I really hate to say this as an original Michigander rooting for MSU, but I just don't see how the Spartans can slow the Cardinal down enough in this matchup. It was already a questionable situation for MSU before the Bullough suspension, but losing the QB of your defense that makes all the play calls and adjustments is an absolutely crushing blow to this defense.
Combined with the fact that Stanford is in its fourth (or fifth, can't remember) straight BCS bowl game and this is MSU's first Rose Bowl appearance since '88, and I have a feeling the Spartans are going to get caught up in the "happy to be here" mentality against a team that is just as physical and even more athletic at all of their strongest positions. The Big Ten has dropped nine of the last 10 Rose Bowls for a reason. Spartans have had a tremendous season and should be recognized for it, but I don't see them winning this game aside from some fluke turnover/injury circumstances. It's an ugly number on the ML now (vs. a week or so ago), but I still think it's a winner if you're looking for a safe ML to parlay into other bets or just take as a conservative bet SU.
Combined with the fact that Stanford is in its fourth (or fifth, can't remember) straight BCS bowl game and this is MSU's first Rose Bowl appearance since '88, and I have a feeling the Spartans are going to get caught up in the "happy to be here" mentality against a team that is just as physical and even more athletic at all of their strongest positions. The Big Ten has dropped nine of the last 10 Rose Bowls for a reason. Spartans have had a tremendous season and should be recognized for it, but I don't see them winning this game aside from some fluke turnover/injury circumstances. It's an ugly number on the ML now (vs. a week or so ago), but I still think it's a winner if you're looking for a safe ML to parlay into other bets or just take as a conservative bet SU.
