Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) and the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide will play No. 9 Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve.
It’s easy to think that Alabama will have a major let down in the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State, since the Crimson Tide won’t be playing in the College Football Playoff.
While some think getting to play in a major bowl is a consolation prize for the perennial national championship favorite, don’t tell that to Alabama quarterback Bryce Young or defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who are both playing in the Sugar Bowl instead of opting to skip it to prepare for the NFL Draft, like so many other players this postseason.
It’s a testament to their leadership and commitment to the team, and to the motivation and expectation of their head coach Nick Saban. It’s also a major factor in picking this game, despite Alabama losing three of its last four Sugar Bowl appearances.
No. 5 Alabama (10-2) is nearly a touchdown favorite over No. 9 Kansas State (10-3) in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve from New Orleans, despite the Wildcats having most of the momentum, riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a Big 12 championship victory over TCU.
Young, who won the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt freshman last season, has thrown for 3,007 yards and 27 touchdowns this year, even with missing a game due to injury. He helped lead the Tide to the nation’s fourth-best scoring offense, averaging 40.8 points per game.
Anderson, who won the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player, helped Alabama rank in the top 10 in scoring defense, giving up just 18 points per game.
Kansas State’s defense has also been pretty stingy, giving up just over 20 points per game.
Offensively, the Wildcats could have a 1-2 punch at quarterback, if early season starter Adrian Martinez is healthy enough to play. But he won’t be the starter; that honor goes to Will Howard, who filled in for Martinez and led K-State in the Big 12 title game.
In six games, Howard has thrown for 1,423 yards and 15 touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions. Martinez, if healthy, could be a change-of-pace QB for Kansas State.
FrontPageBets picks the Sugar Bowl winner against the spread.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change)
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 9 Kansas State
- When: Noon; Saturday, Dec. 31
- Where: New Orleans
- TV: ESPN
- Spread: Alabama -6 (-110); Kansas State +6 (-110)
- Money line: Alabama -230; Kansas State +195
- O/U: 56 (-110)
- The pick: Alabama, 35-22
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