Trent Reinsmith
The 2021-22 NCAA College Football Playoff selection took place on Sunday, December 5. The teams who made the playoffs this year were No. 1 Alabama (12-1), No. 2 Michigan (12-1), No. 3 Georgia (12-1) and No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0).
The semifinal games are as follows:
College Football Playoff semifinal – Cotton Bowl
- Date & Location: December 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
- Teams: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Cincinnati
College Football Playoff semifinal – Orange Bowl
- Date & Location: December 31 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
- Teams: No. 2 Michigan vs. No, 3 Georgia
Before we take a look at the NCAA College Football Playoffs, be sure to check out our recommendations for betting sites for NCAAF games as well as the betting picks for the 2021 NCAAF Bowl Games.
Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Alabama ran over Georgia 41-24 in the SEC Championship Game. With the win, Alabama secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and faces No. 4 seeded Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl.
Alabama quarterback, Bryce Young, threw for 421 yards and was sacked zero times in that game. In total, the Alabama offense racked up 536 yards.
Cincinnati earned its way into the playoffs with a perfect season and a 35-17 win over Houston in the AAC title game. In that contest, Desmond Ridder had three passing touchdowns and Jerome Ford scored two rushing touchdowns.
The stage is set for another Classic like no other on New Year's Eve as No. 1 @AlabamaFTBL & No. 4 @GoBearcatsFB are set to clash in the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 86th Goodyear @CottonBowlGame on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 on @espn. https://t.co/ogSNHJ7qq8 pic.twitter.com/wHA9Kf0P0J
— City of Arlington (@CityOfArlington) December 6, 2021
On paper, the Cincinnati defense looks like it could give Alabama problems. The team has the No. 2 pass defense, third best red zone defense and fourth best scoring defense. However, Cincinnati has not faced a team like the Crimson Tide this season and that is the big difference in this game.
I think Alabama is going to win the game, but I also believe Cincinnati’s defense will be able to help the Bearcats cover.
Pick: Alabama to win
Pick: Cincinnati to cover.
Michigan vs Georgia
Michigan won the Big Ten with a 42-3 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. That’s the first title for coach Jim Harbaugh, who joined the team in 2014. Michigan’s win over Iowa came on the strength of a running game that put up 211 yards and four touchdowns. Michigan added 250 yards passing and two touchdowns in the air. The Wolverines’ defense held Iowa to a total of 279 yards of offense.
Georgia is coming off its only loss of the season, but what a loss it was. The team could have gone undefeated and won the SEC but fell to Alabama 41-24 in a game where the defense gave up 536 total yards. That performance was an anomaly for the potent Georgia defense. In the loss to Alabama, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions.
No. 2 @UMichFootball. No. 3 @GeorgiaFootball.
See you on New Year's Eve 👀#CFBPlayoff x #CapitalOneOrangeBowl pic.twitter.com/JUi0pyl5m5
— Capital One Orange Bowl (@OrangeBowl) December 5, 2021
Expect this game to be based around the defense more than the offense.
I’m going with Georgia in this one because I think the team has a better passing offense.
Pick: Georgia to win
Pick: With the strength of the defenses, pick the under.
College Playoff National Championship Game
- Date & Location: January 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
- Teams: TBA vs TBA
I think we see another matchup between Alabama and Georgia and while I think Georgia will be able to keep the game closer than the team did in the first meeting between these clubs, I don’t think they will beat the Crimson Tide.
Pick: Alabama to win
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