Matt Barkley Favored To Win Heisman in 2013 NCAA Football Betting Futures
April 13th, 2012 | Author: John
We’re still months away from the next college football game, but I’m a sick person and I need to talk about something. The Heisman Trophy kind of snuck up on us last year when Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III made a late surge and took the honors from presumed winner Andrew Luck. Griffin was marvelous over the last half of the year with his trademark performance against the Oklahoma Sooners.
What I’m saying is, if bettors had made their wagers before the season started, almost nobody would have pegged Griffin. Just like nobody would have picked him to be such a high pick in April’s NFL Draft last year, either. So it’s rather foolish to dive into the favorites for the 2012 Heisman Trophy when we’re so far away from December.
Again, I’m sick and I’m going to do it anyway.
It’s really not that big a surprise that USC quarterback Matt Barkley is the favorite, according to Bovada’s College Football Player Props. The second he announced he was returning for another season, the Trojans became an instant favorite to win the National Championship.
He might have contended for the top pick in the draft with Luck and Griffin, but staying means he won’t have much competition in the college ranks. According to Bovada, Barkley is a 7/2 favorite, ahead of Michigan’s Denard Robinson (5/1) and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball (5/1). He’s the deserving favorite for a team finally looking for something to play for. USC will be off probation and eligible for the postseason. A lack of running back depth is concerning, but the Trojans only have one real obstacle in-conference in Oregon.
If the Ducks shoot to the top of the conference and topple USC this year, look for all-purpose back D’Anthony Thomas (20/1) to be a really good value.
Ball is actually the only one of the three who was invited to Radio Music City Hall last year, after a really good 2011 campaign. He’s the only running back high in Bovada’s list for the trophy surrounded by the second-tier of quarterbacks in West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.
Smith has zero chance to win the trophy. Sorry. With the exception of Griffin, voters typically reward champions and the Mountaineers won’t win the Big 12 in their first season. Jones is an interesting value because he was in the running last year, has the pedigree and opportunity to win big games with the Sooners.
Same can be said for Arkansas Tyler Wilson and probably Georgia’s Aaron Murray.
If I were to pick a true competitor to Barkley, I’d have to go with Robinson. He does so many things that are “wow” factor, outside the box. Fans have been dying to really pour into him, hoping he can justify their man crushes. If he wins a few games early like he did against Notre Dame, Robinson could be a real contender.