Heisman Showdown

Cfootball Betting Lines

11/21/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are still a couple of weeks left in the 2008 college football season and with it, the Heisman Trophy remains up for grabs. The list of candidates has dwindled down significantly over the last month or so and there is one matchup this week that should, for all intents and purposes, settle the issue of just who will take home college football's most prestigious individual award.

Sure, Texas' Colt McCoy, Florida's Tim Tebow and Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree are all having great seasons and are certainly worthy of being finalists for the Heisman, but the trophy itself should go to one of the talented gunslingers that take the field in Norman this Saturday night.

The Red Raiders can clinch the Big 12 South Division with a victory over Oklahoma this weekend and if they do so, senior QB Graham Harrell will be a big reason why. The 6-3 quarterback has put up eye-popping numbers ever since taking the field for Texas Tech and has been pouring it on since rallying the Red Raiders from a 31-point third-quarter deficit to lead his team to victory over Minnesota in the 2006 Insight Bowl (44-41 OT).

Harrell has put up monster numbers over the last three seasons, throwing for 4,555 yards and 38 TDs in 2006, 5,705 yards and 48 scores in 2007 and has already thrown for 4,077 yards and 36 TDs this season. Of course, there is a potential four games left on the docket for Texas Tech (two regular season, the Big 12 Championship, and a bowl game), so his numbers could certainly rival his 2007 campaign.

The big difference between this year and last is the fact that he has shed the label of being a "system" quarterback and has shown all the qualities of being a true pro prospect. He has good size and above-average arm strength with the ability to make all the necessary throws. However, more important than that, Harrell has demonstrated his leadership qualities, which rival any signal-caller in the nation. His comeback drive against Texas in early October thrust him into the Heisman race as more than just a candidate and the "Harrell-Express" has been gaining steam ever since. If he can shred a good Oklahoma defense like he has the rest of the competition, while leading his team to a Big 12 title and subsequent BCS Championship appearance, it would be a travesty to take the Heisman away from him.

Of course, there is a quarterback on the other side of the field in Norman this weekend that could have something to say about that. Third-year sophomore Sam Bradford is destined to have a bright future in the NFL and could leave the Sooners after this year if he wants. In his brief career with Oklahoma, the 6-4 220-pounder has really stood out as one of the nation's premier signal-callers. As a freshman, he finished with a stellar 176.52 passer rating, throwing for 3,121 yards, with 36 TDs and just eight interceptions. His second season has been even better, as he has thrown for 3,406 yards with 38 TDs and a mere six picks. The scary thing is that Bradford is also just hitting his stride, throwing for 20 TDs in the last five games.

The Sooners do have the one loss on the season to Texas, but that wasn't Bradford's fault, as he threw for 387 yards and five TDs against the Longhorns.

The likelihood is that both players thrive in this matchup and put up big numbers. Expect a shootout and an emotional game with momentum swings on both sides of the football.

If Texas Tech prevails and Harrell is instrumental in that, it would be awfully hard to take the Heisman away from him. If the Sooners get the victory and bring a halt to the Red Raiders' pillaging of the competition and derail Tech's national title bid, Bradford will be the man to beat.

Last year's Heisman winner Tim Tebow will get consideration, especially with his performance of late, as he has been responsible for 22 TDs in the last five games, all impressive wins by the Gators. And if Florida runs the table and wins the SEC, votes may come for the Gator gunslinger. Texas' McCoy is in the same boat, as his remarkable season could land the Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship, with some help from the Sooners this weekend.

Crabtree is the only non-quarterback that should garner serious attention, but while he is probably the most pro ready prospect and a phenomenal football player, he is fighting against history, as there have been only two wide receivers to win the award (Tim Brown and Desmond Howard) and it hasn't happened since 1991 (Howard).

The smart money is on one either Harrell or Bradford winning the award. This weekend in Norman could very well settle the debate.

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds

Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it. Work left to do: Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney. Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson. Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable. Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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