EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A short-handed Michigan State team will head to the Alamo Bowl to play Texas Tech on Jan. 2 in a matchup of Big Ten and Big 12 teams.
The bowl matchup announced Sunday will be a challenge for the Spartans (6-6).
Texas Tech (8-4) will bring one of the nation's best passing attacks to San Antonio. Michigan State has been shaky on pass defense much of the season and will be without starting defensive back Chris L. Rucker, one of eight Spartans suspended indefinitely and not making the bowl trip because they were at a Nov. 22 fight with members of a campus fraternity.
Two starting wide receivers, B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell, also are among the suspended players. But the Spartans say the Alamo Bowl - a good postseason trip for a team with a .500 record - will give them a chance to finish the season strong both on and off the field.
"There's a lot of play for," Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "We feel we can take a negative situation and turn it into a positive."
Cousins say players have been focused and intense since the Spartans began practicing in anticipation of a bowl Saturday.
"My heart breaks for those guys," Cousins said of his suspended teammates. "The fact that they're not there with us for this bowl game - it will hurt. But at the same time, there are other guys who we work with who have not had as much of an opportunity to play who are now going to have that opportunity."
Michigan State last went to the Alamo Bowl in 2003, losing to Nebraska.
The Spartans and Red Raiders will be meeting for the first time.
Texas Tech averages nearly 381 yards passing per game, second in the nation behind only Houston. The Red Raiders average nearly 37 points per game.
"Very exciting offense - they bring a lot to the table in that regard," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said.
The Spartans also have a powerful offense, averaging nearly 30 points per game.
The Alamo Bowl selected Michigan State over Minnesota even though both have 6-6 records and the Gophers defeated the Spartans this season. Minnesota instead will go to the Insight Bowl.
The Alamo Bowl has higher team payouts and better TV exposure than the Insight Bowl.
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Michigan St., Texas Tech Headed To Alamo Bowl
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NBC4i.com
Published: December 07, 2009
Published: December 07, 2009
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