Cincinnati Bearcats vs Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview

Get your New Year’s Eve started off right with the College Football playoff game as the No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0) take on the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) in the Cotton Bowl. This matchup will take place at AT&T Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 pm ET.
The Bearcats finished the regular season with a perfect record. In the AAC Championship, they were able to take down No. 21 Houston with relative ease, 35-20.
In the victory, Desmond Ridder threw for 190 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Jerome Ford led the way with 187 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Alabama took the top spot in the College Football Playoffs after decimating the previous top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game. The final score was 41-24.
Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He also rushed for 40 yards and another score.
Alabama is the overwhelming favorite in this one. They are -590 to win while the Bearcats’ moneyline sits at +410. The spread features Cincinnati +13.5 (-110), and the over/under for total points is 57.
More Odds
Cincinnati currently has the worst odds to win the National Championship at +1400. The Crimson Tide are the favorites at +120.
By The Numbers
Both of these teams have been outstanding on offense this season. Alabama ranks third in scoring averaging 42.1 points per game. The Bearcats rank seventh, averaging 39 points.
Defensively, Cincinnati has statistically been a little better. They rank sixth in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 16.8 points per game. Alabama ranks 18th, allowing 20.8 points.
Cincinnati Out To Prove It Is Worthy Of Playoff Spot
Despite their perfect records, there are still skeptics that prefer not to have teams outside the Power Five make the playoffs. After losing to Georgia last year by just a field goal in the Peach Bowl, Cincinnati is out to prove they belong with the top programs.
Leading the way for the Bearcats is Desmond Ridder. The senior quarterback threw for 3,190 yards, 30 touchdowns, and eight interceptions this season. He also rushed for 371 yards and another six scores.
Ridder’s top receiver is senior Alec Pierce. He hauled in 50 receptions this season for 867 yards and eight touchdowns.
On the ground, head coach Luke Fickell looks to junior running back Jerome Ford to provide a spark. In 200 rushing attempts this season, Ford rushed for 1,242 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Defensively, the team is led by Joel Dublanko (106 tackles), Curtis Brooks (7.5 sacks), and Deshawn Pace (four interceptions).
Crimson Tide Can’t Get Caught Looking Ahead
After taking down Georgia and earning the top seed, the Crimson Tide have a new sense of confidence heading into the playoffs. With that said, head coach Nick Saban can’t allow his team to get caught looking past a tough Bearcats squad.
Leading the way on offense for Alabama is Heisman winner Bryce Young. This season, Young threw for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He also rushed for another three touchdowns.
Young has a variety of weapons at his disposal, but his two favorite receivers this season were Jameson Williams (1,445 yards, 15 touchdowns) and John Metchie III (1,142 yards, eight touchdowns).
Unfortunately, the offense suffered a massive blow in the SEC Championship game when Metchie tore his ACL.
Brian Robinson Jr. leads the rushing attack for the Crimson Tide. The senior rushed for 1,071 yards and 14 touchdowns on 223 attempts this season.
Take Alabama To Win, But Can They Cover?
It is hard to gauge how the Bearcats will match up with Alabama in this one. On the one hand, the Bearcats only played two teams that are currently in the top-25 this season. On the other hand, they beat both of them with wins over No. 21 Houston (35-20) and No. 5 Notre Dame (24-13).
Still, the Bearcats have not seen a team to the level of the Crimson Tide this year and could be in for a rude awakening as they face a perennial National Championship contender.
It is tough imagining Cincinnati pulling off an upset here, and it is easier to see them losing by more than two touchdowns.
Alabama isn’t without its own concerns, especially without one of its top receivers, but Nick Saban has been here before and knows how to fill the void with the next man up.
For that reason, take Alabama to win and cover the 13.5-point spread.