2022 Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs UCLA Preview

[SageBow]

 

One leg of the 2022 College Football Semifinals is upon us, 12-3 Alabama takes on 12-3 UCLA in New Orleans. The Crimson Tide are favored by more than a touchdown as they look to run their current winning streak to 9 games, but the Bruins will do all they can to make sure they're one of the national title finalists.

 

The big matchup to watch here will be UCLA Bruins quarterback Hiram Maronde, who has 46 total touchdowns, against the mighty Alabama defense led by linebacker Weston Shackelford. If UCLA can stay ahead of the chains, this will turn into a track meet that is anyone's game. On the opposite side, Alabama running back Chris Williams has over 2500 rushing yards this season, and it'll be all on UCLA linebacker Kareem Alvarez to make sure Williams doesn't break the home run that he's done so often this season.

 

The Spread

Team	Spread	Total	Moneyline
:ucla: UCLA			+230
Alabama	-8.5	65.5	-300

 

Expert Picks

 

SageBow - UCLA is actually a nightmare matchup for Alabama. A dangerous running quarterback, but more importantly a very underrated defense. Alvarez will be a force against Chris Williams. However, I've been backing Bama all year and I'm not going to stop now. Give me Stephen Mahtook to shut down Andrew Jones and the Crimson Tide to win an ugly one. Take the under.

 

Sarge - Alabama bottled Ynoa, a Hesiman finalist, in the SECCG game and made Tennessee one dimensional with a Freshman QB. I don't think Maronde is built the same way though, doesn't turn it over much and you just cant sack the guy. Bama has to and is likely going to sell out stop Garcia but that's gonna let UCLA eat through the air. My fear is that UCLA defensively won't be able to stop the run which takes the ball out of Maronde's hands. I think it's a shootout as both defenses aren't world beaters but their offenses are. Gimme UCLA beating Alabama 37-31.

 

TuscanSota - UCLA. They will be more awake playing in the evening due to the time zone adjustment.