The Michigan State Spartans are a football team with some history, being over 100 years old the team has won its fair share of games and trophies. The team has produced many great players over the years and currently has 24 players in the NFL that also played for the Michigan Spartans. The next season is closing in fast and so people are starting to look forward to the future and their opponents so that they can see their chances of winning. Many students who go to watch the games every week also enjoy putting some money on their team so it is always vital to keep up with their schedule.

This year the first game of the season will be a grudge match against the Western Michigan Broncos which no doubt will be incredibly exciting as the winner takes home the pride of being the best team in the state. One thing that will help give the edge to the Spartans will be the fact they will be playing from home meaning that there will be a big crowd cheering them on and the odds will be on their side. The first game in the season is always a good indicator as to how the rest of the season will pan out and no doubt the players are already training hard for the first big day of the season.

For people looking to put some money down on the game and even who they think will win the whole season placing a bet has never been so easy. Not only can you place a bet online with all the latest odds but you can also do it from your phone meaning you can do it anywhere. Online casinos like http://www.mobileslots.net have also taken on this technology and it has allowed them to create websites devoted to playing casino games online wherever and whenever they want. A football themed slot games like $5 Million Touchdown is one of them. $5 Million Touchdown is named after the maximum cash jackpot available, but beyond this it offers plenty more – including symbols styled after NFL icons like cheerleaders and moves like kicks, tackles and throws. Furthermore the bonus game is even more NFL based, as it requires the gamer to pass the ball between players pictured on the screen to try and score a touchdown, while accumulating bonus credits.

A week after four MSU commits from Michigan won state titles, one from Ohio won one, too.

Shane Jones, a linebacker at Cincinnati Moeller, led the Crusaders to the Division 1 Ohio state title with a 20-12 against Toledo Whitmer last weekend. Jones had 7.5 tackles, including two for loss.

Jones, recently named the Division 1 defensive player of the year, tallied 130 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception this season.

The only two Spartan commits still playing are Damion Terry and Delton Williams, who moved into the state semifinals with a 27-13 win against West Allegheny.

Terry was 22-of-33 passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 108 yards.

Terry now is 197-of-289 passing for 3,117 yards and 46 touchdowns.

Williams hauled in two four-quarter touchdowns -- of 28 and 35 yards -- to provide the winning margin for Erie Cathedral Prep. He had 11 catches for 118 yards. He also ran for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Williams set the school record with 55 catches this season, while his 88 career catches also is the school record. He also tied the school single-season touchdown receptions record with 11.

The All-Big Ten teams were announced Monday night, and there was good news for some Spartans.

Leading the way for the MSU honorees was Le'Veon Bell -- big surprise.

The junior running back had 350 carries for 1,648 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.

He ranked third in the country at 137.33 yards per game, while leading the nation  in attempts with 350.

Bell was joined on the first team by Max Bullough -- by the Big Ten coaches, at least. The media put Bullough on the second team.

The junior linebacker anchored the MSU defense, which allowed less than 100 rushing yards per game -- eighth-best in the nation -- and was ranked fourth-best in the nation in total defense.

Bullough had 102 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also had an interception and four pass break-ups.

Joining Bullough on the coaches first-team were Johnny Adams, Darqueze Dennard and Mike Sadler.

Adams had 35 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass break-ups. Dennard totaled 49 tackles --3.5 for loss -- and 3 interceptions and also had seven pass break-ups.

Sadler averaged 43.25 yards per punt and also had a 26-yard run against Michigan.

Bullough, Dennard, Adams and Sadler were named second-team by the media, as was Will Gholston.

Gholston had 50 tackles, including 12 for a loss and led the Spartans with 3.5 sacks. He also broke up nine passes.

Dion Sims was a second-team selection by both the coaches and media. Sims, the Spartans most-reliable pass catcher for much of the year, had 33 receptions for 451 yards and two touchdowns.

Honorable mention by the coaches were Denicos Allen, Gholston, Isaiah Lewis, Chris McDonald and Marcus Rush. For the media, the Spartans' honorable mention selections were Allen, Lewis,  McDonald and Rush.

Allen had 76 tackles and nine tackles for loss, including two sacks, and an interception. Lewis had 76 tackles, 1.5 for a loss and an interception. Rush had 35 tackles, seven for loss, and two sacks.

Keith Mumphery was named the Spartans' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.

Drake Harris a gifted athlete. This much no one can dispute. After his performance in Saturday's Division 3 state final, Harris has cemented his name in the record books forever, and he is only a junior.

Harris set the state record for receiving yards in a state championship game, with 243 on eight catches. He hauled in a 74-yard touchdown.

His season totals, well, those also found a place in the record books. Harris eclipsed the 2,000-yards receiving mark -- setting the state record in that category -- with 2,016 yards (120 yards better than the previous mark).

More impressive? He is only the 12th player in the nation to ever top 2,000 yards receiving in a single season.

He also had 91 catches and 23 touchdowns, good for fourth and second in state history, respectively.

Best news for MSU fans? He is staying with his commitment to the Spartans.

Another MSU commit recently received an offer from Michigan, but also said he is sticking with the Spartans -- after his team won the Division 2 state title Friday.

Brother Rice linebacker Jon Reschke had nine tackles in the game and also recovered a fumble in the third quarter to lead the Warriors to the win.

Cass Tech's Deon Drake had a 30-yard touchdown run in the Technician's 36-21 win in the Division 1 title game. He had four carries for 61 yards.

Out-of-state commits advanced in their playoff games last weekend, too.

Shane Jones and Cincinnati Moeller moved to the Division 1 state finals in Ohio with a 26-21 win against Pickerington North. The win was sealed with a goal-line stand in the final minute of play.  Jones had seven tackles and was named the AP Division 1 player of the year (along with two others, both Ohio State commits).

The Erie Cathedral Prep duo also moved on to the next round with a win in the District 10 Class AAA finals.

The weather was snowy, and the Ramblers kept the ball on the ground -- making for a big game for Delton Williams.

Williams had a 2-yard touchdown run after setting the play up with a 49-yard run. He had a total of 65 yards on just six carries.

He also returned a punt 56 yards for a score and ran back a fumble for a 22-yard touchdown.

Damion Terry was 4-of-8 passing for 80 yards, but threw two touchdowns -- of 15 and 35 yards. He also threw an interception, just his sixth of the season.

Terry now is 175-of-256 passing for 2,860 yards and 43 touchdown (80 for his career).

MSU commits named all-state in Michigan, Ohio

Prior to the state finals, The Associated Press all-state teams were released, and multiple Spartans made the teams.

In Divisions 1-2, Flint Carman-Ainsworth running back Gerald Holmes was named all-state, as was Reschke at linebacker.

Cass Tech offensive lineman Dennis Finley was named honorable mention.

In Divisions 3-4, Harris was named all-state at wide receiver.

Traverse City St. Francis linebacker Byron Bullough was named special mention in Divisions 7-8.

In Ohio, Warren Harding's Jalyn Powell was named an all-state safety in Division 1.

State finals weekend is upon the state of Michigan -- and many Spartan commits have led their teams to Ford Field to play for various state championships.

Drake Harris, the lone skill player committed to MSU still in the playoffs, had a huge game in Grand Rapids Christian's 52-28 win against DeWitt. Harris had seven catches for 216 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles. He also had five catches for 88 yards against Stevensville-Lakeshore two weeks ago.

Harris now has 83 catches for 1,773 yards and 22 touchdowns. Harris is just 124 yards short of a new state record for single-season yards receiving, while he already is tied for second for single-season touchdowns (26 is the record) and ranks in the top 10 for catches (98 is the record).

Grand Rapids Christian faces Orchard Lake St Mary's in the Division 3 final.

Three other MSU commits will play at Ford Field this weekend. Cass Tech's Deon Drake and Dennis Finley will play in the Division 1 title game against Detroit Catholic Central. Brother Rice and Jon Reschke will play Muskegon in the Division 2 final.

Both Cass Tech and Brother Rice will be trying to win their second consecutive state championships in their respective divisions.

Shane Jones and Cincinnati Moeller advanced to the state semifinals with a win over previously undefeated and nationally ranked Colerain. Jones had eight tackles in the win.

Cathedral Prep's Damion Terry and Delton Williams advanced and stayed unbeaten as the Ramblers advanced in the playoffs with a 54-12 rout.

Terry was 17-of-24 passing for 331 yards and four touchdowns. He now has 41 touchdowns on 171-of-248 passes for 2,780 yards.

Williams was on the receiving end of four passes for 87 yards and set the school record with 48 receptions this season.

The other MSU recruit from Pennsylvania didn't fare so well in the first round. Jay Harris, whose Downingtown East team was undefeated and ranked No. 4 in Class AAAA, was upset in the first round of the playoffs.

Harris caught six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, ran for a 5-yard touchdown and returned a kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown in the loss.

Harris finished the season with 54 catches for 778 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Through Michigan State's early-season struggles, Mark Dantonio said "all of our goals are in front of us." He was right, at the time.

MSU was coming off a hard 20-3 loss to Notre Dame at Spartan Stadium, and the talk of a Rose Bowl still lingered for the Spartans -- but didn't last long.

Fact is, long ago the ship sailed on any Rose Bowl dreams. It could have been when Fou Fonoti's injury kicked off a streak of offensive line injuries. It could have been when the receivers were not catching the ball. It could have been when Andrew Maxwell and the offense weren't developing as quickly as anticipated.

It probably was a combination of those things and more.

Is this season a waste? Hardly. Even with high expecatations for MSU heading into this season -- which I had, too -- the focus has been on 2013.

The Spartans return almost the entire offense (one senior starter) and the defense is only slated to lose four players who have significant roles.

The schedule is without Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State. OSU and Wisconsin are replaced with Illinois and Purdue, much easier competition for the Spartans to deal with.

What remains of 2012 will have a lasting impact on 2013. With Northwestern and Minnesota left on the schedule, the Spartans have two very winnable games -- needing just one win to lock up a bowl game. At this point, it is less about playing in the bowl game and more about the extra 15 practices this young team gains from earning that bowl bid.

Those practices will go a long way in determining the future success of what amounts to a very young MSU team. MSU will return all its wide receivers and all but one of the starting offensive linemen -- the two groups most crticized this season. Thousands more reps with Andrew Maxwell and the cohesiveness will grow.

Bear in mind, bowl practices are the time of year when the future players really shine -- B.J. Cunningham was the talk of the practices his freshman year, before rewriting the MSU's record book.

This season isn't over, but it has to end on a strong note for this team to move forward convincingly into 2013. Getting a win this weekend is where it starts.

The Rose Bowl next year could be where it ends up.

As Michigan State headed to Germany to open the season on Ramstein Air Base, it provided a chance not only to compete against UConn, but to have a first-hand account of military life.

Take a look at some highlights of the trip and things players have said via social media:

"These soliders opened my eyes up and filt me in on a lot of things they went through in afghanistan and i thank all the military for what they do #thankful." -- Denzel Valentine on Instagram.

"This trip to germany has given me a whole new respect on life and a new respect on what our military goes thru every day #supportourtroops" -- Kenny Kaminski on Twitter.

**Photos courtesy of Michigan State Basketball, Denzel Valentine and ESPN's Kevin Negandhi

While Damion Terry has been making headlines all season, Delton Williams has been a solid offensive and defensive force for Erie Cathedral Prep. Last Friday, when the weather conditions made it hard to move the ball through the air, Williams was the focal point of the Ramblers offense -- and he made the most of it.

Williams totaled four touchdowns in Cathedral Prep's 47-0 win.

He took three of his 10 carries all the way to the end zone -- racking up 205 yards. His scores came from 5, 50 and 59 yards. He also had a 26-yard touchdown reception from Terry.

Terry, who had his worst statistical game of the season with just 106 yards passing, set the District 10 passing yardage record in the game. Terry now has 6,116 yards in his career and passed the previous mark of 6,045.

He was 5 of 13 in the win Friday. For the season, Terry has completed 154-of-224 passes for 2,449 yards with 37 passing touchdowns and nine rushing.

Cathedral Prep (10-0) earned a bye in the opening round of the Pennsylvania Class AAA playoffs.

Through much of the season, Flint Carman-Ainsworth running back Gerald Holmes has been splitting carries with other talented backs and not getting the workload one would expect of a Division 1 recruit.

Against Grand Blanc last week though, Holmes saw the majority of the carries and put up the numbers. He ran for 181 yards on 19 carries and had an 80-yard touchdown. The Bobcats fell, however, to Grand Blanc 30-26.

Holmes finished the season with 92 carries and 999 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Waukesha (Wisc.) West tight end Dylan Chmura also saw his season end last week, in a 54-49 playoff loss.

Chmura hauled in two touchdowns, one from 8 yards and one from 13. He had four catches for 68 yards in the game.

He finished the season with 20 catches for 382 yards and six touchdowns.

Drake Harris had another nice game in the opening round of the Michigan High School Football playoffs, catching five passes for 103 yards and a 45-yard touchdown. He upped his season totals to 64 catches for 1,261 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Cincinnati Moeller linebacker Shane Jones and the Crusaders are headed into the Ohio state playoffs starting this weekend. Jones had 93 tackles with 2 1/2 sacks and an interception in the regular season and earned all-Greater Catholic League south honors.

The pair of Erie Cathedral Prep commits have one more regular-season game to go. In last week's game, Damion Terry continued his outstanding senior season with five passing touchdowns and two rushing scores -- all while being pulled midway through the second quarter.

He threw for 208 yards on 12-of-19 passing. He also had 72 yards rushing on four carries.

He now has thrown for 2,343 yards on 149-of-211 passing. He has passed for 36 touchdowns and ran for nine.

Delton Williams added a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Cass Tech linebacker Deon Drake had an interception in Cass Tech's first-round playoff win, which he returned 40 yards.

It's been a long, hard road for the Michigan State Spartans this season.

Close losses. Bad breaks. Injuries. The ebodiment of Murphy's law, at times. And it looked like it all was coming up again at Camp Randall.

But finally, something went their way. And finally, the offense made big plays in the big moments. The result was sweet.

Andrew Maxwell went 9-of-11 on the final drive of the fourth quarter and the lone drive in overtime -- both ending in touchdown passes -- and MSU left Wisconsin with a 16-13 win.

The Badgers' 21-game home winning streak? Done. The Spartans' two-game losing streak? Over.

Everything was setting up for the Spartans to go home with another loss, especially when fullback Lawrence Thomas fumbled the ball at the MSU 18 with 8:17 left. However, the Michigan State defense made its usual big showing when its back was to the wall and held Wisconsin to a field goal.

Trailing 10-3, and having shown no signs of life, the offense finally came through for the defense. The plays were there to be made, and the offense finally made them.

On the final drive of regulation, Maxwell completed all but one pass, and finished it with a 5-yard shovel pass to Le'Veon Bell. He even ran for a first down on a second-and-5.

In overtime, the defense stopped Wisconsin on three straight downs and forced a field goal. And where nightmares of Iowa two weeks ago began to set in, Maxwell threw a beautiful pass into the end zone to Bennie Fowler for the game-winning touchdown.

After Fowler hauled in the pas, Maxwell put his hands in the air, turned toward the sideline and pointed, as if to say to the defense, "We got you." Then he pumped his first and ran to the end zone to celebrate. A celebration of redemption for himself and Fowler -- and the whole offense.

Was it a pretty win? By no means. But it was a win nonetheless and it was sweet. It was sweet because it showed the potential this team has. It was sweet because the offense went beyond the potential it has -- and made it real.

it was sweet because it flipped the script after three close, gut-wrenching losses.

It was sweet because it took the heaviness that fans had been feeling and lifted it.

"I thought Andrew Maxwell created at the end of the game. We grew a little bit today and that's a positive thing for us," Mark Dantonio said after the game.

Boy, did they. Here's to this not being the the final big moment this season, but a kick start for the rest of the year.