It has been a pretty crazy college football bowl season, and there have been a ton of games canceled along the way. It still appears as if the two most important college football games of the season will take place as the College Football Playoff will begin on New Year’s Eve.
The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the fourth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl Classic to kick off the CFP. Georgia and Michigan are will be playing in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The winners of each game will meet up for the College Football Playoff Championship on Monday, January 10, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The betting odds clearly favor a rematch of the SEC Championship Game, but there have been plenty of upsets in the past.
Current Odds to Win CFP Championship
Since there are just four teams remaining, the CFP betting odds have those same four teams left as well. The odds to win the CFP Championship have been changing throughout the season, but there won’t be much changing of these odds before the games kick off on New Year’s Eve.
Georgia spent the entire regular season as the betting favorite once Alabama lost, but those teams have now flipped once again. There is a clear one-two in terms of betting favorites to win the title while the other teams are pretty far down the list.
After the semi-finals are played, the odds will update one more time. If it’s Georgia and Alabama taking each other on in the CFP Championship, then the odds will likely look very similar heading into January.
- Alabama Crimson Tide +120
- Georgia Bulldogs +140
- Michigan Wolverines +600
- Cincinnati Bearcats +1400
‘Bama Big Favorites Over Bearcats
The 1-4 matchup has produced some terrific games over the years, but oddsmakers aren’t giving the underdog much of a chance in this one. Alabama is a 13.5-point betting favorite even though Cincinnati comes into this game without a loss on the year.
The Crimson Tide come into this matchup scoring over 42 points per game, and they have done that against some very good defensive teams in the SEC. Quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy this season after throwing 43 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
Cincinnati has been a dominant defensive team in 2021, holding teams to just 16.1 points per game. Much of that work did come against much weaker teams, and there is some question about the ability of the Bearcats to defend the Crimson Tide.
The Bearcats are going to have to win the time of possession battle if they want to keep this game close at all. Alabama can put up points in a hurry, and the Bearcats have to find a way to give their defense a break at times.
With all that said, Alabama is a pretty clear favorite in this game, and it’s hard to see Cincinnati staying within two touchdowns.
Can Wolverines Win Against Georgia
The second game of the day should be much better, even though Georgia is a 7.5-point betting favorite. These are two traditionally strong college football programs, and there is going to be plenty of attention on this matchup.
Georgia is giving up less than 10 points per game this season, but that defense got roughed up in the loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs are going to have to control the game with the defense if they are going to take control of this matchup.
Michigan wants to run the football, and Hassan Haskins has racked up more than 2,000 yards on the year. The Wolverines will give up some points, but they are comfortable playing in a game that is much higher-scoring.
If you are looking for a close game in the CFP, then this is the matchup to watch.