Las Vegas oddsmaker Ken White says football fans are in for some real holiday treats New Year's Weekend, which officially gets underway Friday night.
"As far as I'm concerned, the bowl season is just starting," White, head of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, declared.
Washington Dc Sports Teams
"We have some great games coming up this weekend."
He meant the pros as well as colleges, though, like most mortals this side of Nfl Commissioner Roger Goodall's office, America's important oddsmaker needed cheat sheets to help him track possible playoff scenarios.
Even with them, White had to reverse and revise a few times.
"Carolina has the best shot to win and get in from the Nfc ... No, the Giants have the best chance and Carolina the second-best chance," he said.
"The Giants are laying 2 1/2 at Washington and the Panthers are laying 3 at New Orleans.
"Some teams will be taking the week off, retention back starters and not risking injuries.
"New Orleans is in that boat, Chicago's there.
"Did you know that if Carolina and the Giants both lose and Green Bay beats the Bears, the Packers could get in?
"They'd be 8-8 and the Panthers and Giants would be 7-9.
"I guess that's a argument report thing with Atlanta and St. Louis, but I'm not sure exactly what.
"It's one of those things we need to check."
White clearly considers the Afc excellent and says the Chargers and Ravens -- probably the two clubs that have impressed him most -- should play hard Sunday because home-field advantage straight through the playoffs hasn't been engraved in granite yet.
San Diego (13-2) hosts Arizona Sunday, while Buffalo visits (12-3) Baltimore.
"I don't think you have to worry about San Diego taking the week off, though the Chargers are under the lights and probably will see the other score come in before their game starts," White continued.
"Indy's stumbled lately, yes, but the Chargers, Ravens and Colts are still 1-2-3 in the Afc.
"I'd say the Jets have the best shot and the Bengals second-best at Afc wild cards.
"Oh, yeah, and Denver, too, as long as Kansas City loses."
Get all that?
White considers the weekend's bowl menu mouth-watering and had some mystery narrowing his choices.
The Jan. 1 Michigan-Usc Rose Bowl is drawing the most attention as well as money, which is no surprise since Las Vegas is Southern California's backyard, or vice versa.
The whole has danced like a Mexican jumping bean, first favoring the Wolverines and now the Trojans.
The Hilton, for example, opened Michigan minus 2 and now has Usc as a 2-point pick.
White originally put Southern Cal out at minus 3 1/2, but has had second thoughts.
"I'd like to see the books bring it down to 1 or 1 1/2," he said.
"The way they fulfilled, the season, I think Michigan fulfilled, better.
"It's a tough call.
"It'll be a defensive struggle."
White says both sides in the New Year's Eve Nevada-Miami (Fla.) Mpc Computers Bowl have emotional factors working in their favor.
"The Miami kids are going to want to play hard for Larry Coker, who has been fired," he noted.
"I can't see the 'Canes bring more than a couple thousand fans to Boise, Idaho, though.
"Nevada will bring a lot of habitancy and it'll definitely be a pro-Nevada crowd.
"The thing is how the Wolfpack played against Boise State.
"I've seen (Miami minus) 3 and 3 1/2.
"It could go to 4."
White considers Monday's Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma a "fun" game that will attract Tv viewers.
The Sooners are favored by 8 1/2.
"I think you'll see a lot of offense (the total was 51 Wednesday)," White said.
"Can Boise State survive?"
In Friday affairs, White predicts the Kentucky-Clemson Music Bowl as well as the Minnesota-Texas Tech understanding Bowl will be high scoring, that a well-coached Missouri team will beat Oregon State right up in the Sun Bowl and that underdog Houston has more to prove in the freedom Bowl than South Carolina.
White calls the Wisconsin-Arkansas Citrus Bowl a remarkable pairing that's too close to call and tells Georgia Tech fans to keep their Gator Bowl hopes alive, despite losing beginning quarterback Reggie Ball to scholastic ineligibilty.
Opponent West Virginia has gone from a touchdown favorite to minus 11 points.
"Taylor Bennett, the backup, is admittedly a good passer," White said.
Players seeking a rout might look at Saturday's Navy-Boston College Meineke Car Care Bowl, where the Middies are getting 7.
"Rutgers totally shut down Navy (34-0) and I think Bc will do the same," White forecast.
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