College football fans will watch the Cincinnati vs. Alabama game to see if a non-power five program can take down the mighty Crimson Tide.
Alabama is favored by almost two touchdowns, according to the college football odds from BetMGM. While I don’t think there’s much value on the spread, I believe a few Cotton Bowl prop bets may present value to bettors.
2021 Cotton Bowl Game Information
- Date: Friday, Dec. 31st
- Time: 2:30 P.M. EST
- Venue: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX
- Line: Alabama – 13.5
The Cotton Bowl promises to be one of the most exciting matchups in the College Football Playoff era. Check out the article below to find out which prop bets might be worth your time.
First Score of the Game/Alabama (-190)
There are two prop bets listed at the time of writing that involve who scores first. One is for the first score of the game, and the other is for the first touchdown. The first touchdown bet offers better odds, but I’m not comfortable with that option. The Alabama Crimson Tide will probably be able to move the ball on the Bearcats, but Cincinnati’s defense is solid.
The Bearcats allowed the seventh-fewest yards per game, but it remains to be seen if they’re good enough to stop an SEC offense. Cincinnati has the third-best red zone defense in the country, only allowing a score on 66.7% of trips. I believe that in the early part of the game, Alabama will get held to a few field goals as they figure out Cincinnati’s defense.
Half-Time/Final Alabama/Alabama (-175)
I’m not too fond of the odds on the Alabama money line in this game. At -550, I would have to wager $550 to win $100, and that’s not a bet I’m willing to make.
However, I think Alabama will win and control the game throughout. An underdog like Cincinnati will need Alabama to make mistakes if they’re going to win. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, the Crimson Tide has committed the 10th-fewest turnovers in college football.
The best way to wager on the game’s outcome, in my opinion, is to place a half-time/full-time bet on Alabama in both halves. I only have to wager $175 to win $100, giving me a far better return on investment than I’d get if I were betting the Alabama money line.
How Many Points Will Alabama Score: Under 34.5 (+100)
I’m shocked that this prop bet has plus odds. These defenses are great, and the Bearcats have enough of a run game to keep Alabama’s offense off the field. They’re 13-0 because they have a dominant defense and a competent offense.
Cincinnati has the second-best passing defense in college football. They also haven’t given up over 28 points all season. The Bearcats may not win, but I believe they can stop Alabama from scoring 35 points.
Reviewing the 2021 Cotton Bowl Prop Bets
When looking at Cotton Bowl prop bets, a few stand out as having great value. I have little doubt that the Crimson Tide will win outright in the end, but I think that Cincinnati can at least limit Alabama’s offensive output.
You can wager on the Cotton Bowl and other college football games at the BetMGM online sportsbook. Create an account for a risk-free initial wager of up to $1,000.
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