Here's the double scoop, dear coach. The object of college football's favorite voting game is to be the flavor of the month for December.

Florida State senior QB Chris Weinke is the best player on the nation's best team.(AP)

What a candidate does in September is nice. November is even better. But there's much more to the Heisman Trophy than statistics. It's about creating a lasting image wrapped in a performance surrounded by hype. Miss Americas know the feeling. They've got "consultants" who specialize in knowing how to rub Vaseline on their dentally enhanced smiles just right so the cameras catch the shine.

It isn't quite that involved for the Heisman. It is for the SportsLine.com staff that rated the candidates 1 to 10 -- subjectively, of course -- in the seven categories that should matter most in the minds of the voters who will determine the real winner Saturday.

1. Statistics: Self-explanatory.
2. Thrill factor: Michael Vick has it. Chris Weinke lacks it.
3. Importance to the team: Take him off the team and what happens? Oklahoma certainly isn't undefeated without Josh Heupel.
4. Team success: You don't find many Heisman winners from 6-5 teams. A Heisman winner has to play for a highly ranked team. A Heisman winner has to be a big reason a team is highly ranked.
5. Team leader: What's he like in the huddle, in the film room, at the Saturday night party?
6. Big game: The ability to come up huge at the right time. Santana Moss got better as the season went on.
7. Q rating: Sizzle, sex appeal, recognition factor. If your 8-year old son and 80-year old grandmother thinks Drew Brees is cool, that's a high Q rating.

Our ratings came up with a finish that most probably will be replicated Saturday. The real race could be the closest since 1985 when only 45 votes separated winner Bo Jackson from runner-up Chuck Long.

Our ersatz race came up with Weinke the winner by a point over Heupel. Weinke earned 61 of a possible 70 points. The difference, a consultant might say, between Miss Congeniality and Miss America.

It didn't end there. Brees finished third, only two points behind Weinke. LaDainian Tomlinson of TCU and Marques Tuiasosopo of Washington tied for fourth just three points behind Weinke.

Just when you thought the BCS furor had died down.

For the sake of keeping mobs off the streets, we'll keep the final analysis to Weinke and Heupel, who are regarded to be the front-runners in the real world.

• Weinke had better stats. That's not completely fair, though. Oklahoma passed less this season trying to balance its offense. Florida State relied on Weinke and a stable of talented receivers.
• Heupel had the edge in thrill factor. Weinke is a drop-back, strong-armed traditional quarterback. If Heupel ever makes a training tape, it should be burned. He throws bloopers off the wrong foot. The Sooners catch them, so who cares?
• Heupel was slightly more important to his team. It certainly isn't the system in Norman. It's how Heupel executes in the system. Not many quarterbacks spit in the face of the blitz the way Heupel did all season.
• Weinke nipped Heupel in Q rating because we love a 28-year-old senior with real estate holdings who holds the odd keg party.

The two contenders were tied with perfect 10s in team success, team leader and big-game ability.

Yes, it was that close. The difference, if you will, between Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey. We told you it's a Ben and Jerry thing.

Dennis Dodd's official Heisman ballot mailed this week:

• 1. Chris Weinke, senior quarterback, Florida State: The best player on the best team.
• 2. Josh Heupel, senior quarterback, Oklahoma: Guts, smarts, courage. A close, close second.
• 3. LaDainian Tomlinson, senior running back, TCU: Best running back in the country.