Alabama 49, Michigan State 7, final: Tide finishes with a flourish
Published: Saturday, January 01, 2011, 3:17 PM Updated: Saturday, January 01, 2011, 3:21 PM
By Don Kausler Jr./Tuscaloosa Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times 
Alabama defensive back Robert Lester (37) returns an intercepted pass while Michigan State offensive guard Chris McDonald (62) closes in during the first quarter the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. (The Birmingham News/ Mark Almond)The offense clicked, the defense sticked, and all in all, a team with three losses looked much like the undefeated team that won the 2009 national championship -- if not better -- as it dismantled Michigan State 49-7 today in the Capital One Bowl.
With the victory over a team that shared the Big Ten Conference championship, Alabama finished the season with a 10-3 record. The Crimson Tide set a Southeastern Conference with its 36th victory over a three-year stretch.
The 42-point margin of victory is a Capital One Bowl record.
Alabama coach Nick Saban was victorious over the team he coached from 1995-99.
An Alabama defense that came into the game with only 22 sacks in 12 games had five sacks and held Michigan State (11-2) to minus-48 yards rushing. The Spartans only had 219 yards in total offense.
Alabama compiled 546 yards of total offense and was balanced nearly perfectly with 275 yards rushing and 271 yards passing.
Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, who had five solo tackles, three for a loss (including two sacks) was named the game's most valuable player.
Alabama scored on its first four possessions and took a 28-0 halftime lead.
Michigan State answered the Tide's game-opening 13-play, 79-yard touchdown drive with a drive of its own as deep as Alabama's 29-yard line, but free safety Robert Lester snuffed it with his eighth interception of the season.
Michigan native Mark Ingram ran 12 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which broke Shaun Alexander's school record of 41 career touchdown runs. The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner also caught one pass for a dazzling 30-yard gain.
In his final game as the Tide's starting quarter, Greg McElroy ran his career record to 24-3 by completing 13 of 17 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown, a 37-yard pass to Marquis Maze early in the third quarter. McElroy also threw the key block on wide receiver Julio Jones' 35-yard touchdown run on a second-quarter reverse.
Eddie Lacy scored on two second-half TD runs, including a 62-yard run, and finished as Alabama's leading rusher with five carries for 86 yards.
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