HEISMAN WATCH: NOT OVER YET

by Jacob, Vegas Watch

A look at the top Heisman contenders, as voted on by the EC writers.

1. Tim Tebow (5) 35
Florida (9-3) QB
217/317 (68.5%), 3132 yds, 29 TDs, 6 INTs; 194 carries, 838 yds, 22 TDs
Previous rank: 1
Current SportsBetting.com odds: 1:5

Fifty-one touchdowns. In a year when the "best player on the best team" criteria doesn't really apply (since the best team changes ever week), it looks like that's probably going to be enough. With Florida's regular season over, Tebow is the heavy favorite to take home the award.

2. Chase Daniel (2) 21
Missouri (11-1) QB
349/495 (70.5%), 3951 yds, 33 TDs, 9 INTs
Previous rank: 2
Current SportsBetting.com odds: 4:1

Daniel was quite impressive in Mizzou's big won over Kansas- 40/49, 361 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs. But when adding in his 3 rushing touchdowns this year, he's still 15 behind Tebow. He's still got a shot (4:1 seems a bit high, doesn't it?), but it's going to take a similar performance on Saturday night against Oklahoma.

3. Darren McFadden (1) 18
Arkansas (8-4) RB
304 rushes, 1725 yds (5.7 yds/rush), 15 TDs
Previous rank: NR
Current SportsBetting.com odds: 3:1

McFadden's regular season is over, but he sure ended it in style, with 206 yards and 3 TDs in Arkansas' 50-48 triple-overtime win over #1 LSU. He had three games (all at home, against Auburn, FIU, and Mississippi St.) in which he averaged 3.2 yards per carry or less; in his other 9 he had at least 4.9 yards per rush. It looks like those three games are going to cause him to fall short.

Photo: Athlon.