Cotton Bowl & Orange Bowl Betting Preview

The two teams that will meet up for the College Football Playoff National Championship will be decided on New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl.

This year’s Cotton Bowl matchup is the Cincinnati Bearcats vs the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. At Bovada Sportsbook, Alabama is a 13.5-point favorite.

Alabama favored over Cincinnati in Cotton Bowl

Alabama was 12-1 straight up and 7-6 against the spread this season. In the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Bulldogs 41-24 as 6-point underdogs.

The Tide head into the bowl game on a seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 record ATS. In their last seven bowl games, they are 6-1 SU and 3-3-1 ATS. They were favored in all seven games.

Cincinnati was undefeated this season at 13-0 SU with an 8-5 ATS record. In the AAC championship game, the Bearcats defeated the Houston Cougars 35-20 as 10.5-point favorites.

Bearcats have covered 5 straight as underdog

The Bearcats have won three straight ATS, but prior to that short streak they had lost four in a row ATS. As an underdog, they’re 2-6 SU and 5-3 ATS in their last eight, which includes winning five straight ATS.

The Bearcats are 2-4 SU and ATS in their last six bowl games, and 8-9 SU and 6-11 ATS in their last 17. As a bowl game underdog, they’re 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS in their last six.

There are no recent matchups between Alabama and Cincinnati. However, the Bearcats are 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five vs SEC opponents. That includes last year’s Peach Bowl, which they lost to Georgia 24-21 as 8.5-point underdogs.

Georgia 7.5-point chalk vs Michigan in Orange Bowl

In the Orange Bowl, Georgia faces the Michigan Wolverines as a 7.5-point favorite at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Georgia was 12-1 SU and 8-5 ATS this season. The Bulldogs’ only loss came in the SEC championship game against Alabama 41-24 as 6-point favorites. That loss snapped a 16-game winning streak during which they were 10-6 ATS. The Bulldogs were favored in all 16 games.

In their last eight bowl games, the Bulldogs are 6-2 SU and 5-2-1 ATS. As bowl game favorites, they’re 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six.

Wolverines 2-18 SU in last 20 as underdog

Michigan was 12-1 SU and 11-2 ATS this season. In the Big Ten championship game, the Wolverines crushed the Iowa Hawkeyes 42-3 as 12-point favorites. They head into the bowl game on a five-game winning streak both SU and ATS. The Wolverines have won their last two games as an underdog, but in their last 20, they’re 2-18 SU and 9-11 ATS.

Michigan has a lousy bowl history with four straight losses SU and ATS. In their last 14 bowl games, the Wolverines are 3-11 SU and 4-9-1 ATS. As a bowl game underdog, they’re 1-7 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight.

There are no recent matchups between Georgia and Michigan. The Bulldogs are 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS in their last nine games against Big Ten opponents. The Wolverines are 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight vs SEC teams.