Yesterday: 2-2

Overall: 16-12

College Playoff Semifinal

Goodyear Cotton Bowl

Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. Michigan State

Spartans (12-1)

AT&T Stadium, Dallas (80,000 but expandable to 100,000)

7 PM CT/8PM ET

ESPN

Chris, Herbie, Heather

Referees: Big 12, Mike Defee

Coaches

Alabama:

Nick Saban: born Oct. 31, 1951, 64 years old, Fairmont, West Virginia. Twenty years as a college head coach: 189-60-1, 76%; @ Alabama 8 years: 98-18, 84%; 6 SEC championships: 2001, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015; Four National titles: 2003 @ LSU, 2009, 2011, 2012 @ Alabama. Bowls: 8-8

Michigan State:

Mark Dantonio: born, March 9, 1956, 59 years old, El Paso Texas. 11 years as a head coach; 105-49, 68%; 8 years at Michigan State, 87-32, 73%; 3 years prior at Cincinnati. 3 Big Ten titles, 2011, 2013, 2015. Bowls: 5-4.

Weather: Retractable roof, no issue

Key players:

Alabama:

Running back Derrick Henry: 339 carries for 1,986 yards, all time college rushing record. 23 TDs, led the country. 5.9 yards per carry. 152.8 per game. Heisman Trophy winner. Quarterback Jake Coker: 222-of-338, 66%, 2,489 yards, 17 TDs, 8 Ints. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley: 75 receptions, 893 yards, 5 TDs; wide receiver ArDarius Stewart: 54 receptions for 600 yards, 4 TDs; Richard Mullaney, 34-308, 5 TDs.

Defense: Middle linebacker Reggie Ragland: 90 tackles, 6.5 for loss of -23 yards, 2.5 sacks, heart and soul of the defense. Linebacker Reuben Foster: 60 tackles, 7 for loss of -19. Defensive end Jonathan Allen: 12.5 tackles for loss of -77 yards, 10 sacks for -73 yards. Defensive end Tim Williams: 11.5 tackles for loss of -82 yards, 9.5 sacks. Safety Eddie Jackson 5 interceptions for 230 yards, 2 TDs. Marlon Humphrey 3 ints. Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2 ints, 1 punt block return for a TD, 3 TDs total. Crimson Tide with 16 interceptions on the season. 46 sacks on the season leads the country.

Michigan State:

Quarterback Connor Cook: 210-of-389, 57%, 2,921 yards, 24 TDs, 5 interceptions; Running back L.J. Scott: 140 carries, 691 yards, 11 TDs; wide receiver Aaron Burbridge: 80 receptions, 1219 yards, 7 TDs. Wide receiver R.J. Shelton: 41-484, 4 TDs. Wide receiver Macgarrett Kings: 38-492, 5 TDs. Defense: linebacker Riley Bullough, leading tackler, 95 tackles, 7 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 ints; linebacker Darien Harris 82 tackles, 7 for loss. Defensive end Shilique Calhoun, 14.5 tackles for loss of -81 yards, 10.5 sacks for -74 yards. Safety Montae Nicholson, 3 interceptions, 60 yards.

Line: Alabama by 10

Analysis

Alabama's lines on both sides of the ball are big, powerful and dominant. A'Shawn Robinson (6'4", 312), Jarran Reed (6'4",313), Jonathan Allen (defensive end (6'3", 283) and company form the most formidable defensive front in college football AND in the NFL. I think this Alabama defense is not only historically good in terms of all time great defenses in college football, I see this group as better than any defense I've seen in the National Football League. The Broncos have a good defense, maybe they're as good. But that's it. Alabama could stop most NFL offenses. Then you have Derrick Henry, one of the most prolific backs in college football history. What a class act, too. Derrick's Heisman acceptance speech was memorably good. Class kid. Tremendous football player. I like what Jake Coker has done this season. He's been not only a good game manager, but he's been much more than that. He's been a playmaker. People said that about A.J. McCarron and I always thought he was a tremendous playmaker also and underrated in that regard. I see Coke in the same light. He'll be looking for big plays with Calvin and ArDarius in the passing game. Maybe Kenyan Drake can have a good night for the Tide. I know Alabama fans would like to see that as would his teammates and coaches.

Michigan State plays good defense and pretty good offense. It's almost seems impossible how they beat Michigan on the game ending botched punt that they returned for a six and the victory. Then they beat Ohio State on a late field goal, and Iowa with a 15 play, 98 yard drive and scored the game winning TD with time expiring. Connor Cook is a good quarterback, and L.J. Scott is a good running back. Their defense is solid as Mark Dantonio always has solid, physical defenses.

Final Analysis, Prediction

The Crimson Tide has the best coach and best coaching staff in the country. They also have the best players. Derrick Henry is going to pop some runs and grind out some runs, and the offensive line will take over in the fourth quarter. Coker will hit Ridley and Stewart for some explosive plays, quite possibly house calls, and the defense will be what they are; the best in the country and immovable and dominant. Alabama is just too good for Michigan State this time. No disrespect to Michigan State, but this Alabama defense is as good a unit as there has ever been in college football, and Derrick Henry and company churn out yards and make big plays when they need to. See the Crimson Tide moving on to the University of Phoenix Stadium next Monday night, 1-11-16, @ 7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET to play the Oklahoma-Clemson winner in the national championship game on ESPN.

Alabama 31, Michigan State 14

College football Semifinal

Capital One Orange Bowl

Clemson (13-0) vs. Oklahoma (11-1)

Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL. (76,100)

3 PM CT/4 PM ET

ESPN

Brad, Todd Holly

Refs: Big Ten, Mike Cannon

Weather: 81, partly cloudy, 0% rain, wind SE 9 MPH

Line: OU by 4

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have had a magnificent year. DeShaun Watson was second in the Heisman voting and was a tremendous player and leader for his football team. DeShaun completed 287-of-413 passes, 70%, for 3,512 yards and 30 TDs against 11 ints and ran for 887 more yards and 11 more TDs. Wayne Gallman is a tremendous running back, who rushed for 1,332 yards and 10 TDs. Clemson averages 38 points per game on offense. But today, I like OU quarterback Baker Mayfield (243-of-354, 69%, 35 TDs, 5 ints) and running back Samaje Perine (1,291 yards and 15 TDs) to push the Sooners barely over the top of the Clemson Tigers in what should be a tremendous game. OU will move on to face the Crimson Tide in what should be an epic national championship game a week from Monday, January 11,2016.

Oklahoma 45, Clemson 42

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

Houston (12-1) vs. Florida State (10-2)

Georgia Dome, Atlanta (71,228)

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Brian Griese, Tom Luginbill

Refs: SEC, Tom Ritter

FSU by 7

Houston has had a super year under first year head coach Tom Herman, and quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has been awesome, completing 207-of-304 passes, 68%, for 2,590 yards, 16 TDs and five ints, and running for 1,041 yards and 19 more TDs. But I like superb FSU running back Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for 1,658 yards and 18 TDs, to be the story here for the Noles, as they take care of business and set their sights for a big 2016 season, though it should be a very good game. Houston is a good football team.

Florida State 35, Houston 31