SATURDAY
No. 15 Alabama (9-3) vs. No. 7 Michigan State (11-1), 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Alabama by 10.
Series Record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Michigan State is looking to prove it belonged in a BCS bowl after sharing the Big Ten title with Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Spartans were left out because of a lower ranking in the BCS poll, and knocking off the defending national champion Crimson Tide would give them some satisfaction. This could be the last game for several of Alabama’s stars, including 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, so the Crimson Tide are looking to go out in style.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama WR Julio Jones vs. Michigan State secondary. Jones led the Crimson Tide with 75 receptions for 1,084 yards this season. About 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he has size and speed over most defenders. Jones will likely see a lot of one-on-one coverage with the Spartans crowding the line of scrimmage for Ingram and fellow running back Trent Richardson.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama: QB Greg McElroy. This will be the senior quarterback’s last college game. He threw for 2,767 yards, 19 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season.
Michigan State: RB Edwin Baker. He rushed for 1,187 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, and the Spartans will need Baker to control the ball if they hope to knock off Alabama.
FACTS & FIGURES
Alabama coach Nick Saban had stints at Michigan State as an assistant (1984-1987) and as a head coach (1995-1999). He hired current Spartans coach Mark Dantonio as a defensive backs coach while he was there. … Alabama is making its NCAA-record 58th bowl game appearance. … This is the second time Alabama has been to the Capital One Bowl, formerly known as the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Crimson Tide won the 1995 bowl 24-17 over Ohio State. … Michigan State is making its fourth straight bowl appearance for the first time since 1987-90, matching the longest bowl streak in school history. … The Spartans have lost their last four postseason games, including 0-3 under Dantonio. They have not won a bowl game since beating Fresno State 44-35 in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic.
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