The 2021 College Football Playoff semifinals are the highlight of New Years Eve.No. 1 Alabama meets No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl Cla sic at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Crimson Tide are overwhelming 14-point favorites in this matchup. Our entire six-person panel is rolling with Alabama, but does anyone have the Bearcats covering the spread?No. 2 Michigan meets No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are touchdown-favorites in what should be a fun matchup with Big Ten-SEC heat. Do the Wolverines have enough muscle to push the Bulldogs around?MORE: The winners advance to the CFP championship game on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.SNs staff makes their picks for the College Football Playoff semifinals:Alabama vs. Cincinnati predictionsBill Bender: Alabama 40, Cincinnati 20The Bearcats will come ready, but its about surviving the first punch. Alabama has won its last five CFP semifinals by an average of 20. Kosuke Fukudome Jersey 2 points per game, and they have outscored those opponents 89-27 in the first half. Even with offensive coordinator Bill OBrien (COVID-19) out for the last week, the Crimson Tide should have a tight script for that first quarter. Alabama will get ahead early, and that will pre sure quarterback Desmond Ridder into some high-risk decisions in the second half. Bryce Young finishes with three total TDs, and the Crimson Tide put in a TD late to cover that two-TD spread. The Crimson Tide is back in the CFP championship for the sixth time in eight seasons.SN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bill Trocchi: Alabama 28, Cincinnati 20Which Alabama are we getting? The one that piled up three whole points in the first 59 minutes against an Auburn defense that ranks No. 33 in the nation in scoring defense? Or the one that lit up No. 1 Georgia for 41 points in the SEC championship game? John Metchie’s injury will be a factor, because Cincinnati can take away Alabama’s No. 1 receiver in Jameson Williams by adding a safety to one of their All-American corners. That leaves some inexperienced options for Young. But the Tide will still be able to generate enough offense to stay in front of the Bearcats. Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. tends to disrupt any offense he sees, though the Bearcats offense is No. 6 nationally in yards per play. Cincinnati keeps it close, but Alabama’sadvantage at quarterback proves to be the difference.BENDER: Zac Al-Khateeb: Alabama 42, Cincinnati 28Cincinnati is deserving of this stage, featuring playmakers at several positions, especiallyRidder and running back Jerome Ford. They also have two All-American corners in Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant to challenge Young and Williams. But are the Bearcats able to upset the defending national champions? If Alabama plays the way it did against Georgia in the SEC championship game, then no one is. But its up to Nick Saban to make sure his team 13.5-point favorites rejects the rat poison it so readily consumed in its last game.TROCCHI: Mike DeCourcy: Alabama 27, Cincinnati 17The biggest concern the Bearcats have in this game is whether their middling offensive line can hold up against Alabamas front. The Tides total of 42 sacks this season is imposing, and they allowed only 81.4 rushing yards per game. Cincinnatis read option game will not move easily against this force, and it will not Carlos Zambrano Jersey move at all if the line cant keep Alabamas defenders out of the backfield.There are many who expect a blowout, including the folks in charge of setting the line, and that certainly cant be ruled out given the history of this events semifinal rounds. Blowouts are what happens more than 70 percent of the time. If one chooses to consider a 10-point margin to be a “blowout” in order to bolster a Twitter argument against Cincinnatis legitimacy, so be it. I expect the game to be more competitive than not.SN COACH OF THE YEAR: Vinnie Iyer: Alabama 42, Cincinnati 38The college football Power 5 cabal wants Alabama to win big to restore “order” to their perfectly flawed system. They don’t want NFL-like parity to make their sport more national and push it toward the 21st century, despite the fact the Bearcats, playing in the disrespectfully titled Group of 5, which sounds like Chicago Seven or Gang of Four on purpose, have their share of NFL-like talent, starting with a veteran quarterback in Ridder.Young won the Heisman as the second-best player on his team, and he’s the difference-maker here as Anderson and the Bama defense realize a team not in the SEC can occasionally play a high level of offense. Saban is great, but Luke Fickell is pretty darn good even though he’s not leaving for Notre Dame. Cincy is a little motivated to make an unnece sary statement despite a dominant season, while Bama admittedly looks a little ahead to a Georgia rematch that actually won’t happen.Matt Lutovsky: Alabama 45, Cincinnati 17Its unoriginal to pick an Alabama blowout here, but one of these games seemingly always is, and this fits the profile. We know Alabama can dominate on both sides of the ball, and for all the good things Cincinnati has done this year Mark Grace Jersey , its yet to do them against an offense or defense as good as Alabamas. The talent disparity will eventually show itself and Alabama will pull away, with Saban showing no mercy.Michigan vs. Georgia predictionsBill Bender: Georgia 29, Michigan 21Michigan has a top-10 rushing attack, and it comes down to whether that offensive line can get a push up front against Georgias top-ranked scoring defense. On the flip side, Michigan needs to generate a consistent pa s rush on Stetson Bennett, especially on third downs. Michigan has lost three straight bowl games against SEC schools, but this is a different team playing with a ton of confidence. It won’t surprise us if the Wolverines Chicago Cubs Hoodie lead at half, but the Bulldogs will make the right adjustments in the second half. Bennett hits Brock Bowers for a pair of TDs, and Georgia holds on with a last-minute stop.Bill Trocchi: Georgia 24, Michigan 17For folks worried about the flaws Alabama exposed in Georgia’sdefense during the SEC championship game, Michigan simply doesn’t profile like Alabama. The Tide rank No. 79 in rushing offense and No. 7 in pa sing, and they pa sed all over Georgia for 421 yards. Michigan, however, is built like a lot of teams Georgia has dominated this season. The Wolverines stand No. 10 in rushing offense and No. 67 in pa sing. That is similar to Arkansas (12, 73), Kentucky (23, 72), Florida (22, 47) and Tenne see (19, 56). Georgia held those four run-first teams to an average of 9.3 points per game. The Bulldogs arent exactly going to light up the Wolverines on the other side of the ball, but they will have enough to set up a rematch with Alabama in the national championship game.BENDER: Zac Al-Khateeb: Georgia 27, Michigan 24The Orange Bowl matc

College Football Playoff predictions SN:

The 2021 College Football Playoff semifinals are the highlight of New Years Eve.No. 1 Alabama meets No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl Cla sic at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Crimson Tide are overwhelming 14-point favorites in this matchup. Our entire six-person panel is rolling with Alabama, but does anyone have the Bearcats covering the spread?No. 2 Michigan meets No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are touchdown-favorites in what should be a fun matchup with Big Ten-SEC heat. Do the Wolverines have enough muscle to push the Bulldogs around?MORE: The winners advance to the CFP championship game on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.SNs staff makes their picks for the College Football Playoff semifinals:Alabama vs. Cincinnati predictionsBill Bender: Alabama 40, Cincinnati 20The Bearcats will come ready, but its about surviving the first punch. Alabama has won its last five CFP semifinals by an average of 20. Kosuke Fukudome Jersey 2 points per game, and they have outscored those opponents 89-27 in the first half. Even with offensive coordinator Bill OBrien (COVID-19) out for the last week, the Crimson Tide should have a tight script for that first quarter. Alabama will get ahead early, and that will pre sure quarterback Desmond Ridder into some high-risk decisions in the second half. Bryce Young finishes with three total TDs, and the Crimson Tide put in a TD late to cover that two-TD spread. The Crimson Tide is back in the CFP championship for the sixth time in eight seasons.SN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bill Trocchi: Alabama 28, Cincinnati 20Which Alabama are we getting? The one that piled up three whole points in the first 59 minutes against an Auburn defense that ranks No. 33 in the nation in scoring defense? Or the one that lit up No. 1 Georgia for 41 points in the SEC championship game? John Metchie's injury will be a factor, because Cincinnati can take away Alabama's No. 1 receiver in Jameson Williams by adding a safety to one of their All-American corners. That leaves some inexperienced options for Young. But the Tide will still be able to generate enough offense to stay in front of the Bearcats. Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. tends to disrupt any offense he sees, though the Bearcats offense is No. 6 nationally in yards per play. Cincinnati keeps it close, but Alabama'sadvantage at quarterback proves to be the difference.BENDER: Zac Al-Khateeb: Alabama 42, Cincinnati 28Cincinnati is deserving of this stage, featuring playmakers at several positions, especiallyRidder and running back Jerome Ford. They also have two All-American corners in Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant to challenge Young and Williams. But are the Bearcats able to upset the defending national champions? If Alabama plays the way it did against Georgia in the SEC championship game, then no one is. But its up to Nick Saban to make sure his team 13.5-point favorites rejects the rat poison it so readily consumed in its last game.TROCCHI: Mike DeCourcy: Alabama 27, Cincinnati 17The biggest concern the Bearcats have in this game is whether their middling offensive line can hold up against Alabamas front. The Tides total of 42 sacks this season is imposing, and they allowed only 81.4 rushing yards per game. Cincinnatis read option game will not move easily against this force, and it will not Carlos Zambrano Jersey move at all if the line cant keep Alabamas defenders out of the backfield.There are many who expect a blowout, including the folks in charge of setting the line, and that certainly cant be ruled out given the history of this events semifinal rounds. Blowouts are what happens more than 70 percent of the time. If one chooses to consider a 10-point margin to be a "blowout" in order to bolster a Twitter argument against Cincinnatis legitimacy, so be it. I expect the game to be more competitive than not.SN COACH OF THE YEAR: Vinnie Iyer: Alabama 42, Cincinnati 38The college football Power 5 cabal wants Alabama to win big to restore "order" to their perfectly flawed system. They don't want NFL-like parity to make their sport more national and push it toward the 21st century, despite the fact the Bearcats, playing in the disrespectfully titled Group of 5, which sounds like Chicago Seven or Gang of Four on purpose, have their share of NFL-like talent, starting with a veteran quarterback in Ridder.Young won the Heisman as the second-best player on his team, and he's the difference-maker here as Anderson and the Bama defense realize a team not in the SEC can occasionally play a high level of offense. Saban is great, but Luke Fickell is pretty darn good even though he's not leaving for Notre Dame. Cincy is a little motivated to make an unnece sary statement despite a dominant season, while Bama admittedly looks a little ahead to a Georgia rematch that actually won't happen.Matt Lutovsky: Alabama 45, Cincinnati 17Its unoriginal to pick an Alabama blowout here, but one of these games seemingly always is, and this fits the profile. We know Alabama can dominate on both sides of the ball, and for all the good things Cincinnati has done this year Mark Grace Jersey , its yet to do them against an offense or defense as good as Alabamas. The talent disparity will eventually show itself and Alabama will pull away, with Saban showing no mercy.Michigan vs. Georgia predictionsBill Bender: Georgia 29, Michigan 21Michigan has a top-10 rushing attack, and it comes down to whether that offensive line can get a push up front against Georgias top-ranked scoring defense. On the flip side, Michigan needs to generate a consistent pa s rush on Stetson Bennett, especially on third downs. Michigan has lost three straight bowl games against SEC schools, but this is a different team playing with a ton of confidence. It won't surprise us if the Wolverines Chicago Cubs Hoodie lead at half, but the Bulldogs will make the right adjustments in the second half. Bennett hits Brock Bowers for a pair of TDs, and Georgia holds on with a last-minute stop.Bill Trocchi: Georgia 24, Michigan 17For folks worried about the flaws Alabama exposed in Georgia'sdefense during the SEC championship game, Michigan simply doesn't profile like Alabama. The Tide rank No. 79 in rushing offense and No. 7 in pa sing, and they pa sed all over Georgia for 421 yards. Michigan, however, is built like a lot of teams Georgia has dominated this season. The Wolverines stand No. 10 in rushing offense and No. 67 in pa sing. That is similar to Arkansas (12, 73), Kentucky (23, 72), Florida (22, 47) and Tenne see (19, 56). Georgia held those four run-first teams to an average of 9.3 points per game. The Bulldogs arent exactly going to light up the Wolverines on the other side of the ball, but they will have enough to set up a rematch with Alabama in the national championship game.BENDER: Zac Al-Khateeb: Georgia 27, Michigan 24The Orange Bowl matc