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Cincinnati vs. Alabama Updated Prediction and Odds for College Football Playoff Semifinal

By Donnavan Smoot

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. / Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
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For the first time ever, a non-Power 5 team made the College Football Playoff. No. 4 Cincinnati out of the American Athletic Conference tries to upset Alabama on Friday, who moved into the No. 1 seed after upsetting the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship.

This is Alabama's seventh appearance in the Playoff and the Tide have back-to-back titles in their sights. This is uncharted territory for a program like Cincinnati, but with Desmond Ridder (8th in Heisman voting) and Luke Fickell as head coach, the Bearcats are ready for anything.

Here are the odds for their matchup via WynnBET.

Cincinnati vs. Alabama Updated Spread, Odds and Over/Under

Spread: 

  • Cincinnati: +13 (-110)
  • Alabama: -13 (-110)

Moneyline: 

  • Cincinnati: +375
  • Alabama: -500
  • Total: 57.5 (Over: -110/Under: -110)

Cincinnati vs. Alabama Betting Trends

  • The Bearcats are 13-7 against the spread (ATS) in their last 20 games. 
  • The Bearcats are 10-0 straight up (SU) in their last 10 games.
  • The UNDER is 5-2 in the Bearcats' last seven games. 
  • The Bearcats are 2-4 SU in their last six games against the SEC.
  • The Crimson Tide are 7-0 SU in their last seven games. 

Cincinnati vs. Alabama Prediction and Pick

In our early game prediction, BetSided's Matt De Saro predicted the Bearcats would be able to keep the game close.

When the Bearcats have the chance to play a team from the SEC, it rarely goes well. Cincy has a 6-35-1 record against the SEC. However, with the injury to Mitchie, I do think that the Bearcats can keep it close enough to cover here. The WR depth isn’t what it has been in years past for Bama, and the Bearcats can focus a lot of their attention on Williams. 

I’m going the opposite way in this matchup. Alabama carved up the best defense in the country and they shouldn’t have an issue with the Bearcats. Many teams have wanted Alabama in the past and each time they get ran over. I think that’s the case here.

While Cincinnati's defense is ranked sixth in the country, I trust Alabama and Nick Saban to create a better game plan to stop the Bearcats and take control of the game on the defensive side of the ball.

Pick: Alabama -13 (-110)

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