A stunning string of performances in early to mid-September led West Virginia’s Geno Smith to leapfrog USC’s Matt Barkley as the overwhelming Heisman favorite among the gambling types.
A month later, and after back-to-back miserable performances in losses, Smith has been leapfrogged, replaced by one of the players most responsible for the Mountaineers’ second straight loss.
According to the latest odds released Bovada.com, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein is a 4/7 favorite to claim the 2012 Heisman, although some might disagree with that placement. The latest odds come a handful of days after Klein, long a significant part of the 2012 stiff-armed discussion, accounted for seven touchdowns -- four rushing, three passing -- in the No. 4 Wildcats’ 41-point pasting of WVU.
Smith, a 5/2 favorite when the last odds were released Sept. 21, is now a distant second to Klein at 4/1. The preseason favorite Barkley dropped from 5/1 to 7/1, the same as Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller.
Barkley was at 3/1 before the start of the 2012 season.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is the lone defensive player listed, coming in at 15/1.
Below is the complete list of Heisman odds, again courtesy of Bovada.com.
Collin Klein (QB Kansas State) 4/7
Geno Smith (QB West Virginia) 4/1
Matt Barkley (QB USC) 7/1
Braxton Miller (QB Ohio State) 7/1
A.J. McCarron (QB Alabama) 8/1
Manti Te’o (LB Notre Dame) 15/1
Kenjon Barner (RB Oregon) 33/1
Landry Jones (QB Oklahoma) 33/1