Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 13 Updated Odds

The Heisman race is hotter than ever and right now many voters are scratching their heads about who they should vote for.

Who is the most deserving candidate and how many are in the upper echelon group? Is it just Andrew Luck and Trent Richardson, or do Robert Griffin III and Case Keenum still have a shot with a game remaining?

I list the top Heisman candidates to date (prior to Luck's and Griffin's games) with the odds of each player capturing the 76th Heisman Trophy.

David Wilson: Virginia Tech/Running Back

David Wilson has been one of the most intriguing darkhorses among Heisman candidates. His Hokies remain in the Top Five at the moment and after dominating in-state rival Virginia, they are now one win away from claiming the ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl berth. 

Note: Tyrann Mathieu is right there and will likely move up in the top eight-ten 

Stats vs. UVA: 24 carries for 153 yards and 1 TD

Season Stats: 255 carries for 1,595 yards and 9 TDs

Heisman Chances: 3 of 10

Collin Klein: Kansas State/Quarterback

Collin Klein has been one of the most important players in the entire country because of how limited the Wildcats offense is.

Bill Snyder is one fine coach, but Klein has taken a ton of shots all season long. He is the team's main threat, whether it be throwing or running. Klein came into the weekend with absurd rushing numbers for a quarterback (25 TDs).

Stats vs. Texas: 9 of 17 for 83 yards and 2 TDs (1 rushing)

Season Stats: 138 of 236 for 1,587 yards, 58.5% completion rate, 126.1 passer rating and 11 TD/5 INT, 267 carries for 1,013 yards, 36 total touchdowns

Heisman Chances: 3 of 10

Denard Robinson: Michigan/Quarterback

“Shoelace” has been amazing down the stretch and has positioned the Wolverines into a likely BCS Bowl. Denard Robinson is one of the most explosive players in the country and can hit the home run on any given play.

He showed that against a solid Buckeyes defense (16th in total defense) and he is one the main reasons why Brady Hoke has turned around the program.

Certainly it helps that the defense has been an asset, but without Robinson this offense would not be nearly as effective. He may not get any top-five Heisman votes, but he is certainly deserving of a top-12 finish.

Stats vs. Ohio State: 14 of 17 for 167 yards and 3 TD (no picks), 26 carries for 170 yards and 2 TDs

Season Stats: 110 of 207 for 1,791 yards and 15 TD’s, 53.1%, 136.2 passer rating, 200 for 1,117 and 16 rushing TDs, 31 total TDs  

Heisman Chances: 3 of 10

LaMichael James: Oregon/Running Back

Despite the nagging elbow injury, James has remained one of the top home-run hitters in the game this season.

He can make you hold your breath every time he cuts back into the open field and it helps to play in the perfect system with a bevy of playmakers.

James does not have the elite numbers because he did miss two full games due to an elbow injury.

However, the Ducks are another win away from returning to Pasadena. A ton of the credit belongs to Mr. James and his ability to light up the scoreboard for the Ducks.

Stats vs. Oregon State: 24 carries for 141 yards and 1 TD

Season Stats: 197 carries for 1,426 yards and 14 TDs, 15 total touchdowns

Heisman Chances: 4 of 10

Brandon Weeden: Oklahoma State/Quarterback

Brandon Weeden was the Heisman frontrunner going into the Cowboys' game against Iowa State, but has since dropped like a plague.

The Cowboys were ranked second in the country because of their explosive offense, but Weeden had his worst game of the year at one of the worst times possible.

The Cowboys will not be playing in the BCS National Championship, but they can still win the Big 12 and play in a BCS Bowl if they beat the rival Oklahoma Sooners.

Weeden has a decent chance of getting invited if he goes bonkers in Bedlam.

Stats vs. Iowa State: 42 of 58 for 476 yards and 3 TD/3 INT

Season Stats: 355 of 486 for 4,111 yards, 73%, 162.2 passer rating, 34 TD/12 INT

Heisman Chances: 5 of 10

Kellen Moore: Boise State/Quarterback

Becoming the winningest quarterback in the history of the sport (47) is not too shabby, but Kellen Moore is all about one thing: Consistency!

Moore was invited last year to New York but will likely be staying home for the Holidays with his Broncos falling to TCU at home to ruin their perfect season.

Stats vs. Wyoming: 24 of 36 for 279 yards and 3 TDs (1 INT; pick six)

Season Stats: 248 of 336 for 2,915 yards and 35 TD/6 INT

Heisman Chances: 5 of 10

Montee Ball: Wisconsin/Running Back

Leading the nation in total touchdowns is never a bad thing, and his Badgers are another victory away from a Big Ten Championship and another Rose Bowl appearance.

Ball is also just five touchdowns away from breaking Oklahoma State Cowboy Barry Sanders' 1988-1989 record of 39. The Badger back is a horse, having toted the rock 20-plus times in six games this season.

QB Russell Wilson is certainly worthy of some praise, but this offense would not be nearly as potent without arguably the best running back in the country.  

Stats vs. Penn State: 25 carries for 156 yards and 4 TDs

Season Stats: 248 carries for 1,622 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, 17 receptions for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns (35 total)

Heisman Chances: 4 of 10

Case Keenum: Houston/Quarterback

The Cougars have hit the scene of college football and they are just one win away from a perfect season and a BCS Bowl.

A loss would certainly hurt his chances of being invited let alone winning the trophy. He plays in the perfect offensive system and will always shine in terms of production.

The key is that he needs to dominate in the Conference USA Championship; this would put him in the discussion or at least get him to New York.

Stats vs. Tulsa: 33 of 46 for 457 yards and 5 TDs

Season Stats: 342 of 457 for 4,726 yards, 73.2%, 187.3 passer rating, 43 TD/3 INT (3 rushing), 46 total TDs

Heisman Chances: 7.5 of 10

Matt Barkley: USC/Quarterback

There may not be a player in the country who has improved more from the 2010 to 2011 season.

Barkley can make all the throws and has been exceptional in big games. He nearly knocked off Stanford in triple overtime, and played exceptionally well in their upset victory in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks.

Barkley should not be punished for something he never did.

USC may not be playing in a Pac-12 Championship or a bowl game, but they have proven that they are one of the better teams in the nation. The junior is arguably the biggest reason why and he has developed an unbelievable rapport with wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.

If USC would have avoided a terrible loss to Arizona State there could have been a legit chance for Barkley to be hoisting the 8.5-pound stiff-arm trophy.

Stats vs. Oregon: 26 of 34 for 323 yards and 4 TD/1 INT

Season Stats: 273 of 404 for 3,105 yards, 67.6%, 155.6 passer rating, 33 TD/7 INT, 35 TDs

Heisman Chances: 7 of 10 

Robert Griffin: Baylor/Quarterback

RGIII has been ridiculous this season and has given the nation a few jaw-dropping moments against TCU and Oklahoma.

Griffin is one of the best athletes in the entire country, but he has flat out threaded the needle this season. His defense has not been impressive by any means, but Mr. Griffin has been the freak of all freaks in college football.

There were many questions as to whether or not he could lead this Baylor squad to new heights—he certainly has done so with a Holiday or Insight Bowl awaiting.

Stats vs. Oklahoma: 21 of 34 for 479 yards and 4 TDs, 72 yards rushing

Season Stats: 245 of 336 for 3,572 yards, 72.9%, 191.7 passer rating, 33 TD/5 INT, 38 total touchdowns

Heisman Chances: 8.5 of 10 

Andrew Luck: Stanford/Quarterback

With Oregon winning big and clinching a berth in the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford will be not be playing in another conference game.

Throw in the fact that Andrew Luck will be playing in his final home game, and most would tend to think that he won’t play poorly. At least that would be unusual since it is a game he desperately needs to play great in for the Cardinal to play in a BCS Bowl and for Luck to win the Heisman.

If Luck has a decent game but his team loses to Notre Dame, then undoubtedly the Heisman becomes Trent Richardson's to win.

There will be a great debate on who is most deserving, but clearly a performance against Notre Dame in front of a national television audience will be vital in the race to decide who is the "most outstanding college football player."

Stats vs. Cal: 20 of 30 for 257 yards and 2 TDs/1 INT

Season Stats: 241 of 343 for 2,937 yards, 70.3%, 167.4 passer rating, 31 TDs/8 INT, 33 total touchdowns

Heisman Chances: 9 of 10

Trent Richardson: Alabama/Running Back

"The Freak" was just that in the Iron Bowl where everybody on the planet was waiting for him to bust loose. He did just that, rushing for 203 yards on 27 carries, which has now lifted the Crimson Tide into the BCS National Championship (most likely).

Is he the clear-cut winner? Well, no—because right now the race is still up for debate.

The funny part is clearly that this may be the first time since Tim Tebow won it (2007) where the race will not be affected by a championship performance. Luck and Richardson will both be playing in the BCS, but both could not will their teams to a perfect season.

How much of an impact do you weight Richardson's gaudy performance against the Tigers?

Stats vs. Auburn: 27 carries for 203 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards and a touchdown

Season Stats: 263 carries for 1,583 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, 23 total touchdowns

Heisman Chances: 9 of 10