Florida QB Tim Tebow darted, dodged, pitched and chucked his way to the 2007 Heisman Trophy Award, the first sophomore to do so. He will try to match Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975) as the only two-time winner of the prestigious award.

Several online oddsmakers made him their leading Heisman candidate, a year after his record-setting season saw him become the first college pivot throw for 20 TDs and rush for 20 TDs in the same season.

As with any award that is fed by media hype, players who get more national TV time generally have a better chance to win the coveted award. That in mind, Tebow and the Gators will be on national TV several times.

SEC clashes with rivals LSU and Georgia as well as the annual fracas against Florida State are among the chances for Tebow to shine. But with a year’s worth of video on him, will defenses be able to key on him and contain him better? He can’t take everyone by surprise this year, making a Heisman defense incredibly difficult.
The reason that Tebow is once again the favorite is the fact that he can beat teams with his arm and his legs. If the run is taken away, he can air it out with the best of them. If the aerial attack is grounded, he can run like a top-notch running back.

At +300, you would pocket $300 on a $100 wager right now. That is less than half the payout for any other college stud on the board at BetUS.com. Chase Daniel and Chris Wells both checked in at +650. Even if Tebow does not win the Heisman, odds are another QB or a running back will snag the award; as in the 73 times the Heisman has been given, those two positions have won it 65 times.

Here is the main competition for the 2008 Heisman, according to
BetUS.com.

Chase Daniel QB
Missouri +650
Daniel was one of the Heisman finalists in 2007 and led the Tigers to top spot in the Big 12 North. Many people think the Tigers were snubbed from a BCS Bowl game last year. Unlike last year Daniel will get much more press, as he is not an unknown from a non-football school any longer.
Daniel can get some key Heisman votes if he plays well against Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas (probable nationally televised games), and if he leads the Tigers to a BCS Bowl game. Not many people saw Daniel play last year, but that will change in the 2008 season.

Chris Wells RB
Ohio State +650
Running back Chris Wells from Ohio State has all the tools to win the Heisman, as he plays for a team that contends for the national title each year and features the run, has an experienced offensive line, and will play on national TV several times.
Wells has to gain big numbers and play solid against Wisconsin, Penn State, and especially against Michigan in the Buckeyes’ season finale. Wells will be the focus of the Ohio State offense and if the Buckeyes get to a BCS bowl game or play for the national championship, Wells has a legit shot at the prestigious trophy.

Knowshon Moreno RB
Georgia +1000
Another RB who is getting Heisman hype is Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia. Moreno will only be a sophomore this season, but last year he averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry and had some brilliant runs. If Moreno can put up good numbers for both TD and yards, he has a shot at following Tebow as just the second sophomore ever to win the Heisman.
Georgia plays some big games against Auburn, Alabama, and Tennessee. One of the bigger games will be against Tebow and Florida, as the player with the best numbers in that game will get a huge boost with Heisman voters.

Graham Harrell QB
Texas Tech +1000
Harrell had a great year last year, leading the nation with 5,705 passing yards and 48 TDs. However, Harrell plays at Texas Tech, which is not exactly the hotbed of college football. Even if Harrell has eye-popping numbers, the Red Raiders must have a good season for him to have any chance. Harrell will have a chance to showcase his talents in big games against Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas A&M.

Regardless of his numbers, he could be criticized for the Red Raiders’ cream-puff schedule early in the season (Eastern Washington, Nevada, Southern Methodist, and Massachusetts). He will have to put Texas Tech in contention in the Big 12 South and lead them to a big bowl game to have a real shot at the Heisman.

LeSean McCoy RB
Pittsburgh +1000
McCoy had a great season last year for the Pitt Panthers, but many people still know nothing about him. The problem is that McCoy will not get the national exposure that other Heisman hopefuls will get. Other less-recognizable RBs had a great year in 2007 (Ray Rice, Kevin Smith, and Matt Forte) and all gained over 2,000 yards, but were not Heisman finalists.
McCoy will have to put up huge numbers and play great against Louisville, West Virginia, and South Florida. Much like Graham Harrell’s Red Raiders, the Panthers play a weak early-season schedule, so McCoy will be criticized for playing against weak teams no matter what his stats are.

Percy Harvin WR
Florida +1000
Harvin has Reggie-Bush-like talent, but Tebow overshadowed him last year. He will have to stand out against last year’s Heisman winner to have any shot at the trophy. He is one of the most talented players in the country and can take it to the house every time he touches the ball.
If opposing teams take away Tebow’s running game, then maybe Harvin can show the rest of the country how good he really is.

Best of the Rest courtesy of BetUS.com