Heisman Watch 2011: Handicapping the Favorites' Chances

We have our bowl games scheduled, now we need our trophy winners.

The biggest trophy in all of college football, the Heisman Trophy, has no true definitive favorite even with the regular season now complete.

We have a good idea of who the finalists will be—the competition for actual trophy has come down to three.

Here is a look at the 2011 Heisman Trophy watch and a look at the odds.

Odds and rankings according to Sportsbook. Projected finish is my own.

5. Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The Trojans' junior quarterback has better numbers than former Heisman winners Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.

USC, and Barkley in particular, didn't get nearly enough credit for how good they were this year because of their bowl sanctions and a weak Pac-12 conference.

Barkley closed the year with 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 3,528 yards passing with 69 percent of his passes completed.

Odds: +2500

Projected Finish: Fifth

4. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

Ball scored more touchdowns this season than 52 other teams did as teams.

The Wisconsin back ran for 1,759 yards on a 6.4 yard average and scored an astonishing 38 total touchdowns (32 rushing, six receiving).

The Big Ten champion Badgers were production machines this season and averaged 44.6 points per game.

Ball's great season was actually hurt by quarterback Russell Wilson's ridiculous season (31 TDs, three INTs, five rushing TDs).

Odds: +2500

Projected Finish: Fourth

3. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

What a phenomenal year for the Baylor QB. He threw for 3998 yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions on 72.3 percent of passes completed and ran for 644 yards and nine touchdowns.

His numbers are dwarfed only by his overall importance to his team. The Bears knocked off TCU, Oklahoma and Texas this year and every win was on Taylor's play as they finished 9-3 in a super-competitive Big 12.

RGIII's NFL Draft stock has risen considerably since the beginning of the season and he's now a potential first-round pick.

Odds: +200

Projected Finish: First

2. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

What more do you need to know about Andrew Luck? The No. 1 prospect in the country finished the season with 35 touchdowns, nine interceptions on 70 percent of passes completed.

The Cardinal finished 11-1 for the second straight season, losing only to Oregon once again. 

Luck wasn't as dominant as some would like, but injuries plagued Stanford for much of the year and Luck was supremely solid week in and week out.

Odds: +175

Projected Finish: Third

1. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Crimson Tide running back is a machine. Richardson carried an offense sporting an inexperienced quarterback and has them in the BCS National Championship Game.

He ran for 1,583 yards, averaged six yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns in college football's toughest conference. He also caught 27 balls for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

His numbers aren't as gaudy as Ball's, but he did it in a completely different environment.

Richardson is one of the top prospects in the country and will be a top-10 pick in April's 2012 NFL Draft.

Odds: -150

Projected Finish: Second

Despite the overwhelming odds stacked in Richardson's favor, I expect RGIII to gain momentum leading up to the vote. Since the SEC has the National Championship all to itself, the Heisman voters might see it fit to show the Big 12 some love after all.

Richardson's season was great, as was Luck's, but RGIII's five-game winning streak down the stretch and ridiculous numbers overall are going to look more and more appealing without any more football to watch.

The only quarterback who closed the season on a higher note was Matt Barkley of USC.

Ultimately, I believe the award will go to a quarterback. Therefore, the slight edge goes to RGIII over Luck and leaves Richardson in a close second.