The Alabama Crimson Tide (2) have just about every statistical edge on the Michigan State Spartans (3), but the same could be said about a number of the latter's biggest games this season.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl - CFP Semifinal

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Michigan State has played three of the most thrilling games of the college football season. In Oct., they beat Michigan in the Big House on the final play of the game despite never holding a lead in the game. About a month later, they beat Ohio State on the road without starting quarterback Connor Cook playing a single down. Two weeks later, they beat Iowa for the Big Ten Championship on a 22-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

But Alabama is whole other story. Only Boston College allowed fewer yards per game than Alabama and no team allowed fewer rushing yards per game. The Alabama defense has been most susceptible to opponents' aerial attack, but the team still ranks 17th in the nation with 184.2 passing yards allowed per game.

Michigan State will also have to deal with this year's Heisman Trophy winner, running back Derrick Henry. A physical specimen and a workhorse, Henry poses an intriguing matchup for a Spartan defensive front that loves making contact with running backs at or behind the line of scrimmage.

"Yeah, tough defense, great team, going to be exciting to play," Henry said at a pregame press conference. "Yeah, you know, we're similar teams. Physical football. It's going to be a good game.

"I'm ready to play."

(Rankings: CFP. Stats: ESPN)