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As 2021 comes to a close, it's time to play one of the best betting playoffs in all of sports. College Football Playoffs starts today. We have the Cotton Bowl matchup first, between Alabama and Cincinnati. Following that game, it's the Orange Bowl, which is Georgia verse Michigan.
Do I think there should be more than four teams in the playoffs, absolutely, but we'll have to wait. Here are my plays for the CFP.
Cotton Bowl: No.1 Alabama vs. No.4 Cincinnati
Alabama comes into this matchup 12-1 and making their 7th CFP appearance. Bryce Young, the Heisman winner, leads the Crimson Tide offense that average over 42 points per game. They come in as 14 point favorites to no surprise.
Cincinnati is a perfect 13-0 heading into their first playoff game. The defense is lead by two star studded corners, Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant, who were voted All-American's this season.
An interesting tidbit, Alabama was 6-6 ATS as a favorite this season. This is the lowest spread as favorites this year, and they were 3-2 ATS when favored by less than 20 points. My heart wants to root for the underdog, but Alabama has been too dominate lately, including a 20+ point win against Georgia, and solid wins against Auburn and 22 ranked Arkansas.
My Picks
Alabama M/L (-620)
Cincinnati +14 (-110)
U 58 (-110)
Orange Bowl: No.2 Michigan vs. No.3 Georgia
Georgia was the team to beat this year. They rattled off 12 straight wins before getting trounced by Bama in the SEC Championship. This is their second appearance in the CFP's. Kirby Smart has been here before, but who will be the play at quarterback today, JT Daniels or Stetson Bennett?
Michigan comes in representing the Big Ten, and finding themselves in their first College Football Playoffs. They started off strong, going 7-0, before losing a close one to their Michigan State rival. However, they bounced back big, winning five in a row, taking down No. 2 Ohio State, and winning the Big Ten Championship easily against Iowa.
This is going to be a defensive battle. Georgia allowed a mere 9.5 points per game, holding 8 out of their 13 opponents to under 10 points. Michigan was just as stout, allowing only 16 points per game this season as well.
My Picks
Georgia M/L (-340)
Michigan +7.5 (-110)
O 44.5 (-115)