Huskers Finish Game Plans for Spartans

San Antonio, Texas ? Nebraska concluded preparations for Monday’s MasterCard Alamo Bowl on Sunday. While the Huskers did not practice, they were busy with team meetings throughout the day after going to the Alamodone for team and group pictures this morning.

Interim Coach Bo Pelini met with the media in a pregame press conference Sunday afternoon. Pelini said the Huskers, who had several players hampered by injuries during the second half of the year, were in relatively good health and anxious to take on the Spartans Monday evening.

"We should have everyone available and we are pretty healthy heading into the game" Pelini said.

A crowd of over 55,000 is expected as the Huskers, who are 9-3 and ranked 22nd and 21st in the national polls, take the field for first time since the 31-22 victory over Colorado on Nov. 28.

Pelini also talked about the challenges posed by Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker, who has thrown for 3,239 and 21 touchdowns for the 8-4 Spartans.

"He shows a lot of patience in the pocket and is a good decision maker," Pelini said. "He also gets the ball out of his hand quickly. Usually, when you get rid of the ball quickly, you don’t make good decisions, but he has a good understanding of what they want to do in that offense."

The Huskers will have a team dinner and meetings later on tonight before making the short bus ride to the Alamodome Monday afternoon for the ESPN nationally televised contest which begins at 8 p.m. (CST)