The No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) meet the No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0) Friday in the Cotton Bowl in a College Football Playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Alabama vs. Cincinnati odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The experienced Crimson Tide head into this one in their usual spot, as the favorite. Alabama has the Heisman Trophy winner in QB Bryce Young as it looks to push past the first Group of 5 representative in CFP history.
The defending national champions will try to solve Cincinnati, a team which allowed just 304.9 total yards per game to rank eighth in the country. UC’s defense also was second overall by allowing just 167.5 passing yards per game, while yielding only 16.1 points per game to check in fifth. If there is a weakness for Cincy, it is stopping the run, although it was still a rather solid 45th with 137.5 rushing yards per game allowed.
On the offensive side of the ball, Cincinnati has stars QB Desmond Ridder and RB Jerome Ford. Ridder threw for 3,190 yards and 30 touchdowns against 8 picks, while running for 371 yards and 6 more scores. Ford registered 19 rushing touchdowns and 1,242 yards on the ground.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Alabama vs. Cincinnati odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:56 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Alabama -550 (bet $550 to win $100) | Cincinnati +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
- Against the spread (ATS): Alabama -13.5 (-112) | Cincinnati +13.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 57.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Alabama vs. Cincinnati odds, lines, picks and predictions
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Prediction
Alabama 41, Cincinnati 20
Money line
Alabama (-550) will cost you five and a half times your potential return. While I think there is very little chance the Crimson Tide are upset in this semifinal, that’s way too much to risk for such little reward.
PASS and focus on the spread instead.
Against the spread
It’s another season, and ALABAMA -13.5 (-112) is the favorite to win another national title. While I can definitely see the winner of the Georgia-Michigan game giving the Crimson Tide quite a run, I am personally not taking Cincinnati seriously. The Bearcats get a late score to make this game look closer than it is, but it’s going to be all Crimson Tide.
Over/Under
The OVER 57.5 (-108) is the lean here, but this is only worth a small-unit play. It’s going to take a late score to get this one across the finish line, and I believe it will be an inconsequential score in the fourth quarter from the Bearcats to do it.
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