reporter VS. editor Jameis, Mariota orstorage.ottawasun.com/v1/suns-prod-images/file/...Mariota’s...
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SPORTS 17 The Calgary Sun n FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 Rakeem Cato (50/1), Ore- gon State QB Sean Mannion (50/1) and Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly (100/1). SUN SPORTS REPORTER VS. EDITOR SCOTT MITCHELL SUN SPORTS REPORTER TODD SAELHOF SUN SPORTS EDITOR Saturday, 1;30 p.m., ABC at CALIFORNIA NORTHWESTERN (-11) Saturday, 3:30 p.m. at 16 CLEMSON 12 GEORGIA (-7 ) Clemson’s defence is solid, but Georgia is better all-round team with more weapons PICK: GEORGIA Bulldogs running machine Todd Gurley will be difference in game with raw QBs PICK: GEORGIA Saturday, 5:30 p.m. at SOUTHERN MISS MISSISSIPPI ST (-31) Saturday, 2 p.m. at UC DAVIS 11 STANFORD (-49 ) RESULTS: INCLUDING GO-TO GAMES Last year vs. spread: 47-40-3 Last week vs. spread: 43-44-3 GO-TO GAMES Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Fox at FRESNO ST SOUTHERN CAL (-22 ) Saturday, 8:30 p.m. at (-17) 25 WASHINGTON HAWAII Expect Cal’s offence to be much better in head coach Sonny Dykes’ second season PICK: CALIFORNIA Cal improving, yes, but ’Cats at home facing team with 13 straight losses vs. FBS foes PICK: NORTHWESTERN Hawaii tough place to play, and UDub has QB issues, but if sec- ondary can cover, Dawgs’ll cover PICK: WASHINGTON Aloha, Chris Petersen! Dawgs welcome charismatic and creative coach with open arms PICK: WASHINGTON Trojans put Josh Shaw scandal behind them and open Steve Sarkisian era with a bang PICK: USC Josh Shaw saga aside, Trojans kick off Steve Sarkisian era by cruising past Carr-less Bulldogs PICK: USC State QB Dak Prescott has drawn Tim Tebow comparisons, but that’s a stretch PICK: SOUTHERN MISS Bulldogs win easily, but rivalries, like this one, often closer than they should be. PICK: SOUTHERN MISS Big numbers in Week 1 are scary, but Stanford should roll over FCS teams with ease PICK: STANFORD Too many points to give with too many questions about Cardinal offensive line PICK: UC-DAVIS SCOTT MITCHELL Calgary Sun Each year, pundits try to handicap the Heisman Tro- phy race heading into the sea- son. And each year, the pundits are wrong. From some junior college transfer named Cam Newton in 2010 to a guy named Rob- ert Griffin III, who played pre- cious few snaps prior to ’11 to due ACL surgery to a pair of redshirt-freshman in Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston the past two NCAA seasons, the Heisman Trophy winner has come from way off the radar, recently. Is more of the same in store for ’14? Or is this, perhaps, the year one of the nation’s top players stays healthy and keeps his team in the new college foot- ball playoff hunt and walks away with the stiff-arming bronze statue? Heading into Week 1 of the college football season: Ore- gon junior quarterback Mar- cus Mariota (5/1) — who was considered the favourite at the midway point of last sea- son, before he hurt his knee and the Ducks eventually lost a pair of games because of it — Winston (9/2), who guided Florida State to the national title in January and will attempt to do the same as a sophomore this season, as well as UCLA junior quarter- back Brett Hundley (10/1) are the favourites. Odds courtesy of Bodog.eu. Even though recent history says they won’t win, it’s hard to argue with the oddsmak- ers. Mariota’s Ducks are expected to be in the national title hunt, while FSU is loaded once again and are favourites to repeat. Led by Jim Mora Jr., the UCLA Bruins have been improving by leaps and bounds over the past cou- ple of seasons, and many see them as a legitimate threat to Oregon and Stanford in the Pac-12. But there are others to keep an eye on. A running back hasn’t won the award since Alabama’s Mark Ingram in ’09, but there are a few tailbacks to watch this fall, led by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (12/1) and Georgia’s Todd Gur- ley (14/1), both of whom are projected NFL first-round picks next spring. Auburn quarter- back Nick Marshall (12/1) and Okla- homa signal-caller Trevor Knight (18/1) are also in the mix, thanks to the expecta- tion that they’ll have their teams in contention for one of the four spots in the college football playoff. Digging deeper, there are intriguing options. Ohio State redshirt-fresh- man QB J.T. Barrett (no line) doesn’t have odds in many places, but if he starts strong, he’ll quickly be available at what’s sure to be a good price. Other value options that could keep the four-year run of off-the-radar Heisman win- ners going include: LSU true- freshman RB Leonard Four- nette (40/1), Marshall QB Who ya got for Heisman? Jameis, Mariota or … ? The Heisman Trophy will be awarded in December in New York City. Here’s a look at the top contenders heading into Week 1 action: 1. QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: Reminder: The past four Heisman winners — Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston — have come from way off the radar. Odds: 5/1 2. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State: Speaking of Winston, he’s got a tough road to a repeat, but until FSU loses, he’ll be at the top of the odds list. ’Noles are stacked again. Odds: 9/2 3. QB Nick Marshall, Auburn: There’s no doubt Marshall can run. And in Gus Malzahn’s offence, he’ll get plenty of chances to do just that. If Marshall improves as a pocket-passer, watch out. Odds: 12/1 4. QB Bryce Petty, Baylor: Similar to Marshall, Petty is aided by playing for an innovative offensive guru, with a system that fits his skill-set. Petty will put up video-game numbers. Odds: 12/1 5. QB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin: After sharing time with James White for two seasons, the latter is now toting the rock for the New England Patriots, leaving Gordon as the feature back. Odds: 12/1 *Odds from bodog.eu HEISMAN POWER RANKINGS with Scott Mitchell [email protected] @SUNMitchell RANK, TEAM (LAST YEAR) 1. Florida State 14-0 2. Alabama 11-2 3. Oregon 11-2 4. Oklahoma 11-2 5. Ohio State 12-2 6. Auburn 12-2 7. UCLA 10-3 8. Michigan State 13-1 9. South Carolina 11-2 10. Baylor 11-2 11. Stanford 11-3 12. Georgia 8-5 13. LSU 10-3 14. Wisconsin 9-4 15. USC 10-4 16. Clemson 11-2 17. Notre Dame 9-4 18. Ole Miss 8-5 19. Arizona State 10-4 20. Kansas State 8-5 21. Texas A&M 9-4 22. Nebraska 9-4 23. North Carolina 7-6 24. Missouri 12-2 25. Washington 9-4 AP GETTY-AFP FILE MELVIN GORDON
Transcript of reporter VS. editor Jameis, Mariota orstorage.ottawasun.com/v1/suns-prod-images/file/...Mariota’s...
SPORTS 17The Calgary Sun n Friday, august 29, 2014
Rakeem Cato (50/1), Ore-gon State QB Sean Mannion (50/1) and Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly (100/1).
Sun SportS reporter VS. editor
ScottMitchell
Sun SportS reporter
toddSaelhof
Sun SportS editor
Saturday, 1;30 p.m., ABcat california northweStern (-11)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.at 16 cleMSon 12 GeorGia (-7 1/2)
Clemson’s defence is solid, but Georgia is better all-round
team with more weapons PICK: GEORGIA
Bulldogs running machine Todd Gurley will be difference
in game with raw QBsPICK: GEORGIA
Saturday, 5:30 p.m.atSouthern MiSS MiSSiSSippi St (-31)
Saturday, 2 p.m.atuc DaviS 11 StanforD (-49 1/2)
reSultS: incluDinG Go-to GaMeSLast year vs. spread: 47-40-3 Last week vs. spread: 43-44-3
Go-to GAmeS
Saturday, 5:30 p.m., FoxatfreSno St Southern cal (-22 )
Saturday, 8:30 p.m.at (-17) 25 waShinGton hawaii
Expect Cal’s offence to be much better in head coach
Sonny Dykes’ second season PICK: CALIFORNIA
Cal improving, yes, but ’Cats at home facing team with 13 straight losses vs. FBS foes
PICK: NORTHWESTERN
Hawaii tough place to play, and UDub has QB issues, but if sec-
ondary can cover, Dawgs’ll cover PICK: WASHINGTON
Aloha, Chris Petersen! Dawgs welcome charismatic and
creative coach with open armsPICK: WASHINGTON
Trojans put Josh Shaw scandal behind them and open Steve
Sarkisian era with a bang PICK: USC
Josh Shaw saga aside, Trojans kick off Steve Sarkisian era by
cruising past Carr-less Bulldogs PICK: USC
State QB Dak Prescott has drawn Tim Tebow comparisons,
but that’s a stretchPICK: SOUTHERN MISS
Bulldogs win easily, but rivalries, like this one, often closer than they should be. PICK: SOUTHERN MISS
Big numbers in Week 1 are scary, but Stanford should
roll over FCS teams with ease PICK: STANFORD
Too many points to give with too many questions about
Cardinal offensive linePICK: UC-DAVIS
SCOTT MITCHELLCalgary Sun
Each year, pundits try to handicap the Heisman Tro-phy race heading into the sea-son.
And each year, the pundits are wrong.
From some junior college transfer named Cam Newton in 2010 to a guy named Rob-ert Griffin III, who played pre-cious few snaps prior to ’11 to due ACL surgery to a pair of redshirt-freshman in Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston the past two NCAA seasons, the Heisman Trophy winner has come from way off the radar, recently.
Is more of the same in store for ’14?
Or is this, perhaps, the year one of the nation’s top players stays healthy and keeps his team in the new college foot-ball playoff hunt and walks away with the stiff-arming bronze statue?
Heading into Week 1 of the college football season: Ore-gon junior quarterback Mar-cus Mariota (5/1) — who was considered the favourite at the midway point of last sea-son, before he hurt his knee and the Ducks eventually lost a pair of games because of it — Winston (9/2), who guided Florida State to the national title in January and will attempt to do the same as a sophomore this season, as
well as UCLA junior quarter-back Brett Hundley (10/1) are the favourites. Odds courtesy of Bodog.eu.
Even though recent history says they won’t win, it’s hard to argue with the oddsmak-ers.
M a r i o t a ’s D u c k s a r e expected to be in the national title hunt, while FSU is loaded once again and are favourites to repeat.
Led by Jim Mora Jr., the U C L A B r u i n s hav e b e e n i m p rov i n g by l e a p s a n d bounds over the past cou-ple of seasons, and many see them as a legitimate threat to Oregon and Stanford in the Pac-12.
But there are others to keep an eye on.
A running back hasn’t won the award since Alabama’s Mark Ingram in ’09, but there are a few tailbacks to watch this fall, led by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (12/1) and Georgia’s Todd Gur-ley (14/1), both of whom are projected NFL first-round picks next spring.
Auburn quarter-back Nick Marshall (12/1) and O kla -homa signal-caller Trevor Knight (18/1) are also in the mix, thanks to the expecta-tion that they’ll have their teams in contention for
one of the four spots in the college football playoff.
Digging deeper, there are intriguing options.
Ohio State redshirt-fresh-man QB J.T. Barrett (no line) doesn’t have odds in many places, but if he starts strong, he’ll quickly be available at what’s sure to be a good price.
Other value options that could keep the four-year run of off-the-radar Heisman win-ners going include: LSU true-freshman RB Leonard Four-nette (40/1), Marshall QB
Who ya got for Heisman? Jameis, Mariota or … ?
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded in December in New York City. Here’s a look at the top contenders heading into Week 1 action:
1. QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: Reminder: the past four Heisman winners — Cam Newton, robert griffin iii,
Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston — have come from way off the radar. Odds: 5/1
2. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State: speaking of Winston, he’s got a tough road to a repeat, but until Fsu loses, he’ll be at the top of the odds list. ’Noles are stacked
again. Odds: 9/2
3. QB Nick Marshall, Auburn: there’s no doubt Marshall can run. and in gus Malzahn’s offence, he’ll get plenty of chances to do just that. if Marshall improves as a pocket-passer, watch out. Odds: 12/1
4. QB Bryce Petty, Baylor: similar to Marshall, Petty is aided by playing for an
innovative offensive guru, with a system that fits his skill-set. Petty will put up video-game numbers. Odds: 12/1
5. QB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin: after sharing time with James White for two seasons, the latter is now toting the rock for the New England Patriots, leaving gordon as the feature back. Odds: 12/1
*Odds from bodog.eu
heiSMan power rankinGSwith Scott Mitchell
@SUNMitchell
rank, teaM (laSt year)1. Florida State 14-02. Alabama 11-23. Oregon 11-24. Oklahoma 11-25. Ohio State 12-26. Auburn 12-27. UCLA 10-38. Michigan State 13-19. South Carolina 11-210. Baylor 11-211. Stanford 11-312. Georgia 8-513. LSU 10-314. Wisconsin 9-415. USC 10-416. Clemson 11-217. Notre Dame 9-418. Ole Miss 8-519. Arizona State 10-420. Kansas State 8-521. Texas A&M 9-422. Nebraska 9-423. North Carolina 7-624. Missouri 12-225. Washington 9-4
ap
Getty-AFP File
MELvIn GORdOn
