College football season is winding to an end, and in each week we have taken a look back at the Pac-10’s previous happenings. Now is the time to look forward a little bit and see if we’ve got a crystal ball for the big individual end-of-season prize – the Heisman Trophy.

With conference championship games and bowl games, it’s been a tough award to give out in early December. Heck, back in 1974, many of the ballots had been received prior to USC’s Anthony Davis running roughshod over Notre Dame; as such, the spectacular Archie Griffin won his first of two Heismans. Two Heismans would have paled in comparison to the four that Beano Cook predicted for Irish QB Ron Powlus, but that is beside the point.

It’s 2005 now, and with the advent of instant communication, Heisman voters have the chance to watch players until the last possible moment before they send their ballots in. Last season, USC’s Matt Leinart won the award, beating out a solid cadre of runners-up, and was one of the favorites for the award going into the season.

While Leinart will still get a trip to New York and a chance to show off the latest in men’s fashion, he’s not going to leave with the hardware. Right now, it’s a two-horse race between Vince Young of Texas and incomparable RB Reggie Bush. Before Bush single-handedly demolished Fresno State, I would have cast a ballot for Young. Now, it’s hard to say beyond a shadow of a doubt that the one they call VY is the best in the country.

Going into this weekend’s games, I’d say that Bush has the best opportunity to make hay while the sun shines. He plays for the reigning national champs, in a rivalry game that has made Heisman winners before. Back in 1968, O.J. Simpson ran a play called Red-23 Blast for 64 yards and the game-deciding touchdown over the Bruins. Bush has the same opportunity now, although back in ’68 the Juice ran for the #2 team in the country (the Bruins were, at the time, ranked first overall). Look for the speedy Bush to have a huge game over the Bruins and cement some votes on national television.

Young plays against a Colorado team that has been rotten down the stretch and was hammered by a marginal Nebraska team. The Buffaloes should be embarrassed at the turkey they put on the field the Friday after Thanksgiving, as Nebraska beat the stuffing out of it. I don’t see Gary Barnett finding a way to scheme against this multifaceted Texas offense.

In a perfect college football world, we’d have Texas and the Trojans meeting on January 4 in a winner-take-all battle for the BCS National Championship and Heisman Trophy. Actually, a perfect world would have a playoff system, but I digress. In a perfect 2005 college football world, that’s what we would have. Until then, my vote is for the one they call the President: Reggie Bush.

Lenny Del Genio is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Lenny_Del_Genio.htm

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