Goodyear Cotton Bowl Alabama vs. Cincinnati Betting Picks, Odds & Analysis

At the onset of the season was a sense that Cincinnati would breakthrough for the Group of Five.  The Bearcats were touted as the class of the American Athletic Conference.  And after romping to 11 College football betting wins in their first 11 games, they were on the brink of making history.  No team outside the Power Five has ever made the College Football Playoff.  Thus, the season’s stretch run was packed with ever-increasing high-stakes pressure.  UC delivered with a powerful performance and payouts.

2021 College Football Playoff

Goodyear Cotton Bowl CashBet Odds Analysis

Naturally, the Crimson Tide will draw the vast majority of top online sportsbook betting action.  Coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide is the biggest brand on the board.  Further, their SEC Championship game upset of favored Georgia reminded everyone about the perils of stepping into the Tide.  Additionally, Cincinnati is the first Group of Five program to make the College Football Playoff.  With that comes a stigma against UC and the expectations of a mismatch regardless of merit.
Tide Rolls in When It Matters Most

Last time out, Alabama beat Georgia 41-24 as 6-point dogs.  The game went over the Betting on college football total of 48.5.  As a result, Alabama is 12-1 straight up, 7-6 against the spread, and 7-6 over/under.  The Crimson Tide ranks 6^th for total offense and 4^th for scoring offense.  Defensively, Alabama ranks 7^th overall and 20^th for points allowed.  In turn, this was the SEC Championship Game.  Alabama showed what a dangerous underdog they are.  And how they will rise to the occasion when the stakes are the highest.

Bryce Young set an SEC championship game record for first-half passing yards with 286 for Alabama.  In turn, he threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams.  That was the longest play put up against Georgia this season.

David Takes Aim Against Goliath

Last game, Cincinnati beat Houston 35-20 as 10.5-point home favorites in the American Conference Championship Game.  The game went over the bet on NCAAF total of 52.  As a result, Cincinnati is 13-0 straight up, 8-5 against the spread, and 6-7 over/under.  Overall, UC ranks 45^th for total offense and 8^th for scoring offense.  Defensively, the Bearcats rank 8^th overall and 5^th for points allowed.

Certainly, the coaching carousel worked out quite well for Cincinnati.  Perhaps not so much for UC head coach Luke Fickell.  When Brian Kelly deserted Notre Dame for LSU, Fickell was ranked the top potential successor.  Cause by his midwestern and Catholic roots.  But there was no way Fickell would leave Cincinnati with a College Football Playoff berth on the line.  At the same time, Notre Dame needed to fill the position for recruiting immediately.  So Fickell remains at Cincinnati.

On the whole, Luke Fickell’s record of accomplishment at Cincinnati is unsurpassed in school history.  Fickell inherited a nuked-out program in 2017.  Four years later, he made history with the Bearcats.  Equally important was that Fickell made the UC program attractive enough to gain membership to the Big 12.  With future membership in a Power Five conference, the Bearcats are all upside.  To illuminate, UC will be able to recruit at an even higher level with more in the way of national opportunities.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl CashBet Free Pick                

Although Alabama is the ultimate betting on NCAAF money program, Cincinnati is a quality opponent.  Last year the Bearcats could have upset Georgia in the Peach Bowl.  However, the one ultimate difference between these teams is depth. Alabama is the most talented team in the country.  Accordingly, the Crimson Tide should wear down the Bearcats and eventually get the cash.

Cotton Bowl CashBet Best Bet: 

Alabama Crimson Tide