2018Redbox Big Ten v PAC-12
The Pac-12 will be hoping to improve their miserable bowl record and Oregon will be hoping to get a win having lost their last three postseason games. This will be the first time either team has played in this fixture which was known as the Forest Farms Bowl for the last four years. Opponents Michigan State Spartans started the season strongly fancied (ranked 11 in the AP preseason), but never really lived up to this billing. However, they are marginal favourites according to the oddsmakers and probably justifiably so.
Oregon started well going 5-1 with the loss coming against Stanford and the wins including a 3 point one over then ranked 7 Washington. Three losses in their final 6 games put pay to any conference final hopes however none of these losses was bad and they will be relatively happy with their season.
Michigan State ended up 7-5 and includes a very nice win over Penn State in the win column. They also had decent wins against Utah State and Purdue, however, they did struggle to beat a poor Rutgers side in their final regular-season outing. Losses included credible performances against Northwestern Michigan & Ohio State and they had two narrow 3 point losses to Arizona State & a resurgent Nebraska (who may be a team to watch in 2019 now that Scott Frost has settled in).
Stats wise Oregon did pile up the yards – something Michigan State struggled with, however, the Spartans defence impressed at times and kept a lot of games close. Looking at the schedules you can just about forgive Michigan State their poor offensive showing. Overall had the schedules been reversed we think that the wins totals would have been too and that the Spartans defence should hold up and be enough for them edge the game.
Our prediction is for Michigan State to win 17-16.
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