The opening act of the CFP semis takes place in Dallas, where Cincinnati and Alabama face off. Cinci is a good team and they’ve got some excellent players. Their problem is that ‘Bama has more excellent players than they do.
Also, this.
No, the Alabama run game isn’t as formidable as it’s been in years past — they barely made an effort to involve the backs against Georgia in the SECCG — so while that’s made Bryce Young’s job harder, as we unfortunately saw, he’s more than up to the task.
Let’s face it: “But if Young plays like he did against Georgia, it’s possible nothing else matters” is the story of this year’s CFP. Will he today? I don’t know. Metchie is out. Cincinnati’s corners are better than Georgia’s. And I expect the Bearcats’ defense to go all out after Young, unlike Georgia’s strategy. How much of that will make a difference anywhere beyond the margins is guesswork. The primary reason I say that is because Cincinnati’s offensive line isn’t as good as Georgia’s is, particularly at the tackle spots, and last time I looked, Will Anderson is indeed suiting up for the Tide.
Needless to say, while I’d love to see it, I have a hard time believing ‘Bama goes down today. I will be interested to see if Metchie’s absence has an impact and if Cinci proves Georgia made an egregious tactical error in not being more aggressive attacking Alabama’s passing game.
What say y’all on this one?
Bearcats,
Go shock the world.
Thanks,
The World
LikeLiked by 5 people
Nah, I want another shot at Bama.
I THINK Bama will kill them, but if one of the other Bama teams show up, they could definitely lose. But I won’t bet on it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cincinnati’s season is a great story propped up by the usual playoff contenders having a down year. Talent matters and Bama clearly has better players. It’s going to take a lot of big breaks going Cinci’s way to make this game competitive. Bama will need to help the G5 team to make this a game.
LikeLike
Bloodbath
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bama gon sine they pity on the runny kine.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t decide if I want Bama to win or not. I don’t relish playing them in the finals (if we get there), but not playing them and then winning will seem like it needs an asterisk in the record books.
LikeLike
We’ll get our chance to break the 7 game losing streak to them soon enough.
Doesn’t have to be on 1/10/22.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Typical dawg grading at work…
I say just win..
LikeLiked by 3 people
If we win the next 2 games, there won’t be an asterisk to me.
LikeLiked by 6 people
There’s no godd*mn asterisk if Cinci beats Bama.
LikeLike
Not happy about the white pants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not white, check your monitor. Same gray.
LikeLike
https://www.on3.com/college/georgia-bulldogs/news/georgia-bulldogs-reveal-uniform-combination-for-orange-bowl-versus-michigan-wolverines/
“Georgia unveiled the uniform combination the Bulldogs will rock for their most important game yet versus the Michigan Wolverines.
The players will sport their white jerseys with white pants and the red helmet on Friday evening.”
LikeLike
Hate the white pants. WTMFF.
LikeLike
Heart definitely wants Cincinnati to shock the world. Head says this may not be a Hawaii style fire bombing, but Bama wins comfortably in a game not as close as the final score indicates. Bammers 38-17.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’ve kinda had an issue with playing to their comp this year.
If Cincy can take #1 away and run the ball a little, it could be more interesting than we think.
LikeLike
I’m not as bullish on Desmond Ridder as some appear to be (not saying you are, Derek). Give Nick Saban 3+ weeks to prepare for anyone and it’s going to be tough sledding. The only way Cincy has a chance is if Bama’s offensive line falls apart and the Bearcats win the turnover margin by 3+.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always try to remember that these are kids.
Bama came into Atlanta with a chip bc everyone told them we were kicking their ass. Now they’ve had a month of rat poison about how great they are.
Cincy knows the fate of their program and the Group of Five generally rests on how they perform. Maybe they show up with the chip on their shoulder?
Where auburn put them in the ropes,Cincy could actually finish them.
Not saying they will, but given that these are kids, nearly anything is possible.
Bama could curb stomp them or w/l a close one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems to me that Cincy’s QB is going to need his first read to be open on a great majority of their passing attempts to have any chance of taking and holding a lead in this game. Holding the ball will kill them. Whatever they can get out of the run game will be interesting.
LikeLike
I would never route for another team other than uga so don’t care who wins Bama or cinci. Would not be surprised if Cinci covers & wins based on the above game plan formula. Fickell should sell out on getting after Bryce, hell why not.
LikeLike
I think the Bearcats cover. Also, our corners are better than theirs, but that’s a minor point.
LikeLike
I just don’t see any scenario where Nick Saban loses to a G5 team, much less in a playoff. I don’t think there’s any reason to analyze it beyond that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bama wins, but doesn’t cover.
LikeLike
Agree 100%. Great post.
Cotton Bowl should be an interesting and entertaining matchup.
Is it possible that anything orange can bring happiness to a Dawg? Let’s hope the bowl makes the exception to the rule.
LikeLike
Fuck the Tide, Saban, Bryce, and every cousin humping troglodyte that spends their days and lives yelling Roll Tide. I don’t care if it’s a Group of 5 team or a group of rabid marmosets, just someone please kill the Tide.
Sick of their shit.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I feel the same way regarding Bama. Where I defer is I want Bama to win today and suffer losing the NC to Georgia.
LikeLike
I’d like to see them be the ones to lose to the G5 team. Saban’s head would explode
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marmosets for the win
LikeLike
For the Sycamore Aviators, Cincinnati Stingers, James Tavern softball team, WEBN Album Rock, Kings Island, Skyline Chili, LaRosa”s Pizza, Graeters Ice Cream and Montgomery Ribs King…GO BEARCATS!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That certainly looked easy.
LikeLike
Well, that didn’t take too long.
LikeLike
Early curfew call for Cincinnati. Bama meat grinder looks merciless. They can move the ball completely at will. Men vs Boys, at first glance.
LikeLike
This may not age well, but that first drive looked like Bama is just deciding to punch Cincinnati in the mouth. They were trying to stop the run without committing a safety.
LikeLike
Seal Clubbing
LikeLike
I didn’t realize Ridder was only 5’8″. He’s had 2 passes batted down on their first drive. Everyone knows that only short QB’s have their passes batted down.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Snoozefest so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
WTF just happened? Alabama got called for holding on 3rd and long?
LikeLike
Cinci is pressuring Young. Getting him off his line. Amazing how that works.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are absolutely selling out. Bama is going to hit a big one if Cincy loses contain.
LikeLike
They’ve made him uncomfortable. Better second quarter than us.
LikeLike
Just want the winner to be playing Dawgs in their next game! That said even wanting to see us get a second shot at Bama! I sure am not rooting for the Tide! It would be fun for them to lose to a “second tier team” except they just beat us, ok conflicted on this game! Not the main event tonight!!
LikeLike
Save some of those exclamation points, OD 😉
Something tells me you’re going to need a few of those later.
LikeLike
Ballgame, probably. But Young definitely doesn’t like outside pressure. Just saying.
LikeLike
Yeah, maybe we should consider trying that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What struck me about the first half was both defenses brought pressure. Bama even had a safety blitz. Cinci is obviously far out-manned, but they’ve had some success putting pressure on the heisman winner too.
LikeLike
Saban just leaning on their O and D lines. Methodical, boring, effective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like a boa choking a pig.
LikeLike
And rightfully favored to win his eighth natty. Incredible. This season alone might prompt him to go for ten.
LikeLike
Robinson has 134 yards for 7.9 a carry. Cincy sells out to stop the run and pressure Young and Bama goes the length of the field. Cincy is dying a slower death letting Bama run early. This likely gets ugly unless Cincy gets turnovers. Cincy defended 5 Bama possessions to UGA defending 6 in the first half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been entertaining but when you have 1 RB with over 100 yards in the first half you’re going to win. Only path to victory for UC is if Ridder goes 4/4 on TD passes in less than 6 possessions and attempts AND their D continues to slow Young down. Then they need to score two more TD’s somehow else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True I think Saban thinks he can put the gas down and score in bunches if his defense slips. He’s getting ~5min drives going slow. If the D slips Bama’s tempo goes up to gas the other team’s D. UGA stopped the run and forced tempo. Robinson was held to 55 against UGA.
LikeLike
He was hurt
LikeLike
Bama as a team had 115 against UGA. He was in for UGA even if not at 100%. UGA could stop the run, Cincy less so. Bama is disrespecting Cincy shortening the game. Cincy gets an INTs gains nothing. Bama hits on 3rd and 16 next possession for a 1st down. The game isn’t as close as the scoreboard shows.
LikeLike
35 minutes in Cincy has not scored a TD. Bama has given up some yards but only 2 FGs.
LikeLike
Not sure Cincinnati will score again today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Buuuut…. I thought it was impossible to win a playoff game without a QB lighting it up?
LikeLike
B Young currently 12-20, 130 yrds, 6.5 yrd per pass…. Yet does anyone doubt bama is gonna win this?
LikeLike
I wish one of these mules would hurry up and finish that turnip.
LikeLike
Can’t wait for the pundits to tell me how Cincinnati getting blown out means we need to expand the playoffs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well they held Bama to under 30……
LikeLike
Bama has made Cincinnati look like what they are … a Group of 5 school who has very few guys who would be on Bama’s 2-deep depth chart. Saban knew his defense would limit Cincinnati’s offense (I’m guessing he watched last year’s Peach Bowl a bunch and probably even talked to Kirby). Cincy has sold out on defense to stop Bama’s passing game and has done a pretty good job there.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The german guy looked better than last year!
LikeLike
Not surprising at all. I won’t say that in a 4 team playoff Cincinnati didn’t belong because this was the result against anyone else who argued they should be there. In other words, Cincinnati deserved to be there and get their asses kicked by the best team, program, and coach in the country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Get ready for the manball ironic takes. Young with pedestrian numbers, Robinson running wild, it’s the new way to win!
I just pray that our O line can get Smith & Co those numbers tonight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And rightfully favored to win his eighth natty. Incredible. This season alone might prompt him to go for ten.
LikeLike
Bama will be well rested for the final – manball Saban.
LikeLike
Yes. Played the 2nd Half not to show ANYTHING play-call-wise to UGa.
LikeLike