JEFF: I LEFT IN THE PARTS I SENT YOU THE EMAIL ABOUT (PARAGRAPHS 4-6). IF WE DO A COMPLETE SEASON RECAP, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT PART OUT.

I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't impressed with Mark Dantonio's 2nd year as head coach. Although, all Dantonio had to do was be better than John L. Smith to make everyone in East Lansing happy.

MSU is a team that beats everyone they need to, but isn't quite there against the top of the Big Ten. MSU lost three of their biggest four games this year (losing to Cal, tOSU, Penn State, and beating Wisconsin), but to be fair the Spartans were never supposed to challenge for a Big Ten title. By regular season's end, the Spartans had 9 wins and their first New Years Day bowl game since 2000.

Really, the Spartans chose the best time to put it all together. The Big Ten only had two elite teams, and the remaining scraps could be easily beaten. The Spartan's two biggest rivals both had down years (Notre Dame and Michigan), and MSU beat both easily. I had a ton of Wolverine jokes lined up for this column, but I decided against them to prevent my editor (a U of M grad) from jumping out of a window. He's had a hard enough season already.

The next few years look promising for the Spartans, thanks to Dantonio's recruiting coup he's putting together. Michigan's change to the spread-option offense has left a vacuum for the in-state pocket passers, power runners, and big receivers (trademarks for both schools). In fact, of MSU's 18 current commitments, only two are not from Michigan or Ohio.

However, while the talent will be much better next year, I expect a lateral movement. The elite of the Big Ten are well above the Spartans and while I expect the gap to close, the Spartans won't be able to close it in one year. Not to mention Michigan should be better, Minnesota will be good (I'm telling you watch out for Minnesota), and I have a hunch we haven't heard the last from Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes.

Expect the Spartans to finish with 7-9 wins and a 3rd-4th place finish in the Big Ten next season.

The Spartan's finish the season on New Years Day against the Disappointing Bulldogs, which should be the school's official nickname. Really the only time you can count on Georgia being any good is when everyone expects nothing with them, and we all know D.J. SHOCKLEY IS NOT WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR.

Georgia was overrated coming into the year and I'd argue still are. Georgia beat nobody this year and the SEC as a whole is seriously overrated (I thought it was common knowledge that the ACC was better than the SEC this year, guess not). The only reason Georgia is favored by 7.5 points is because they're a bigger name who's beaten bigger names (note: I didn't say, "A better team who's beaten better teams").

In actuality, Georgia is on the same level as MSU. Both finished well in a weakened conference, but were HOUSED in their two biggest games.

Nobody seems to remember that last year MSU nearly beat Future First-Rounder Matt Ryan (his actual name) and Boston College, even though everyone agreed they had no business being in the game. In fact, if (Sr. QB #7) Brian Hoyer didn't throw four picks, MSU probably wins that game.

Here's a quote from ESPN's preview of that game:

"There was a time when Boston College (No. 14 BCS) was the No. 2 team in the country. Now it's come to this: the Champs Sports Bowl."

See what I'm trying to say here?

Oh, and the Big Ten has won the last four Capital One Bowls, despite everyone agreeing the SEC is the better conference.

MSU 24, Georgia 20

(Two side notes before we go: My family lived in New Orleans for 15 years and said when the Sugar Bowl came around, Georgia and Alabama were easily the two most annoying fan bases. Second, after watching the Lions go 0-16, if they draft (Jr. QB #7) Matthew Stafford 1st overall I may have to shoot myself in the face. It's come to that)