Besides the Illinois-Missouri match up, the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the California Golden Bears is a close second in terms of great games to start off the year. When you look at the hype that Mark Dantonio’s team is starting to churn out as well as some great publicity that Cal is bringing, it’s definitely intriguing, to say the least. And when you break it down, this is really a classic struggle between a smash-mouth offense versus a staunch, hold-tight defense.

On the offensive side, Javon Ringer will really be tested by one of the best defenses he will face all year. Ringer certainly has the tools to be one of the best backs in the Big Ten and one of the better backs in the country, but with the Golden Bears returning 8 very good starters, he will have to rely upon his mammoth offensive line to make some holes as well as QB Brian Hoyer to keep Cal off-balance if he wants to really be successful. The problem is that no one really knows what to expect from Hoyer, as he really didn’t live up to expectations last year overall.

MSU’s defense is probably one of the more underrated squads around, and while the linebackers don’t get the pub that Cal does, they still have a solid group that could make a difference in this game. Cal will rely upon upstart QB Kevin Riley who gained the starting position after last year’s starter went down mid-way through the season. He certainly will need to create quite a bit since the Bears are very thin at wide receiver, although this game could certainly be a coming out party for Michael Calvin, who will turn some heads in the Pac 10 as well as around the country.

While I’d love to see the Spartans march into Cal and pull the upset, the fact that they are playing away from home to start the year, combined with Hoyer’s inconsistencies, and the fact that the classic saying is that good defense always beats a good offense, I am unfortunately going to have to go with Cal in a very tight game overall. My final score: California 20, Michigan State 17