Bowl season’s most important players
Covers.com
Are you sick of spending money on everyone else yet?
The holiday season can be a billfold killer. With 15 bowl games on tap between Christmas and New Years, however, bettors have opportunities to replenish their bank accounts.
Here are the most pivotal players in those games in terms of beating the spread. If they meet their potential, they’ll make backers very happy. If they don’t, well, let’s not think about that.
Wednesday, Dec. 26
Motor City Bowl: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan Chippewas
LeFevour threw for 23 touchdowns, ran for 17 others and caught a touchdown pass too. His talent might lure bettors towards the Boxing Day underdog, but keep in mind that Purdue held LeFevour to 26 rushing yards when the teams met back in September.
Thursday, Dec. 27
Holiday Bowl: Jamaal Charles, Texas Longhorns
Charles ran for 736 yards and eight touchdowns over the Horns’ final four games. If the Texas O-line can create a couple of holes, Charles can go the distance no matter who is in pursuit. Only one running back, however, hung a 100-yard rushing game against Arizona State all season.
Friday, Dec. 28
Champs Sports Bowl: Javon Ringer, Michigan State Spartans
Jehuu Caulcrick will put points on the board if the underdog Spartans are inside the 5-yard line. It’s up to Ringer, though, to get them that far downfield. It won’t be easy with Boston College possessing the nation’s top run defense.
Texas Bowl: Anthony Alridge, Houston Cougars
Houston lost head coach Art Briles to Baylor after the regular season. Briles called all the offensive plays from the sideline, so his departure hurts the Cougars in the Texas Bowl. It also puts all the more pressure on Alridge to deliver his fourth 200-yard rushing game of the season.
Emerald Bowl: Lyle Moevao, Oregon State Beavers
Moevao posted ugly numbers but Beaver backers didn’t care after OSU won (and covered the spread) all three of the sophomore’s starts to close the regular season. Moevao looked most confident in the finale at Oregon. Here’s hoping his confidence made the trip to the Bay Area.
Saturday, Dec. 29
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Sam Swank, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
This isn’t an insult to the skill position players on either squad in this game. It’s just my way of saying the game should be tight and Swank’s leg could be the deciding factor in a game with a 2 ½-point spread. Swank nails 50-yarders like no other college kicker.
Liberty Bowl: Kevin Smith, Central Florida Knights
This one was a no-brainer. Smith’s 2,448 rushing yards this season are the only explanation for a C-USA school being favored over an SEC team. If Mississippi State corrals Smith like South Florida did earlier this season, there’s no way UCF covers.
Alamo Bowl: Dan Conner, Penn State Nittany Lions
Conner is the latest “Linebacker U” defender to win an armload of awards – now it’s time to prove that the player, not the school, was the reason for the honors. Texas A&M has a variety of offensive weapons and Conner’s play in the middle of PSU’s defense will help determine if the Nits cover as a 5-point favorite.
Sunday, Dec. 30
Independence Bowl: John Parker Wilson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Wilson was fantastic in Bama’s 41-17 win over Tennessee on Oct. 20. The quarterback has been erratic (at best) since then, littering his games with ugly turnovers. The Tide went 0-4 SU and ATS to end the season and look like a horrible play as a favorite unless Wilson regains his composure.
Monday, Dec. 31
Armed Forces Bowl: Chad Hall, Air Force Falcons
California has the highly-recruited talent, but Hall had the most productive season of any player in the Armed Forces Bowl. The deceivingly-fast senior posted 1,903 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns this year. If the Bears stay in hibernation on New Year’s Eve, Hall could make the Falcons a great play.
Humanitarian Bowl: Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Is there a favored team in a more chaotic state than GT? Chan Gailey is gone and interim head coach Jon Tenuta just discovered he’s out too. A late-December game in Idaho won’t be ideal for passing, so Choice needs his 30-plus carries to be productive if GT is covering the number.
Sun Bowl: Brady Leaf, Oregon Ducks
Oregon went 0-3 SU and ATS without Dennis Dixon as its starting quarterback. The Ducks have had time to reshape their offense for a less-mobile quarterback, but South Florida’s defense remains a turnover machine. If Leaf loses control, Oregon loses the Sun Bowl by a wide margin.
Music City Bowl: Drew Weatherford, Florida State Seminoles
The Noles were underdogs even before 23 players were suspended. The suspensions make FSU look like a horrible play no matter the spread, but if you’re a sucker for underdogs, Weatherford has the arm to make things happen against a Kentucky pass defense that isn’t the tightest.
Insight Bowl: Greg Hardy, Indiana Hoosiers
Only one team kept Hardy out of the end zone all season. He’s a tall target with soft hands and an innate ability to separate from coverage. The consistency with which Hardy catches touchdowns should lure some bettors to the Hoosiers with the points.
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Brandon Cox, Auburn Tigers
Cox played well against Florida and LSU this season but stunk it up against Georgia and Alabama to close the campaign. His play on New Year’s Eve will be the deciding factor in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Can he take advantage of Clemson’s short-handed defense that’s missing a pair of starting linebackers?