VS. 
Keeping Texas Tech’s high-powered offense in check figured to be hard enough for Michigan State. Doing it without 11 suspended players makes that assignment an even greater challenge for the Spartans. Michigan State could be hard-pressed to avoid a fourth straight postseason loss when it faces the Red Raiders and the nation’s second-ranked pass offense in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2.
9:00 PM ET, January 2, 2010
Alamodome , SAN ANTONIO, TX
ESPN
Michigan State Spartans with an overall record of 6-6 have been struggling all year long with the pass defense. They ranked 103rd in that category and allowed 29 touchdown passes while getting five interceptions — tied for the fewest in the nation and those are awful numbers against a passing team like the Red Raiders. Slowing down the Red Raiders with a full complement of players was already difficult, but the Spartans will be undermanned in this matchup after Dantonio suspended 11 players for their roles in a dormitory brawl Nov. 22. RB Glenn Winston and DB Roderick Jenrette were dismissed from the team while starters Chris L. Rucker — the team’s top cover corner — WR B.J. Cunningham and WR Mark Dell are among those suspended. QB Kirk Cousins will have a tough job now that his team is partially suspended, it will be incredibly hard to make it happen now more than ever. Michigan State biggest asset will be junior LB Greg Jones, the Big Ten defensive player of the year who ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 141 tackles — the eighth-best single-season total in school history. He also had nine of the team’s 34 sacks. The point here for Michigan State will be to try and hold the team together (what’s left of it) and try to stop Texas Tech passing game. Other players involved in offense are QB Keith Nichol, RB Larry Caper, RB Edwin Baker, WR Blair White and WR B.J. Cunningham.
Texas Tech Red Raiders finished their regular season with an overall record of 8-4 and they were 3rd on the Big 12 South. After sharing the Big 12 title last season and narrowly missing out on qualifying for the BCS, Texas Tech managed another successful campaign under coach Mike Leach in what figured to be a rebuilding year. A victory in San Antonio would give the Red Raiders six bowls wins in the Leach era and three straight seasons of at least nine victories. Strong quarterback play has never been an issue for the Red Raiders under Leach, but injuries this season to QB Taylor Potts and QB Steven Sheffield forced him to use three signal-callers. Potts began the season in the No. 1 role and has won five of nine starts. He looked particularly strong late in the season, completing 66 of 102 passes for 657 yards with four touchdowns in the final two games — wins over Oklahoma and Baylor. Potts led the Big 12 with 306.8 passing yards per game. Potts has a multitude of targets at his disposal as the Red Raiders had nine players with at least 20 receptions. Freshman WR Alexander Torres led the team with 65 catches and 791 yards, and was second with six touchdowns. RB Baron Batch is the top threat out of the backfield, leading Texas Tech with 784 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns — 12 on the ground. While the Red Raiders’ offense garners most of the notoriety, the defense exceeded expectations. Led by senior DE Brandon Sharpe, who recorded a school-record 15 sacks to rank second nationally, Texas Tech allowed a respectable 348.8 yards and 21.8 points per game. Other players involved in offense are RB Eric Stephens and WR Detron Lewis.
GAME ODDS
MICHIGAN STATE 60½
TEXAS TECH -8
A TEAM LIKE MICHIGAN WITH SO MANY SUSPENDED PLAYERS SHOULDN’T HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A BOWL BUT MAKING A SUPERHUMAN EFFORT THEY DID SO THEY ACTUALLY DESERVE TO BE HERE. TEXAS TECH NATURALLY WITH A BETTER RECORD AND A FULL ROSTER APPEARS TO BE SUPERIOR BOTH IN OFFENSE AND DEFENSE SO I EXPECT A LONG NIGHT FOR THE SPARTANS. MY PICK WILL BE TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS -8.
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