The College Football Playoffs are here and the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten conference are ready to take their shot against an SEC powerhouse, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Spartans held off Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game to earn its first berth to the playoffs, while Alabama is looking for its fourth National Championship under head coach Nick Saban.
The last time these teams met was at the 2011 Capital Bowl. Alabama drubbed the Spartans 49-7.
Alabama is still steaming from last year’s disappointing loss to another Big Ten team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, that knocked them out of the playoffs. They were 10 point favorites against the Buckeyes in that game and now are favored again by 10 points to yet another Big Ten foe, the Michigan State Spartans.
ODDS/INFO
December 31, 2015
Cotton Bowl - College Football Playoffs
Arlington, Texas
8:00 p.m., ET - ESPN
Michigan State Spartans +10
Alabama Crimson Tide -10
Game Total 46.5
KEY STAT
The Alabama Crimson Tide play Big Ten football! There are no secrets with the latest version of head coach Nick Saban's perennially contending group. With Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, Alabama is going to run the ball down its opponent's throat. It’s pure smash mouth Big 10 football.
Although Michigan State ranks ninth in the nation against the run, Bama will stick with their gameplan of running Henry left, right, up the middle - they will run the ball, all day!
Spartans quarterback Connor Cook and his offensive line must worry about the Crimson Tide front seven. The Tide rank 16th in the nation in passing defense but first in sacks. Juniors Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams have 19.5 between them. If Michigan State cannot protect Cook, the result will likely be untimely turnovers and three-and-out possessions, something that Alabama thrives on.
BETTING ANGLE
Alabama is a heavy favorite of -10 in this showdown. The game total is 46.5. The spread of 10 hasn’t changed from the time it opened and the total has moved down from 48 to the current number of 46.5.
The total will probably go back up as we approach kickoff.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Connor Cook is about to eat some humble pie. The cocky signal caller for the Spartans is about to find out what it feels to be humiliated in front of millions. Alabama’s front seven will sack and disrupt Cook from start to finish and send Michigan State home searching for answers. Cook is overrated, big time and the world will see it. The Tide lost to a Big Ten team last year in the first round of the playoffs and that surely is not going to happen two years in a row - Nick Saban will get the job done and advance to the National Championship game. Alabama rolls 35-17. Sorry Sparty, keep trying!
BookMaker sent out the college football spread for this game at Alabama -10 with a total of 46.5. Live
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