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Bookmaker: Sugar Bowl Betting Preview (Jan. 2)

A “David vs. Goliath” BCS Bowl betting match-up takes place in New Orleans Friday evening when the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide play the undefeated Utah Utes…

Utah Utes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

A “David vs. Goliath” BCS Bowl betting match-up takes place in New Orleans Friday evening when the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS) play the undefeated Utah Utes (12-0 SU, 7-4 ATS) in SEC territory. Alabama might still be reeling after a its 31-20 NCAA CFB betting defeat at the hands of the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game that cost them a chance at participating in the BCS Championship Game. Meanwhile, the Utes are looking to prove they can hang with the big boys much like Boise State did against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a couple years back.

The current Bookmaker NCAAF betting line finds the Crimson Tide installed as 9-point favorites with a game ‘total’ of 45.5 points.

Utes bettors will be placing their money in the hands of HC Kyle Whittingham and MWC MVP QB Brian Johnson. Johnson has dazzled opponents this season, completing 68.3% of his passes for 2636 yards with 24 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. The dual threat rushing attack of Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack made contributions as well, combining to tote the rock 252 times for 1201 yards with 14 touchdowns this season.

In the last half of the season, NCAA bettors watched as Utah became a covering machine, finishing ahead of the number in five of their last six games. The Utes were also money printing presses for over bettors with their high-octane offense pushing nine of their 11 games against FBS opponents over the ‘total’.

Nick Saban has announced that Alabama is back to reclaim their place in the college football hierarchy after only his second season on the job. Saban’s old-school philosophy of winning with a bruising rushing attack and a stifling defense has fattened Tide bettors wallets along with bringing respectability back to Tuscaloosa. Spearheading the Crimson Tide’s rushing attack is the SEC’s leading rusher Glen Coffee who compiled 220 carries for 1347 yards and 10 touchdowns. Super freshman WR Julio Jones has also been a contributor in his first season in the crimson and white, leading the team with 51 catches for 847 yards and four touchdown snags.

Alabama’s defense has been lights out this season allowing just 256.9 YPG, which equates to the third ranked stop unit in the nation. Their 13.0 PPG allowed is also one of the lowest numbers allowed ranking them sixth among all 119 FBS teams. Alabama’s defense has come on strong late this season, as seven of their last eight games have gone under the ‘total’ per the closing college football betting odds.

NCAAF betting trends to know for this game are as follows: Utah is 40-19 ATS as an underdog over its past 59 games, Alabama is 7-3 ATS as a favorite this season, and the ‘under’ is 7-3 in games where Alabama was installed the decided favorite.

You can wager this game and all other BCS Bowl games at Bookmaker Sportsbook.

With bowl season almost over and 2009 right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to open an account at Bookmaker.

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"