Bodog Beat

Matt Ryan looks to cap off a record-setting career at BC with another bowl win. (AI Wire photo)

• Champs Sports Bowl, Friday, 5 p.m. ET in Orlando, Fla. (ESPN, BodogLIVE)

Michigan State vs. Boston College (-3.5)

Perhaps Michigan State wanted to give Matt Ryan a Christmas present. Sounds crazy, but that’s pretty much what happened on Monday, when the Spartans announced that five players, including two defensive stars, would be benched for the Champs Sports Bowl.

Seniors Jonal Saint-Dic (defensive end) and SirDarean Adams (linebacker) are among the Spartans who violated school or team rules leading up to Friday’s game against No. 14 Boston College and its All-American quarterback.

Ryan, considered by many as the top pro QB prospect in college football, threw for 4,258 yards and 28 touchdowns in leading the Eagles to a 10-3 record (7-6 against the spread). Behind their senior signalcaller, the Eagles started 8-0 and rose as high as No. 2 in the polls before a late-season swooned dropped them out of the BCS games.

Now, though, they get a chance to finish on a high against Michigan State (7-5 straight up and ATS) and its undermanned roster. Boston College has won seven straight bowl games, the longest bowl-winning streak in the nation, and its seniors are a total 38-12, the winningest class in school history. Led by Ryan, they'll want to go out with a bang.

The Eagles are favored by 3.5 against the point spread, but that number could rise upon the news out of the Spartans’ camp. In-game wagering is available through BodogLIVE.

For college football odds, visit Bodog Sportsbook daily, and get previews and results of all the games on the Beat throughout the bowl season.