Cotton Bowl: Why Alabama is on upset alert vs Michigan State
Michigan State and Alabama square off in the Cotton Bowl for the right to make the national championship game. The College Football Playoff game will be closer than Vegas expects.
For the better part of a month, we have heard the praises of Alabama. To be clear, there is a good reason for the praise. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry has helped carry the offense into the College Football Playoff. The defense, in particular, the front seven, has imposed its will on most of their opponents.
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Alabama is a 10-point favorite over Michigan State. The Spartans have remained in the background of the story of how Alabama makes it to another national championship game.
This narrative is familiar to Michigan State. In fact, it seems they prefer being the underdog. There are good reasons Michigan State should be viewed as an equal to Alabama.
Michigan State enters this matchup battle tested. They have victories over Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa. All four teams are in the top-15 in the College Football Playoff rankings. All four matchups were decided by four points or less.
The Spartans know how to win close games, and there was no better embodiment of that than the Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans needed a last-minute drive to come from behind to beat Iowa not only for the conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Playing Iowa was essentially a playoff game and when the Spartans kickoff against Alabama it will be a familiar feeling. Alabama should be favored, but the Spartans are going to give the Crimson Tide all they can handle. Michigan State’s offense must perform better than their last outing to have a chance at pulling off the upset.
If the Spartans defense can slow down Henry and Alabama’s rushing attack, they will have a chance at advancing to the national championship.
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Don’t write off the Spartans, but if you do just know that’s the way they like it. Get ready for a Cotton Bowl that comes down to the final minutes.