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The 2013 football season is over, meaning it's time to look toward the 2014 season. Several outlets are releasing their early 2014 rankings, and MSU is primed to earn a high ranking based on its strong finish to 2013.
MSU returns most of the offense and has to replace a lot on defense. I'll do a state of the program post later, but I'm going to wait until it's guaranteed Pat Narduzzi is coming back.
Yes, college football is going to a playoff, but polls will still matter. The committee will release periodical standings, but you don't think they're going to be influenced by the polls and power rankings? If everyone has Alabama at No. 1 and Florida State at No. 2, that's going to influence what the committee thinks of them, whether they admit it or not. That's why the argument that polls shouldn't come out until midseason is pointless. There is already a public belief about the ranking of teams. Nothing will be perfect.
MSU gets 20/1 odds for next year's national championship, from Bovada, No. 7 in the country.
MSU's second game of 2014 will be at Oregon. Get ready.
NationalChamps.net has MSU at No. 6
The Big Lead has MSU at No. 21 (using a weighted SRS formula)