Heisman Odds: Braxton, Big Ten, and Bunches of Value

The operation of a sportsbook frequently entails toying with the minds of the public.

The roles have been moderately reversed this offseason, as the 'smart guys' have encountered a minor obstacle in setting Heisman action within the state of Ohio. While it was announced that OSU's Braxton Miller would flip positions and folly on over to wide receiver, it was just a partial stride for the books, as Miller and fellow gunslingers J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones had been shuffled amidst the Heisman big board for quite some time while the conundrum awaited uncoiling.

Now that Miller's ability to account for a vast majority of Ohio State's offense in turn falls into the lap of the supplementary, Jones and Barrett remain neck and neck.

That is, until Urban Meyer establishes his 2015 signal caller.

Big Ten Bids

Aside from the Buckeye infatuation and subtle wave of affection draping the scarlet and gray, Michigan State's Connor Cook serves as the successor within the conference at +4000. Given he's empty-handed via the skill position to a certain degree and Sparty may need a conference crown for the MSU quarterback to strike gold, the document, in my opinion provides worthier value as the names perpetuate.

Once the eyes mingle with Miller at +7000, Wisconsin's Corey Clement punches the clock at +7500, and for the beneficiary of tailback Melvin Gordon, Clement should be supplied a stockpile of touches in 2015. Playmaking ability and a weak docket for the Badgers (they'll breeze by Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State) prearranges a fairly suitable juncture if we're solely looking for value. The additional notables? Christian Hackenberg (PSU) +9000, Joey Bosa (OSU) +10,000.

The Value

A profound peak at the previous Heisman winners, it's inevitable how significant the dual-threat quarterback has been in the voting. The likes of Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota and Cam Newton, the influx of both passing and rushing yards has served as a trinket to overcome the hearts of the committee. Which is why BYU's Taysom Hill (+5550) sparks a rather intriguing motif.

Prior to missing the latter half of 2014, Hill has dazzled under the nurturing of offensive coordinator Robert Anae, and the 2013 expedition for the Cougars saw the BYU quarterback absolutely lacerate opposing defenses with his legs and arm alike, racking up 2,938 yards through the air while scampering for 1,344 on the ground, accounting for 29 total touchdowns.

Most naysayers are quick to weigh in on the Cougars' rigid schedule which features showdowns with Nebraska, UCLA, Missouri, Michigan, Boise State and Cincinnati to list a few. My rebuttal? Big deal. BYU wins even eight contests and Hill could be the dark horse pick of the season. Following that statement, I'm sure you can mark the Cougars as a 5-7 club in 2015.

With UCLA perhaps escalating within the PAC 12, freshman Josh Rosen has been cloaked with a flurry of hype, and dealing with a newcomer, it's frequently bold to vie for a kid who's never stepped foot on a collegiate gridiron. Vegas highlighting the Bruins as a 9-10 win squad could work in the favor, but this one's surely a shot in the dark.