| 25 December 2009
Michigan State Spartans (6-6) vs Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4)
Valero Alamo Bowl The Alamo Dome San Antonio, TX
College Football: Saturday January 2, 2010 9 PM EST (ESPN)
The Line: Texas Tech - 8
Two regulars to the college football post season who never seem to reach where they aspire meet in the Alamo Dome as the Michigan State Spartans and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet in the Alamo Bowl.
Expectations were guarded for Texas tech this season as many of the star players from a year ago where departed but year in and year out Mike Leach manages to put a competitive product on the field. Because of injuries, the Red Raiders played three QB's this season and all were competent enough to run Leach's offense. The real story for Texas Tech was running back Baron Batch who had m0dest totals because of injuries but he was a dual threat and far and away the best player on offense. It was wide receiver by committee to replace the departed Michael Crabtree as nine players had over 20 receptions. The Defense played well, at least better than we have seen in the past as they allowed just 23.4 point per game. Tough they are still vulnerable against the pass, they are markedly improved against the run. Texas Tech looked lost early this season after back to back losses to Texas and Houston but the Red Raiders turned it around by winning he next three including a huge win at Nebraska. The defense surprisingly gave up 52 points in a loss to Texas A&M but other than that, they gave up over 20 points just twice in their last seven games.
Michigan State had a disappointing season and it got even worse for them once the regular season ended. The Spartans have been a train wreck with 14 players suspended, nine stemming from one incident alone. Even before the suspensions, it just hasn't been the type of year Michigan State had hoped for when they hired mark Dantonio a few years back. Dantonio had rebuilt the Cincinnati program and had won a National Title as a defensive coordinator at Ohio State but he hasn't duplicated anything like that kind of magic at MSU. The Spartans hit the bare minimum of six wins to become bowl eligible and they wouldn't have even been eligible if it wasn't for scheduling 1-AA Montana State. The Spartans lost to Central Michigan early and never looked right. The Michigan State pass defense has been absolutely awful and a meeting with Mike Leach's spread offense probably isn't what the doctor ordered.
Texas Tech is 0-4 against the spread in their last four bowl games, 0-4 against the spread in their last four against the Big Ten and 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five non conference games. Michigan State is 1-7 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record, 1-4 against the spread when playing against the Big 12, and 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games as an underdog.
Neither of these teams has any kind of history of stepping it up when the big games come around though Texas Tech has certainly doe it more recently than Michigan State. Texas Tech has a ton of players who will be returning next year and they will be looking to get a leg up for Spring practice when some starters could be determined. Michigan State was probably in trouble in this one before the suspensions and we saw what Matt Stafford did to them last year through the air. We need to remember that defending Stafford is nothing compared to what Leach will throw at them. I think this one gets real ugly and Dantonio may be in some trouble as his quick trigger handing out suspensions and banishment's from the program usually indicate he is under some pressure.
Mitch's Pick: Texas Tech - 8
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