In last week's Heisman forecast, we listed four top contenders. Two of those players saw their hopes diminished with their teams losing pivotal games and falling from the ranks of the unbeatens.
Baylor lost for the first time this season, with quarterback Bryce Petty completing only 16-of-36 passes at West Virginia. Unlike the previous week when Petty sparked an incredible comeback win over TCU, the Bears were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter of a 41-27 defeat.
If not for an offensive pass interference call in the final minute at Florida State, one that negated a potential game-winning touchdown pass for Everett Golson, the Notre Dame quarterback would've been a more serious candidate today than last week. Golson produced a Heisman-type of moment when his athleticism earned him more time to make a play on a fourth-and-18 conversion in the final drive. But in the end, the Seminoles prevailed and Golson's hopes took a major hit.
Even though he had an open date, the results for Petty and Golson pumped some life into the candidacy of the nation's second-leading rusher, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon. Also, Oregon's Marcus Mariota produced another stellar performance to remain right behind our favorite, who also enjoyed an off week. Here's how we have the odds updated going into Week 9.
Top Contenders
1. Dak Prescott (Mississippi State QB, +180 'chalk'). After becoming the first QB since 1983 to lead his team to three straight wins over top-10 foes, Prescott and the country's top-ranked team relaxed in Week 8. The Bulldogs get back it this week when they venture into Lexington to take on a Kentucky team that took woodshed treatment Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
2. Marcus Mariota (Oregon QB, +250 odds). His stats are insane. Mariota threw for 336 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Ducks to a 45-20 win over Washington. He has 19 TD passes without an interception. Mariota has connected on 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,957 yards. He also has five rushing scores and a TD reception. Mariota will lead Oregon into Santa Clara on Friday night to take on California.
3. Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin RB, 8/1 odds). The speedster has rushed for 1,046 yards and 13 TDs while averaging 7.9 yards per carry. The Badgers' next three games present stat-padding possibilities: vs. Maryland, at Rutgers and at Purdue. If not for an injury in the first half of the season opener when he was shredding LSU's defense, Gordon's stats would be better and Wisconsin would probably be 5-1 instead of 4-2.
4. Bo Wallace (Ole Miss QB, 10/1 odds). Since throwing three interceptions in the first half of the season opener vs. Boise State, Wallace has been picked off only three times. The senior signal caller has the Rebels 7-0 for the first time since 1962. And for our purposes, Wallace has been a money-maker by guiding his team to a 6-0-1 spread record. He has a 17/6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and also has a pair of rushing scores.
Still in the Mix
5. Everett Golson (Notre Dame QB, 12/1 odds). The narrow defeat in Tallahassee was the first for Golson in 19 career regular-season starts. He has a 19/6 TD-INT ratio, but one of those interceptions was on a desperation throw into end zone on fourth-and-long on the last play at FSU. Golson also has 242 rushing yards and four TDs.
6. Nick Marshall (Auburn QB, 16/1 odds). Marshall's hopes are based upon his remaining opportunities. Auburn has the country's toughest schedule down the stretch, including three showcase games at Ole Miss, at Georgia and at Alabama. All three of those opponents are currently ranked in the Top 10. Plus, Marshall will face three soft defenses in home games against South Carolina, Texas A&M and Samford.
7. Jameis Winston (Florida State QB, 18/1 odds). We've consistently discussed Winston's slim hopes based upon turning voters off with all of the negative publicity he's created. However, he's still the leader of an unbeaten team and if the top contenders fade down the stretch, who knows?
Longshots
This group includes Alabama WR Amari Cooper (20/1), Baylor QB Bryce Petty (25/1), Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah (25/1), West Va. WR Kevin White (40/1) and East Carolina QB Shane Carden (45/1).
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Brian Edwards is a college football handicapper who contributes a weekly column to The Linemakers on Sporting News. For more valuable information and insight, follow him on Twitter @vegasbedwards and visit his website, BrianEdwardsSports.com.
While Las Vegas sports books are not allowed to accept bets on voted-upon events such as the Heisman Trophy, the wagering option can be found elsewhere, and Brian is providing updated mock odds throughout the college football season.
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