2012 NCAA Football Heisman Trophy Odds: West Virginia's Geno Smith

Monday, July 09, 2012

by Bovada Sportsbook

The University of West Virginia has a pretty solid football pedigree, yet the school has never produced a Heisman winner. That could change this college football season as quarterback Geno Smith opened as the 15/2 second-favorite on Bovada Sportsbook’s NCAA football player props to win the storied trophy in 2012.

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Smith was sensational as a junior last season in the high-powered offense of new head coach Dana Holgorsen. All you need to look at is the Orange Bowl, when West Virginia humiliated Clemson 70-33. Smith was 32-for-43 for 407 yards and six touchdown passes against no picks – he also rushed for a score. He tied the record for any bowl game with six touchdown passes, his passing yards were the best ever in any Orange Bowl and the Mountaineers set a bowl scoring record overall. Smith was named the MVP of the game.

Overall, Smith was 346-for-526 (65.8 percent) for 4,385 yards (a Big East record), 31 touchdowns and just seven interceptions to break nearly every school record and lead WVU to a 10-3 record and the Big East title. Yet he wasn’t even named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Big East -- Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was.

Smith's Mountaineers will being play in the Big 12 this season, and arguably no conference is as pass-happy as that one, although the competition certainly will be a step up. Working in Smith's favor for Heisman notoriety is that he has one of the nation’s top receiving duos in Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin, both of whom had more than 1,110 yards receiving a year ago. And Smith should be even more comfortable in Holgorsen’s offense with a season under his belt.

West Virginia opens the 2012 season Sept. 1 vs. Marshall. A potential Heisman shootout with Oklahoma and QB Landry Jones is Nov. 17 in Morgantown.

Bet on Las Vegas Odds to Win the 2012 Heisman Trophy at Bovada Sportsbook!

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dana holgorsen - geno smith - isaiah pead - landry jones - stedman bailey - tavon austin