The Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1 SU, 7-6 ATS) is 29-1 SU and 18-12 ATS in their last 30 games as a double-digit favorite at the best USA sportsbooks. The Crimson Tide will be in the accustomed position of heavy chalk on New Year’s Eve. That is when they will battle the Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS) in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the national title game.
The betting line on the best online sportsbooks has remained constant since opening at Alabama -13.5. There hasn’t been either any early movement on the total set at 58 points. The UNDER is 10-0 in Cincinnati’s past 10 games as an underdog.
Cotton Bowl Cincinnati vs. Alabama Odds by MyBookie.ag
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | +13½ ( -110 ) | 57½ ( -110 ) | +380 |  |
| Alabama | -13½ ( -110 ) | 57½ ( -110 ) | -475 | |
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Betting Cincinnati Bearcats
Cinci is the underdog at the best USA sportsbooks. Desmond Ridder passed 11-for-17 for 190 yards with three TDs and no picks. Jerome Ford ran for 187 yards and two TDs on 18 carries in Cincinnati’s 35-20 win over the Houston Cougars in the AAC championship game.
The Bearcats improved to 3-0 ATS in their final three games of the regular season. As well as to 13-0 SU overall. Even an unbeaten record historically hasn’t been enough for a non-Power Five program to make the College Football Playoff. This year is the exception.
Cincinnati went 9-0 SU and 5-4 ATS last season before they met the Georgia Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl. The Bearcats lost 24-21 in a close contest where they covered the spread set by the best USA sportsbooks as 8.5-point dogs. They improved to 5-0 ATS in their last five games as an underdog.
The Bearcats were ranked 7th in the nation in total defense (305.8 total yards allowed per game) and 5th in scoring defense (16.1 points allowed per game) in 2021. The defense will have to prove its mettle against one of the top quarterbacks to give Cincinnati a chance to cover the spread.
Betting Alabama Crimson Tide
Bryce Young left no doubt who this year’s Heisman winner would be with his performance against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game. Young passed 26-for-44 for 421 yards with three TD passes and no picks.
He ran for 40 yards and a TD in Alabama’s 41-24 upset win. All of it against a defense that allowed only 6.9 points per game going into that contest. They were an underdog to even make the CFP going into championship week. Now, Alabama is the favorite to win the national championship as the top seed. Young heads into this game with 4,322 passing yards, 43 TD passes and just four picks.
Head coach Nick Saban has spoken about the positive attention Alabama has as “rat poison” in the past. If the Crimson Tide can avoid looking past this game and getting caught up in their regained hype, they have more than enough skill on both sides of the ball to win and cover in spite of Cincinnati’s strength.
Cincinnati vs. Alabama Cotton Bowl Pick
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the superior team here. They should be favored by a good margin. As a matter of fact, the last two Heisman winners have won the national title. That bodes well for Young and Alabama.
However, Cincinnati isn’t lossless by chance. The Cincinnati Bearcats have an elite average defense. Desmond Ridder is a heck of a quarterback who doesn’t take any crap. Let us not forget, Cincinnati was in this position last year. They gave Georgia a run for their money in the Peach Bowl. These Bearcats have improved from last season. This game will be close. Take the points.
