Dec. 31--TV: 7 p.m. Thursday; ESPN.
Line: Alabama by 10.
Records: Michigan State 12-1; Alabama 12-1.
Last meeting: Alabama won 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.
On the offensive: Derrick Henry is the ultimate workhorse, having averaged 35.8 carries in Alabama's SEC games. Michigan State freshman LJ Scott also is a load at 233 pounds, but the Spartans will ride Connor Cook's right arm.
Getting defensive: Alabama's D-line averages an NFL-like 313 pounds (Michigan State's goes 281), but the Crimson Tide back end is not as strong, having allowed 11 plays of 40 or more yards. The Spartans' Shilique Calhoun has 10.5 sacks.
The number: 4. Consecutive bowl wins for the Spartans, beating Georgia, TCU, Stanford and Baylor.
The talk: The pressure is on the heavily favored Tide, who have lost their last two bowls. Some players have said last year's team, which fell to Ohio State in the playoffs, lacked focus.
Teddy Greenstein's pick: If Cook's shoulder holds up, coach Mark Dantonio will continue his mastery of top-five opponents. Michigan State 23, Alabama 20.
