College football bowl projections: Michigan State could play Texas in Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

The Michigan St. Spartans have clearly performed below expectations this season, but the team's overtime win at Wisconsin Saturday also improved their immediate fortunes.

According to the latest 2012 college football bowl projections by Jason Kirk of SB Nation, the Spartans could face Texas in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (formerly the Fiesta Bowl) Dec. 29 in Tempe, Ariz.

Michigan State is now 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. The Spartans have home games remaining against Nebraska and Northwestern before closing the season at Minnesota. Michigan State still technically has a chance at finishing first in the Legends Division, trailing Nebraska and Michigan by two games, but they'd need a lot of help over the last four weeks of the season to do it.

Texas improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 with a 21-17 win over Kansas on Saturday. The Longhorns have road games remaining against No. 14 Texas Tech and No. 3 Kansas State and home games against TCU and Iowa State.