Bowl Projections: Michigan State Stands No Chance Against Pac-12 Opponents

If the Michigan State Spartans are able to get to the Rose Bowl, which it looks like they may have a good chance at doing, they stand absolutely no chance against whichever Pac-12 team they will be matched up with.

It's a sad but true reality for the Spartans.

There's no doubt that they are arguably the best team in the Big Ten, and they've come such a long way in the past few years under coach Mark Dantonio.

This team is no match for the Pac-12 though, and that's not a slight against the Spartans in any way.

It's just the truth.

At the moment it looks like Oregon has the best shot at reaching the Rose Bowl, but they would have horrible matchups with any of the possible teams coming out.

If the Spartans did have a shot, it would be because of their defense, which is ranked fifth in the nation, giving up 15.3 points per game.

The problem the Spartans will face is on the offensive side, which is highly regarded as a clock-management, ball-control style.

Running the ball and controlling the clock would have to be the key, but on the other side would probably be an offense that does nothing but score the football and put up tons of points.

That's tough to keep up with, even with a defense as good as that of the Spartans.

The Pac-12 is highly regarded for it's high-flying offensive style, which is a stark contrast to the ground-and-pound, hard-nosed football that most Big Ten schools utilize.

Like I said, it's not a slight against the Spartans as much as it is a hard look at the reality of the situation.

Michigan State should enjoy playing in the first ever Big Ten championship game and it's something they deserve, but in order to be a big-time program, it has to come up big after the regular season is over.

That may be too tall of an order for Michigan State, let alone any school in the current Big Ten.