The Alabama Crimson Tide opens its regular season Saturday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama takes on last season’s Mountain West Champion, the 11-win Utah State Aggies. It will be the third meeting between the two teams. The last game was a Crimson Tide, 35-3 win in 2005.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:39 PM CST.
TV, Radio and Streaming
The game can be seen on the SEC Network with a broadcast team of Tom Hart, Jordan Rogers and Cole Cubelic. The radio broadcast will be on the Crimson Tide Sports Network of stations and is also available on Sirius/XM: 81/81. The game will also be available on the ESPN App.
Betting Odds
Most betting lines on the game have the Crimson Tide around a 41-point favorite.
Injuries
Alabama has not provided much detail on injuries so far this season
- Out for the Crimson Tide are WR, Aaron Anderson, WR Jojo Earle, backup OL Elijah Pritchett, backup CB, Earl Little Jr.
- Doubtful: TE, Cameron Latu
- Probable: CB, Eli Ricks
- Unknown: DT, Isaiah Hastings
Previously injured WR, Tyler Harrel and CB, Khyree Jackson are believed to be at full speed.
Utah State has three players who may be ‘Questionable’ – RB, John Gentry, DT, Poukesi Vakauta and TE, Broc Lane.
Complete Alabama Crimson Tide Game Notes are available here.
Alabama vs. Utah State Game Prediction
I advise not taking betting advice for me, but I do not like the Crimson Tide to cover. I think a mostly vanilla offensive plan will feature the running game, largely because Utah State will not be able to stop it.
I can see Alabama scoring in the low-40s if Utah State plays smart. However, if the Aggies, who are a designed hurry-up team, are determined to use pace against the Tide defense, the outcome will be different. At that point, Alabama could easily score 50-plus unless Nick Saban slams on the brakes.
I cannot see the Aggies having much success offensively. The result being Utah State, putting up 10-14 points. Mostly their fast-paced offense will result in the Crimson Tide offense back on the field quickly.
Except for the offensive line and a few spots on defense, I think many second-unit guys will rotate in. Jalen Milroe will likely get a couple of series with the ones, before Nick Saban turns the game over to second and third unit guys.
While I’m predicting, I have one for the entire SEC in the regular season. Last season the SEC had a 48-8, non-conference record in the regular season. So far in 2022, the SEC is 3-0 with Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Missouri winning. My prediction is the SEC will be 52-4 this season. Actually, I only see three losses but added a fourth for an upset.