Sugar Bowl: Utah vs. Alabama Preview

Alabama spent a good chunk of the season ranked No. 1 in the country, but lost when it mattered most in the SEC title game. That loss sent the Crimson Tide to the Louisiana Superdome for the Sugar Bowl where they will face the tough Utah Utes.
It’s No. 4 Bama against unbeaten No. 7 Utah.

Oddsmakers currently have the Crimson Tide listed as 10-point favorites versus the Utes, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.

Brian Johnson threw four touchdown passes and Utah scored three TDs in the fourth quarter to earn a 48-24 win over BYU in Week 13. Utah covered the 7-point spread, and the 72 points sailed OVER the posted total of 55.

Johnson completed 30-of-36 for 302 yards, and Brent Casteel caught two TD passes in the win.

Alabama suffered its only regular-season loss in Week 15, as they fell 31-20 to Florida. Alabama was listed by sportsbooks as a 10-point underdog in that game, while the 51 points went UNDER the posted total of 54.5.

Glen Coffee ran for 110 yards off 21 carries with a TD in the first loss of the season for Alabama.

Team records:
Utah: 12-0 SU, 7-3-1 ATS
Alabama: 12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS

Utah most recently:
When playing in January are 1-0
When playing on turf are 10-0
After being outgained are 8-2
When an underdog on the road are 5-5

Alabama most recently:
When playing in January are 2-1
When playing on turf are 6-4
After being outgained are 7-3
When favored at home are 8-2

A few trends to consider:
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Utah is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah’s last 7 games
Alabama is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Alabama’s last 8 games
Alabama is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games