Michigan State won the Big 10 in no small part due to the fact it was the weakest of the so-called power conferences. But the Spartans lost standouts Max Bullough and Darqueze Dennard from that defense.

Last season the Ducks went 11-2 with late-season losses to Stanford and Arizona, dropping them out of a bid for the Pac-12 championship and the national title. However Heisman contender QB Marcus Mariota was hobbled by a left knee injury against both Stanford and the Wildcats, contributing to those losses.

The fact that Spartans coach Mark Dantonio is downplaying the importance of this game in the playoff implications tells me he knows his team is overmatched. A year ago, Oregon ranked third nationally in scoring offense, ninth in rushing and second in total offense despite Mariota hurt at the end of the year. Now he is healthy. Oregon is sensational at home and MSU losing two stars from the strength of their team will devastate them here.