JC: In week six of Georgia’s schedule, the Bulldogs allowed Tennessee to run the ball for one yard. That’s three feet in one game. Since then, Georgia has allowed six opponents to rush for 114, 188, 185, 226, 124 and 409 yards. For the math majors out there, that’s 3,738 feet in six games. For MSU to have a shot against the Bulldogs, the Spartans will need to reach at least 150 yards on the ground, control the clock and not turn the ball over (sorry, but I’m looking at you Brian Hoyer). Even still, Georgia’s explosive offensive should outduel MSU in a game that the Spartans keep close but never possess a lead after falling behind early.

Georgia 37, MSU 24

CK: Earlier this morning, fellow reporter Jacob Carpenter and I were sitting and waiting for Mark Dantonio to speak at his press conference. Jacob was talking about, as he did in his progs, about Georgia’s struggling rush-defense (for the numbers, I’ll let you look at his thoughts), and I looked at him straight in the eye and said, “Any thoughts you have about MSU putting up a fight, forget about it.” Since this matchup first came out, I’ve been telling everybody the Spartans will be lucky to keep the final margin within 21 points. I’m an MSU fan through and through, but I’m also a realist. This won’t be pretty.

Georgia 38, MSU 10

AA: It’s been a year to remember for the MSU football program, but this will be a game it soon wants to forget. A rested Javon Ringer finds some success on the ground, but MSU’s dubious passing keeps the Spartans one-dimensional and easy to defend. On the other side of the ball, MSU’s porous run defense struggles to contain star running back Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Matthew Stafford makes his case to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. Georgia’s dominance in the trenches and superior talent at the skill positions overwhelm the Spartans, who start 2009 on a sour note.

Georgia 38, MSU 17

MB: This is going to be a tough game for the Spartans, there’s no doubt about that. Of course, we all hear about Georgia’s speed, but MSU has grit and toughness that can make up for a lot of physical deficiencies. Javon Ringer seems to be healthy and I believe Brian Hoyer will have his best game in an MSU uniform. Everyone is picking the Bulldogs in this one, but if anyone else watched UFC 92 on Saturday, you saw former MSU wrestler Rashad Evans upset Georgia graduate Forrest Griffin to win the UFC light-heavyweight title. That’s one up for Spartans and the upset train continues in Orlando — bank on it!

MSU 27, Georgia 24

No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 5 Southern Cal

TV: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, ABC

JC: You can’t say the Big Ten is skating through the bowl season without playing the best of the best. With Penn State taking on USC, possibly the hottest team in the nation, we will see just how good the Big Ten is represented. My guess is rather poorly. Penn State is very good, but USC fields the nation’s best defense, a strong offense and is essentially playing a home game. If the Nittany Lions can stay within striking distance in the second half, they have a shot. If not, they need to pray for Iowa, MSU and Ohio State to come through for the conference’s sake.

USC 27, Penn State 10

CK: I just must be a Big Ten-hater (or just angry that it’s 75 degrees outside and I’m stuck in a hotel room). I’m going with USC in a rout. I remember earlier this year when there was a chance MSU could play in the Rose Bowl, and I remember praying that it wouldn’t happen. Listen, USC can get whatever kind of player they want; they have been for years. I love JoePa and wish the Big Ten the best, but they just can’t compete with USC.

USC 45, Penn State 17

AA: This promises to be one of the best Rose Bowl’s in recent memory, pitting two dynamic offenses and opportunistic defenses. But in the end, USC’s talent will prove too much for Penn State to handle. Penn State quarterback Darryl Clark struggles to adjust to the speed of USC’s defense, tossing two interceptions, while USC’s multidimensional offense gives Joe Paterno fits in the press box. Penn State fares better than Illinois did a year ago, but still leaves the Big Ten searching for answers.

USC 38, Penn State 31

MB: I like Penn State and think they are a nice little team, but USC is a juggernaut that would be playing (and winning) the national championship if not for one slight mis-step early in the season. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, they’ll have to incur the wrath of the Trojans. This one, like last year’s Rose Bowl, will not be pretty.

USC 41, Penn State 17