Alamo Bowl Texas Tech Red Raiders-Michigan State Spartans: 1/2/10

Written by Mark | 01 January 2010

Alamo Bowl-College Football 1/2/10

Michigan State Spartans (6-6) (Big 10)-Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4) (Big 12)

By Mark • Saturday January 2nd, 2009 9 PM EST
Line-Texas Tech -7

It’s surprising and disappointing that the powers that be give us a 6-6 team late in the Bowl season. Michigan State has struggled throughout 2009 and now come in shorthanded with a multitude of suspensions. Statistically, the Spartans moved the ball on offense mostly behind the passing of Kirk Cousins that produced the 28^th unit in the game. They were one dimensional however with a ground game that didn’t come close to matching the production of the air attack. At nearly 30 points per, MSU should have more to show for on the season but much of the blame falls on the shoulders of the defense. The D was ranked at #59 giving up 364 yards and 25 points and was tough to run on but woeful defending the pass. The problem with this unit was that we didn’t know what to expect from them on a week to week basis.

The big story coming from Texas Tech is the firing of HC Mike Leach because he allegedly had Adam James stand in a closet despite suffering from a concussion. Details vary depending on the source but this is a bad situation no matter what happened. The team Leach leaves behind is one of the more prolific passing units in the country with 381 yards per outing which lands them 2^nd nationally. The loss of Michael Crabtree did little to affect the air attack with four receivers combining for 210 receptions for more than 2,700 yards and 22 scores. If somebody was open Taylor Potts generally found them. The Red Raiders defense was average, defending the run much better than the pass and the 22 points they gave up was more than enough to keep the team competitive.

TT is 0-4 against the spread in their past 4 Bowl games and 0-4 against the number in their last 4 versus the Big 10. Michigan State is 3-7 against the spread in their past 10 as an underdog of 3.5-10 points and 1-5 against the number in the past 6 versus the Big 12.

This game is turning into an off field soap opera with all the drama and how each team is affected is something we’ll just have to wait and see. Assuming both teams were at full strength I would give the advantage to the Red Raiders.

We’ll hear about all the controversy’s more than once and that’s one thing I’d put money on. I still like Texas Tech although I’d like them even more with a head coach…