TONIGHT

ALAMO BOWL

Nebraska (9-3) vs. Michigan State (8-4), 6 p.m., ESPN -- This would appear to be a good matchup for the Spartans. The Cornhuskers average 236.2 yards rushing, only 105.2 passing. Michigan State was fourth in the Big Ten in rush defense (116.1) and last in pass defense (263.1). The intangibles appear to favor the Spartans, who were the surprise of the Big Ten under first-year Coach John L. Smith. Simply put, Michigan State is excited to be in San Antonio. On the other side is Nebraska, which enters with interim Coach Bo Pelini, guiding the program after Frank Solich was fired on Nov. 29, a move that upset the players. At a players-only meeting on Dec. 15, among the topics reportedly discussed was a boycott of practices or even the bowl unless Pelini was named coach. Can the Cornhuskers use the turmoil as motivation?

-- Jay Christensen