Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth: Spartans vs. Cowboys

Michigan State Spartans (1) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (15)

Voting results: Michigan State Spartans - 50%, Wyoming Cowboys - 49%
Total votes: 2,029,414

Message to Sparty: You'd better grab your sword and rally the rest of the 300 Spartans because it's going to take an army to defeat this group of Cowboys.

Wake Forest put up one of the toughest fights known to mankind last round, but DEACFAN2009 and his crew couldn't overcome what was happening in Wyoming. The Cowboys defeated the Demon Deacons 190,085 (51.6 percent) to 178,070 (48.4 percent) in one of the most amazing battles yet.

Wyoming has taken this mascot contest to a whole new level. It was featured on the local TV news, it was on the front page of the newspaper, e-mails were circulating in state and local offices, every business in the area and among season ticket holders. One person told me there was an e-mail going around to the entire school board, encouraging teachers, parents and students to vote. One lady said her parents -- who are both in their 70s -- were voting on their dialup Internet connection!

"We have a lot of pride in our mascot and logo," said Robbie Darnall, director of the alumni association, whose office also sent out mass e-mails. "We are the only four-year institution in the state, and the logo is a Wyoming logo, unique to the state and university."

Unlike most school logos, the Bucking Horse and Rider isn't just the official logo of the University of Wyoming, it’s the federal and state trademark. It's on their license plates, their quarters and now -- surfboards!

"This state will rally around anything, you'd be surprised," said Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News sports writer and lifelong Wyoming fan. "There aren't a lot of people out here, but it shocks everybody when others see how close the Wyoming ties are."

As for Michigan State, they didn't have a tough fight in Round 3, knocking off the Black Knights from Army 59-41 percent, but this matchup will be a lot like their second-round battle with Purdue. The Spartans edged the Boilermakers 50.2-49.8 percent.

Sparty has been pretty impressive, winning the National Mascot Champion for the third time in four years in January. But this is a battle like one he has never faced before.