Michigan State open as 9.5-point underdog to Alabama

“What I tell our players … is guys, you really should be happy and you should be excited about what you have been able to accomplish and winning the SEC championship, but now I have a question for you: What do you want to do now?” said Tide coach Nick Saban, who has led Alabama to three national championships and coached at Michigan State from 1995-99.

Oklahoma was No. 3 last week after it finished its regular season as the Big 12 champion, but Michigan State’s Big Ten championship game victory over previously unbeaten Iowa pushed the Spartans past the Sooners in the end.

WHAT: Cotton Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal game). He added every team he’s had has helped to build the Spartans into an elite program. “Our charge is rank the No. 1 team through 4, the best four teams”.

It took the longest pass completion Iowa has made all year to put them ahead, and then it took the most time consuming drive the Spartans have assembled all year to win the game.

You’d also be demanding that some athletes suit up for 16 games, further blurring the line between college and professional sports, and you’d be asking fan bases to choose among traveling to a conference title game, quarterfinal playoff game and potential semifinal and championship game. “It doesn’t matter. Any of the four teams are capable of winning on any given day”. Victor will play Clemson or Oklahoma for the national championship.

Clemson beat Oklahoma 40-6 in last season’s Russell Athletic Bowl.

Florida State draws an entertaining Houston in the Peach Bowl, and Oklahoma State-Ole Miss is a parade-worthy matchup at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Iowa still hasn’t garnered the respect it deserves – and somehow gained more in its loss to Michigan State than it did for winning the first 12 games – but a win in the Rose Bowl would make a statement that Iowa truly is one of the best teams in the country. Henry had 44 carries for 189 yards in Saturday’s 29-15 win over Florida for the SEC title, giving Henry the SEC single-season rushing record with 1,986 – the previous record was held by Herschel Walker (1,891 in 1981). But I know what I’m going to get in those games: two bulldozers driving headfirst into one another.

SMART FINALE: Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will coach the Crimson Tide throughout the playoff after being named coach of Georgia, his alma mater.

Ring in the new year with champagne and … that gleeful party animal Nick Saban?

Running Back LJ Scott rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown as the Michigan State Spartans narrowly defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 16-13 in a week 14 Big Ten matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After the game, the Spartans joined Dantonio and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany on stage set up on the field for the trophy presentation.

Smart will complete his duties with Alabama as the Crimson Tide prepare to face Michigan State in the semifinals.

The Tide also opened the 2012 season, their last championship game, in the opener at the National Football League stadium. And Michigan State’s stunning victory in Columbus. These are two teams that could easily be playing for the national title if a couple of plays go the other way (and who might have played for a championship a couple of years ago if not for Ohio State’s probation).

The college football playoffs show begins at noon on ESPN. ‘Three top-10 victories on their resume now.

The four teams in line for the playoffs appear to be Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan State.