Robert Griffin vs. Andrew Luck: Weighing Pros, Cons of Both Heisman Finalists

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the person that the voters think is the best player in college football on Saturday. The two guys most likely to win the award are quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck.

Griffin has been one of the best kept secrets in college football down in Baylor. He finally exploded onto the national scene this season, leading his team to a 9-3 season and a No. 12 ranking.

Luck was the preseason favorite for the award and is widely considered the best NFL-ready prospect in years. He has led Stanford to back to back BCS Bowls and 11-1 regular seasons.

Here are the pros and cons of both of these players.

Griffin: Plays at Baylor

One of the only real knocks on “RG3” is that he plays for Baylor. The school is not exactly a powerhouse in football, and some people question whether or not he could put up the same numbers against an SEC schedule.

Baylor has only faced two teams all season that rank in the top half of the country in passing yards allowed per game—TCU and Texas. If he had done what he did this season—3,998 yards passing, with 36 touchdowns to six interceptions and 644 rushing yards for nine touchdowns—against tougher defenses, the award would without a doubt be going to him.

Luck: NFL Prospects

Luck has had all of the press since last season because of his projected NFL talent, which is really the only reason why he is in the running for the trophy. Without a doubt, he is the reason why Stanford is 11-1 for the second season in a row, but he is only fifth in the country in passing efficiency and only passed the 3,000 yard passing mark in the Cardinals' last game against Notre Dame.

Statistically, there a number of better choices at quarterback, but it is hard not to come away impressed with Luck knowing you’re going to be watching him play for a long time on Sundays.

Griffin: Heisman Moments

A new requirement for winning the Heisman is having a “Heisman moment” at some point in the season. There hasn’t been a player in the country who has had more than Griffin.

He is a joy to watch in any game, but his performances against TCU and Oklahoma were simply spectacular, and the play that scored the winning touchdown against the Sooners seen here was a work of art.

Luck: Lack of a Heisman Moment

Comparatively, Luck has not had one standout game all season. He has been efficient all season, but there hasn’t been one single dominating performance against a quality opponent.

Maybe the final drive he orchestrated against USC to take the game to overtime, but there was nothing particularly memorable about it. And since his team is not undefeated, that might not be enough to take the trophy this year.

Griffin: No One Else Really Took Charge of the Race

While other teams were losing and players were falling by the wayside in the Heisman race, Griffin always stayed the course and turned in fantastic performances.

In recent years. the trophy has gone to the best player on the best team, but there is no question that Baylor is not the best team. In almost any other year in recent memory, that would keep him from winning. But with no one truly stepping up, he now has a clear shot at the award.