Young Favored to Win Heisman

Now that the 2005 season is hitting the home stretch, the race to win the Heisman Trophy has become much clearer with three candidates from the nation's two top-ranked teams leading the way. Although the USC Trojans are on tops in the polls, for the first time all season a USC player is not the favorite to take home this year's Heisman. Instead, college football's most prestigious award has moved in favor of the leader of second-ranked Texas, as Longhorns quarterback Vince Young is now the clear frontrunner to win the Heisman Trophy, according to leading Internet sportsbook PinnacleSports.com.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com originally opened betting on the Heisman Trophy on August 24 and listed last year's winner, USC quarterback Matt Leinart, as the overwhelming favorite to become only the second repeat winner in NCAA history. Throughout the season, PinnacleSports.com has listed Leinart or his backfield teammate Reggie Bush, as the favorite to be named college football's best player. However, following his career-best four-touchdown pass performance against Kansas last weekend, the tide has turned, and Vince Young has now become the bookmaker's favorite to win the 2005 Heisman Trophy at 10/13 odds. As recently as last week, PinnacleSports.com favored Reggie Bush to win the Heisman, but now lists the USC running back with the second-best odds at 3/2. The odds that Leinart will join Archie Griffith as the only two-time winner of the prestigious award are now a slight long shot at 4/1.

"Although both Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush are again enjoying stellar seasons, Vince Young is undoubtedly the most dangerous player in the country with the ability to score on the ground or through the air on any given play," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "Having already accounted for 30 total touchdowns and over 3,000 total yards, Young has clearly established himself as the most complete offensive player in the nation. With two USC players in contention for the award, we feel it's likely that Bush and Leinart will split Heisman votes, giving Young an even bigger edge to become the first Texas quarterback to win the award."