Rose Bowl 2014 Picks: Michigan State Spartans vs. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan has won all 10 of his career starts against ranked opponents, which is important to consider when making your picks in the 2014 Rose Bowl, as he prepares to face the Michigan State Spartans on New Year's Day.

Sports bettors will find that the Cardinal are 4.5-point neutral-site favorites in the college football odds, with the betting total sitting at 42.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Big Ten/Pac-12 Conference matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats via SBR Forum 

Michigan State Spartans

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The Michigan State Spartans have won a school-record 12 games this season, including a 34-24 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 7.

College football handicappers will find that the Spartans are 7-5 straight up and 9-2 against the spread as underdogs the last two-plus seasons.

Stanford Cardinal

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The Stanford Cardinal have compiled a solid 11-2 straight-up record, with both of their losses coming on the road to unranked opponents a week after a home victory over a Top 15 program.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Cardinal are 8-6-1 against the spread as favorites of 3.5 to 10 points, with the UNDER going 8-7 in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Stanford Cardinal, as the Michigan State Spartans have failed to cover the number in their last six opportunities against Pac-12 Conference opponents.

College Football Pick: Stanford Cardinal -4.5

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