Alabama football takes on Cincinnati in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Friday. Here's how The Tuscaloosa News' sports department predicts the winner:
Jerell Rushin
Alabama 37, Cincinnati 25.
After too many tight games to count, Alabama will benefit from a month of rest. It's plenty of time to devise strategies to stymie a Cincinnati attack that failed to make a third-down conversion in the conference championship game. If Alabama respects a Cincinnati team that is better than the majority of the SEC from the start, it can pull away before the fourth quarter.
Maxwell Donaldson
Alabama 45, Cincinnati 21.
Cincinnati is deserving of a postseason berth and will enter the game with a sense of urgency. The bad news for the Bearcats is that they will be tested on both sides of the ball by an Alabama squad that will pull away in the second half.
Max Wolborsky
Alabama 38, Cincinnati 1.
Cincinnati has established itself as a top-four club in the nation. While the Bearcats should not be underestimated, in Jerry's World, Alabama's star power, backed by Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Will Anderson Jr., will be too much for them. The Tide will continue on to Indianapolis.
Mikey DiLullo
Alabama 31, Cincinnati 21.
I bet against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and the Crimson Tide made me pay for it. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice, despite the fact that Cincinnati is better than some people believe.
Sutton Smith
Alabama 42, Cincinnati 24.
After being the first Group of Five teams to make the playoffs, Cincinnati will undoubtedly have a chip on its shoulder. Alabama will not only be the superior squad, but it will also out-athlete the Bearcats and win the trench fight.
Click here for more trending news
You can also follow us on our Facebook page
You can also follow us on our Twitter page