Cotton Bowl Odds: What’s the point spread for Alabama – Michigan State?

The opening line is out for the Cotton Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan State Spartans and it’s a pretty big point spread.

Michigan State had a thrilling comeback in the Big Ten Championship Game to beat the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes with a 22-play, 88-yard drive to score the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. It was arguably the greatest drive in Michigan State history and the drive of the year in college football.

That drive moved Michigan State up from No. 5 in last week’s playoff rankings and up to No. 3, where Iowa was previously ranked, and will meet the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff game at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 31.

Alabama’s defense dominated the Florida Gators to win their third SEC Championship in the last four years and Derrick Henry made another Heisman statement with 44 carries and 189 yards on the ground to break Herschel Walker’s SEC single-season rushing record.

If you are thinking Alabama should be the heavy favorite for the Cotton Bowl, Las Vegas agrees with you. According to Las Vegas Superbook, Alabama is a nine-point favorite over Michigan State.

Bear in mind, Michigan State is 7-1 in their last eight games against top-10 opponents and were the lower ranked team in five of those games, so despite their underdog status, Michigan State is familiar with that and they’re familiar with pulling off the upset.

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It should be a great game when these two teams meet in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

How will you be betting on the Cotton Bowl? Will you take the points and Michigan State to cover? Do you think Michigan State wins straight up? Do you think Alabama wins but doesn’t cover?