Alabama will start the 2022 season off at home on Saturday against the Utah State Aggies. Head coach[autotag] Nick Saban[/autotag] has been preparing this team since its disappointing defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs in January.
Alabama will be led by reigning Heisman Trophy winner [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag] on offense, while star outside linebacker [autotag]Will Anderson[/autotag] will anchor the Crimson Tide defense.
Alabama is a considerable favorite over the outmatched Aggies from Logan, Utah, and should be able to handle business here in Week 1.
While we are not expecting to learn a lot about this team on Saturday, it is an opportunity for the team to get its feet wet and continue to build depth on the roster while preparing for a gauntlet of a season ahead.
Staff predicts the game
| Alabama (-41.5) | Record ATS | Winner | Record Overall | |
| AJ Spurr | Alabama | 0-0 | Alabama | 0-0 |
| Stacey Blackwood | Alabama | 0-0 | Alabama | 0-0 |
| Sam Murphy | Utah State | 0-0 | Alabama | 0-0 |
| Brody Smoot | Alabama | 0-0 | Alabama | 0-0 |
AJ Spurr
In 2019, Alabama missed the College Football Playoff for the first and only time since the format began. The disappointment from that season led to a perfect 15-0 record and a national title in 2020. Despite making the national championship game in 2021, it was a down year for Alabama. Much like they did in 2020, the Crimson Tide will look to bounce back in a big way in 2022. No better way to make a statement than by making it clear in Week 1 that you are the team to beat. Utah State struggled with UConn. Alabama is far from UConn. This one will be over quickly.
Alabama 62, Utah State 10
Stacey Blackwood
All offseason you have heard the Alabama players and coaches alike discuss how disappointed they were with the way the 2021 season ended. That leaves Utah State in a pretty tough spot. Unfortunately for the Aggies, they are the first in line for the revenge tour of 2022. Bryce Young and the Alabama offense will come out firing on all cylinders and the Tide defense led by Will Anderson will smother the Aggie offense as ‘Bama puts away the Aggies in quick fashion.
Alabama 52, Utah State 10
Sam Murphy
I fully expect 2022 to be one of the most complete Alabama teams we have seen under Nick Saban. With a lot of new pieces, it may take a quarter or two for all the gears to get fully moving, but once their in motion good luck stopping the Tide. Bryce Young and Will Anderson will both show why they are the two most feared players in college football, and the transfers will show why Nick Saban sniped them out of the portal. That being said, covering 41.5 in an early September game ahead of Texas seems like a lot of points to me.
Alabama 52, Utah State 17
Brody Smoot
I think Alabama will come out and make a statement on offense. Although the playmakers are new at wide receiver, I expect the new group to step up early. Bryce should be really effective behind an offensive line that should be much improved under OL coach Eric Wolford. The Aggies won’t have enough in the tank to overcome a large deficit. I think Alabama’s defense will play extremely well and come out with urgency. The air attack is one factor that does concern me, however. Quarterback Logan Bonner is fairly efficient and doesn’t make bad decisions. I just feel like the Aggies’ OL won’t be able to contain Will Anderson and Dallas Turner.
Alabama 56, Utah State 10
All Betting Lines are courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook.