Quarterbacks hate the term “game manager.” But being the game manager on arguably the best college football team in the country can’t be that bad, can it?

By now you’ve figured out that we’re talking about Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker. And all he’s done is help the Crimson Tide win 10 consecutive games entering its College Football Playoff matchup with Michigan State on New Year’s Eve.

It’s easy to doubt Coker’s value on a team that has the best defense and arguably the top running back in the country — particularly when he hands it off 90 times in its two biggest games — but what he has done this season really shouldn’t be overlooked, even if his statistics appear mundane.

A typical Coker game has looked like this: 17-of-26 passing for 191 yards, a touchdown and less than an interception a game. Yes, those figures are very Trent Dilfer-ish, but let’s consider Coker’s situation. He’s playing quarterback for a guy in Nick Saban who might be the biggest control freak in sports. And yes, Lane Kiffin has been calling the plays, but you almost get the sense that Saban is controlling both his offensive coordinator and his QB with indisputable results.

Take Coker’s performance against Florida in Alabama’s 29-15 victory in last week’s SEC Championship Game, when he completed 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards and 2 TDs. His numbers again were pedestrian, but let’s dissect some of the plays he made that could be the difference against a team as good as Michigan State:

1. Run, Coker, Run! In the second quarter, Coker led a key drive by gaining 17 yards on his first zone-read run of the season. He added a 10-yard scamper on the drive that resulted in a field goal.

2. Strong Arm Tactics: Later in the first half, Coker showed his arm strength by completing a 55-yard pass to Calvin Ridley that led to Derrick Henry’s rushing TD two plays later.

3. Left is Right: While the game was still close, Coker kept the Tide in field-goal range by throwing a left-handed pass out of bounds to avoid a sack.

4. A Matter of Trust: On a fourth-and-2 from the Florida 38 in the third quarter, Saban and Kiffin trusted Coker enough to get the first down without having him simply hand off to Henry. Coker rolled out to the right and hit ArDarius Stewart with a 16-yard pass that kept alive a drive that resulted in another 3 points.

At least against Florida, Coker showed that he could beat the Gators with his feet, arm and his brain.

He’s going to need all those elements against Michigan State, which is second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally in rushing defense, allowing 113.08 yards per game.

Based on those numbers, another 45-carry game by Henry seems unlikely and presumably would put the onus on Coker to beat the Spartans, which might not be the worst approach. As good as its run defense is, Michigan State is ninth in the Big Ten — and 74th in the country — against the pass, allowing 229.8 yards per game.

Michigan State’s secondary — cornerbacks Darian Hicks and Arjen Colquhoun plus safeties Demetrious Cox And Montae Nicholson — is decent, but Coker has the weapons to exploit it.

He can spread the field with Ridley and Stewart. If he needs short yardage on a passing down, he can turn to senior wideout Richard Mullaney or tight end O.J. Howard. If he needs to hit someone on a checkdown, Kenyan Drake is his guy. Plus Drake, who wore a wrap around his fractured right arm against the Gators, should be even more effective with five more weeks of recovery time.

So figure on the Tide relying on Coker for roughly 30 passes, with him completing about 20 for 200 yards or so for 1 or 2 TDs and no interceptions.

Coincidentally, Coker, who has thrown 8 picks all season in 338 attempts, hasn’t thrown an INT over his past 3 games. His performance, combined with roughly a 38-yard carry, 135-yard outing from Henry, should result in a something to the effect of a 30-20 win by the Crimson Tide.