K-State Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Sugar Bowl pick, betting line, time, TV
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Superdome, New Orleans
TV: ESPN
Radio: KCSP 610 AM in Kansas City and KKGQ 92.3 FM in Wichita
The line: Alabama by 6 1/2
Over/Under: 55 1/2
Prediction
This is a difficult game to handicap.
Alabama has more talent and depth than Kansas State, but the Wildcats have much more to play for than the Crimson Tide at the Sugar Bowl.
How much does motivation factor into the equation? That is impossible to project, but I think it will be an advantage for K-State.
The last two times Nick Saban took his team to New Orleans for games that lacked national championship implications, Alabama got humbled by Utah and Oklahoma in a pair of Sugar Bowl losses that came by double digits.
History could repeat itself on Saturday. This might as well be the Super Bowl for K-State. It has never played Alabama before and a win over the Crimson Tide would give the Wildcats something to brag about all offseason.
Alabama has spent the month talking about how they are taking this game seriously. Star players Bryce Young and Will Anderson are expected to lead the charge rather than “opt out” and begin preparing for the NFL Draft. If the Crimson Tide are truly locked in and play their best, it could be a long day for the Wildcats.
K-State players have compared Alabama to Texas, which is a team it hasn’t defeated since Klieman took over as coach.
But all that talk could just be gamesmanship. Saban would much rather be in the playoff right now.
The Crimson Tide have also been vulnerable away from home this season, losing at Tennessee and LSU.
If Will Howard and Deuce Vaughn can continue moving the ball like they have throughout the second half of this season, the Wildcats will have enough fire power to keep this game close and win in dramatic fashion.
This seems like a good time to back the motivated underdog.
K-State 33, Alabama 30.
Last game prediction: TCU 30, K-State 27
2022 record on picks: 5-8
2022 record vs. spread: 5-8
2022 record vs. O/U points total: 8-5
This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 12:49 PM with the headline "K-State Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Sugar Bowl pick, betting line, time, TV."