Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 | 6:54 a.m.
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We’re entering the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.
Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.
Duke minus-5 vs. Northern Illinois in Quick Lane Bowl, $660 to win $600: We’ll use a simple strategy when handicapping this game: Play the team from the better conference. Duke spent the entire season competing in the ACC, a Power Five conference where the competition and facilities are top-notch. Northern Illinois, while accomplished over the past decade, didn’t get those reps playing in the Mid-American Conference.
Northern Illinois will have a hard time moving the ball without feature back Jordan Huff, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
While Duke hasn’t be efficient passing the ball this year — an oddity with coach David Cutcliffe (he’s the Manning brothers personal coach, too) — it has found success running the ball. Shaun Wilson and Brittain Brown have combined with 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns to give Duke a one-two punch out of the backfield.
Additionally, quarterback Daniel Jones is a threat to take off running with six rushing scores on the season. He’s passed for just 12 touchdowns, but with a few weeks of extra practice for the bowl, could flourish in setting himself up to have a strong 2018.
Granger (12-9, $12,819), Keefer (17-17-1, $9,911), Brewer (19-17, $9,770), Grimala (8-11, $7,215)
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
