Utah State vs Alabama Odds: Aggies Hit the Road to Face Top-Ranked Alabama

Preseason favorite Alabama Not Expected to Have Much of a Struggle in Opener

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Young, leads Alabama in the 2022 opener. Where do you start when talking about the 2022 Alabama football team? The Crimson Tide features the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Bryce Young and it could be argued that he is not the best player on the team as linebacker Will Anderson Jr. led the nation in both sacks and tackles for loss in 2021. It is no wonder that the Utah State vs Alabama odds are calling for a routine night at the office for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama kicks off the season against a Utah State team that only defeated lowly UConn 31-20. The Crimson Tide has won four of its last six season openers by at least 20 points. The NCAAF Moneyline is heavily in favor of Alabama and the Crimson Tide is currently favored by 41.5 points.

Alabama is favored to add a national title to its collection as well as another SEC championship while defending Mountain West champion Utah State is the No. 5 pick in that conference.

Utah State vs Alabama Game Information

    • Game: Utah State (1-0) vs Alabama Crimson Tide (13-2, 7-1 in the SEC in 2021)
    • Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
    • Day/Time:
    • Television: SEC Network

Utah State Aggies

Utah State opened the season against a Connecticut team that had lost 36 of its last 37 games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents so much more was expected from the reigning Mountain West champions than an 11-point victory at home. Now things get interesting.

Quarterback Logan Bonner is coming off a season when he threw for 3,628 yards with 36 touchdowns. He wasn’t asked to do much against UConn as he was 20 of 29 for 281 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Transfer Brian Cobbs made an immediate impact with 108 yards on eight catches and a touchdown. Eight other players had at least one catch. Still, the Utah State vs Alabama odds isn’t in the favor of the Aggies.

The star of the opener was running back Calvin Tyler as he rushed for 161 yards. However, it is a bit troubling that UConn running back Nate Carter ran the ball 20 times for 190 yards. That doesn’t bode well with Alabama up next.

MJ Tafisi, who missed the last four games in 2021, had 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss to lead the defense.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is dealing with some injuries at receiver and that is after 1,000-yard receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie headed off to the NFL. Still, Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young is coming off a season when he competed for 67% of his passes for nearly 5,000 yards to go with 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions. If Alabama doesn’t have the No. 1 recruiting class, the Crimson Tide usually isn’t far behind in the recruiting rankings so other receivers will have a chance to shine.

The Crimson Tide did bring in Jermaine Burton, the No. 2 receiver on Georgia’s national championship team. Former Louisville receiver Tyler Harrell also figures to have a key role at receiver, although he is one of the pass catchers slowed by injury. That hasn’t stopped the Utah State vs Alabama odds from favoring the Crimson Tide by more than 40 points.

Former Georgia Tech star Jahmyr Gibbs is being touted as the Heisman Trophy candidate and is expected to be the No. 1 back for the Crimson Tide.

Evan Neal was a top 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but the Crimson Tide brought back offensive line starters Javion Cohen, Darrian Dalcourt, Emil Ekiyor, and Damian George. JC Latham was a highly touted recruit while Tyler Steen transferred in from Vanderbilt.

Anderson led the country with 33.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. Leading tackler Henry To’oTo’o (112) and Dallas Turner team with Anderson to give Alabama a frightening group of linebackers.

Utah State vs Alabama Injury Update

For Alabama, WR Ja’Corey Brooks and WR Tyler Harrell are probable. CB Eli Ricks is facing a possible suspension for an off-field incident and it is uncertain if he will be eligible to make his Alabama debut. WR Jojo Earle (foot) is not expected back until mid-October. TE Cameron Latu (knee) is out

Utah State vs Alabama Head to Head

The teams haven’t played since 2005 when Alabama, listed as a 34-point favorite won 35-3 but just failed to over. The Crimson Tide also was victorious 48-17 in 2004 as the Utah football spread had Utah State as 25-point underdogs.

Since the start of the 2000 season, Utah State is 0-7 against SEC teams, although they have covered four of those losses. In the most recent meeting, the Aggies fell to LSU 42-6 as a 27.5-point underdog.

Alabama won its last three games against Mountain West foes but has failed to cover in each of the last three games. In 2017, Alabama defeated Fresno State 41-10 and Colorado State 41-23 but fell more than 10 points shy of covering in both games.

Utah State vs Alabama Betting Preview

Asking a team to cover a 41.5-point spread is quite the challenge even for the mighty Crimson Tide. Expectations aren’t as high for Utah State as a season ago, but the Aggies are still the defending Mountain West champions.

Since 2010, Alabama is 42-0 in non-conference games against unranked opponents so Utah State has some work to do.

Utah State has covered seven of its last eight games and has won seven road games in a row.
Alabama has won its last 20 games played in September and has covered in each of the last six season openers.

The total of 62 is the fifth highest among this week’s games involving at least one team from the Power-5 conference.

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