“It probably won’t even be as hot down in Florida as it is in here,” senior quarterback Brian Hoyer said afterward. “Six days in here in (80) degree heat will be able to acclimate us.”

Although the average temperature in Orlando on Jan. 1 is 72 degrees according to weather.com, the Spartans (9-3 overall) are preparing for whatever could come their way as they look to get their 10th win of the season.

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said he believes getting win No. 10 would be a big statement for a program that has already used this season as a coming-out-party of sorts.

“If we can get to 10 wins that’s a big statement and that’s what we have an opportunity to do, is win 10 football games,” Dantonio said. “I think anybody who has won 10 games in a season has had an outstanding season and has set themselves apart from about 90 percent of the country, and I’d say that’s a great accomplishment.”

Looking ahead
Aside from going after that magical 10th win and gaining more national exposure, another positive that comes with making a postseason bowl is getting more practice time.

With the 15 extra practices MSU gains from its Capital One Bowl appearance, the younger Spartans who didn’t see much action during the regular season can continue to hone their skills and show what they can do in preparation for the 2009 season.

Although Dantonio said he and his coaching staff continually talk about personnel everyday while evaluating each player, junior defensive end Trevor Anderson said he and the rest of the team have also seen the improvement of the freshmen class.

“For the most part you see a freshman come in and they’re really raw,” Anderson said. “Then you see him now and you’re like ‘Dang, he’s really gotten better.’”

Among the names players mentioned Saturday as freshmen who have upped their stock were linebacker Cameron Jude, defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, left tackle John Deyo and linebacker David Rolf.

Injury report
The nicks, bumps and bruises that come along with a 12-game schedule are still present for the Spartans in the early weeks of December.

Even so, Dantonio dubbed his team as “relatively healthy.”

As has been the case with MSU throughout the year, the extent of injuries and how the players are recovering from them are still not being discussed in-depth

However, senior running back Javon Ringer couldn’t help but excitedly saying that freshman wide receiver Keshawn Martin looks good to go after sitting out the last two games with an undisclosed injury.

“I’m glad to see that Keshawn is back; it’s very, very good to have him back,” Ringer said of Martin, who had 11 receptions for 132 yards in nine games this season. “He’s going to have so many all-purpose yards by the time he’s done here. He’s a tremendous player, a tremendous person, has a great attitude and it’s just a great thing for our offense to have somebody as versatile as him.”