2011 Bowl Games: Breaking Down This Year's Best Swag

If you think college football players should be paid, you might change your mind once you see all the sweet gifts they get just for attending a bowl game. 

According to SportsBusinessDaily.com, a number of players are in for a huge treat this holiday season.

Some teams are certainly better off than others in terms of which bowl they're playing in, but then there are those teams who get insanely awesome presents.

Top gifts include a 32-inch flat screen TV, a Playstation 3 and over hundreds of dollars to spend at Best Buy.  

With that said, here's a break down of the best swag players get during the 2011 bowl season. 

Top BCS Bowl Swag 

The teams get to play on a much bigger stage, so their gifts aren't as great as others. Still, though, any gift is better than no gift at all. 

All the BCS bowls are about equal, but I have to declare the winner the Rose Bowl. Oregon and Wisconsin players will get a gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat and Oakley Flak Pack 3.0. 

All teams get a gift suite paired with some type of watch and other accessories. The Rose Bowl comes out on top because they get an Oakley backpack and an official New Era cap for their favorite team. 

Runner Up: Fiesta Bowl: gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack.

Best Non-BCS Bowl Swag 

This is where the oohs and ahhs really come in. A few bowls are getting nothing spectacular, but some are getting such ridiculous stuff that even your local soccer mom is jealous.

The winner is a tie between the Champs Sports Bowl and the Capital One Bowl. Both are being played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, and they're getting the exact same gifts. 

Players at Notre Dame, Florida State, Nebraska and South Carolina will receive a $420 shopping trip to Best Buy and a Timely Watch Co. watch. 

Imagine walking into Best Buy and having that much money to spend at will. Say hello to several video games, CDs, movies, cameras and much more.

The possibilities really are endless, and I'm not sure I'd know what to do with myself in that situation. I know I'm not the only one who'd feel like a kid in a candy store. 

Runner Up: R+L Carriers Bowl: Samsung Galaxy tablet, which cost anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on which specifics it has. 

Most Overlooked Swag 

When looking at the list, one might pass over a few things and think it's not all that great. However, when you really start to think what each player is getting that's when you realize it's golden. 

The winner for most overlooked swag comes from the Belk Bowl, where players get an estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk's flagship store in Charlotte, North Carolina, plus a Fossil watch. 

That's a lot of money to go spend on clothes. If you're not familiar with the clothing store Belk, they have a ton of options for these players, meaning they could not only buy stuff for themselves but also for others. 

They may be college, but they still need to look sharp and dress nice. Players from North Carolina State and Louisville should definitely enjoy that gift.

Runner Up: Auto Zone Liberty Bowl: Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Nike training shoes, Nike sport sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, commemorative game ball.

Worst Swag 

As mentioned before, some teams aren't as lucky as others. Gifts are nice and should never be taken for granted, but there will of course be players let down that they're not getting the really cool stuff. 

The winner for worst swag goes to the Sun Bowl, where players will receive a Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin. 

Yes, you read that right, a super sweet coin and a flipping hair dryer. Is that supposed to be a gift for the woman in their life? Sure, they'll be some prima donnas who might hang onto that, but the reality of it is that most won't like it and won't know what to do with it. 

Give them credit for thinking outside of the box, as some will re-gift it, but that's still a terrible gift. Players from Georgia Tech and Utah have to be beyond thrilled for those gifts, much like I am when someone brings fruit cake to the holiday party.  

Runner Up: Gator Bowl: Fossil watch, Gator Gear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football.

Luggage bags are so hip, these Ohio State and Florida players must be freaking out. Plus, Gator Gear is something the Gators don't need more of, and is certainly something Buckeyes' players may end up burning depending on the outcome of the game. 

In the end, players should be thankful they're getting anything at all. These gifts are further evidence that college players don't need to be paid. They get a free education, and if they want cool free stuff, then they'll have to play better as a team to make it to a bowl game.