Unsurprisingly, 2013 winner Jameis Winston is the Heisman Trophy favorite as the 2014 college football season gets underway next week-to an even greater extent now that Braxton Miller is out for the year. On the tennis court, there will be no repeat on the men's side at the upcoming U.S. Open. World No. 2 Rafael Nadal is out with a wrist injury, opening the door for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Odds provided by Sportsbook.ag

Heisman Trophy

Jameis Winston (+400) - Only one player has won the Heisman Trophy twice (Archie Griffin back-to-back in 1974 and '75). So to say it's not easy to repeat would be an understatement. Winston should have a good chance, though, playing the most high-profile position on what should be by far the best team (Florida State) in a weak conference (the ACC).

Marcus Mariota (+500) - Mariota's decision to forego the 2014 NFL Draft and return for his junior season at Oregon was the most surprising of all draft-eligible players. In two college campaigns he has a total of 63 passing touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Last year, Mariota threw for 3,665 yards and 31 scores while running for 715 yards and nine TDs.

Brett Hundley (+700) - Miller had been the third favorite until the Ohio State quarterback went down with a shoulder injury on Monday and was confirmed out for 2014 on Tuesday. Now it's Hundley, UCLA's junior signal-caller. Last season he threw 24 touchdown passes and rushed for 748 yards and an additional 11 scores.

Melvin Gordon (+800) - Gordon hails from "Running Back U," which produced 1999 Heisman winner Ron Dayne. Don't be surprised if Gordon is the next Wisconsin back to accomplish the feat. Thrust into the starting role as a sophomore in 2013, he carried 206 times for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

AP Luke Kuechly (+650) - An absolute tackling machine at Boston College, Kuechly has been up to more of the same in the pros with Carolina. He finished fourth in the NFL in total tackles last year and also had four interceptions. It will not hurt that Kuechly is part of a stellar unit that was No. 2 in the NFL in total defense last season.

J.J. Watt (+800) - This year's top two favorites to bag the top defender award are the two most recent winners (Kuechly in 2013, Watt in 2012). Watt has a ridiculous 36.5 sacks through three seasons in the NFL, including 20.5 in his second season. With rookie Jadeveon Clowney sure to draw attention on the opposite side of the Texans' front line, watch out.

Richard Sherman (+1200) - If Sherman was doing the voting, Sherman would have already won this award-this year, last year, every year before that one, and every year after this one. He isn't doing the voting, of course, but he may have a say in it. Seattle's star cornerback led the NFL in interceptions in 2013 with eight, at least two more than anyone else.

Von Miller (+1500) - Comeback Player of the Year may be more likely for the Broncos' linebacker, even though only three defenders have won in the 41-year history of that award. Miller, who amassed 18.5 sacks in 2012, missed seven games last season due to suspension and then a torn ACL. He is expected to be ready for Week 1.

FedEx Cup

Rory McIlory (+250) - Nobody on the planet is hotter in his respective sport than McIlroy. The world No. 1 dominated the British Open, won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and beat a whole host of the world's best to win the PGA Championship. It's hard to see anyone besting him over the course of four FedEx Cup events, starting this week at The Barclays.

Matt Kuchar (+1000) - Kuchar is the epitome of consistency. In 20 events this season, he has 18 cuts made and 10 Top-10 performances. He is in the mix almost every year heading into the Tour Championship at East Lake. For now, though, a back problem that forced him out of the PGA Championship is cause for concern.

Sergio Garcia (+1500) - If not for McIlroy, Garcia may have been racking up titles left and right this summer. He finished runner-up at both the British Open and the Bridgestone. He also recorded a second-place showing at the Travelers Championship in June. It's clear that the Spaniard finally believes in himself.

Rickie Fowler (+1500) - At the beginning of the season, Jordan Spieth was the "it" American golfer. Now it's Fowler. He has finished no worse than 13^th in any of his last five events. In four majors this year he posted a fifth at the Masters, runner-ups at the U.S. and British Opens, and a third at the PGA Championship. That kind of consistency is a recipe for a FedEx Cup victory.

U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic (Even) - What's wrong with Djokovic? He got blown out by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto and lost in the Cincinnati third round to Tommy Robredo. Still, Djokovic won the Wimbledon title earlier this summer, and he is generally accepted as the best hard-court player in the world.

Roger Federer (+250) - What a difference a year makes. In 2013, Federer was somewhat injured and coming off a second-round Wimbledon loss when he fell to Robredo in the U.S. Open fourth round. Fast forward 12 months, and the 17-time major champion is the reigning runner-up in Toronto and champion in Cincinnati.

Andy Murray (+400) - Based on a combination of ranking and form, Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal would be the undisputed top three favorites in New York. Nadal's absence, however, puts Murray in the equation. The 2012 U.S. Open winner turned in decent quarterfinal performances in both Toronto and Cincinnati.

Stan Wawrinka (+1200) - Wawrinka has to be considered a factor simply because he is now a Grand Slam champion (2014 Australian Open). The Swiss reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon (lost to Federer) but was unceremoniously bounced from Toronto and Cincinnati by Kevin Anderson and Julien Benneteau, respectively.

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