Credit: Mark Bradley
Credit: Mark Bradley
Actually, it's a three-way tie for third, but you get the idea. According to Jimmy Shapiro of Props PR, the Bovada sports book has listed TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin as the favorite for the 2015 Heisman Trophy. Next comes Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. Then, all slotted at 10-1, come Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson and ...
Nick Chubb, Georgia tailback.
Yeah, yeah. Preseason Heisman odds should be written in shifting sand. Cam Newton had never started a collegiate game before his Heisman season (and never would again). Johnny Manziel had never started a collegiate game before his. Jameis Winston had never started a collegiate game before his.
Last year's winner was actually one of the preseason favorites, but here we recall Bovada's line as of Sept. 10, 2014: Marcus Mariota, the eventual winner, was then the second choice; Todd Gurley, of whom you've heard, was the first . (Third choice was Kenny Hill of Texas A&M, who wouldn't finish the season as the Aggies' starting quarterback and has since transferred to TCU.)
We can make the case that Chubb will indeed be the nation's best running back. We should also note that 13 of the past 14 winners have been quarterbacks. (The exception was Mark Ingram of Alabama in 2009.)
We should also note this: Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas is listed at 40-1, which places him, for the moment, in a five-way tie for 19th. There are three Ohio State quarterbacks -- Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett being the others -- rated ahead of Thomas. There's almost no way the Buckeyes won't be a great team, but watching them juggle quarterbacks will be worth the price of admission.
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