Michigan State will play Alabama on Dec. 31 at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington. MSU opens as a 9-point underdog to the Crimson Tide by the Las Vegas Superbook. The winner will advance to the Jan. 11 national championship game to face the winner of Clemson-Oklahoma. The Spartans advanced to the College Football Playoff by beating Iowa, 16-13, in Saturday night's Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis. Michigan State staged a 20-point, fourth-quarter comeback in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic to defeat No. 4 Baylor, 42-41.

Rob Pascoe