback as well, and has rushed over 100 yards in two games, including five touchdowns on the ground.  

He does not possess the IQ that Luck has, as shown by some questionable decisions in the Texas A&M and Oklahoma State games, but he does have a much better arm, and did all this with a weak offensive line. 

Griffin will likely be the second quarterback drafted in this year's draft if he does decide to enter. He needs to have a huge game passing and on the ground against Texas Tech to hold the trophy on Heisman day. 

Trent Richardson

Alabama will likely be playing in the final game of the season in hopes of raising the national title trophy, and running back Trent Richardson is a big reason why. Richardson will likely be the only non-quarterback to compete for the Heisman award, and rightfully so. 

Richardson will accumulate similar yards on the ground to what Mark Ingram had in his Heisman year, but he already has 20 touchdowns to 17 that Ingram had in 2009. Richardson is an unstoppable force, and I believe he is having a better season than Ingram’s Heisman year.  

Richardson has likely led his Tide to the national title game and is hands down the best back in the NCAA. I believe that Richardson is the guy that should win the award this year when you look at the stats and what his team has accomplished in the SEC. 

Trent Richardson is the man to take the award away from Luck.