Who Made the 2021 College Football Playoff?

By Carlos Chacon • December 6, 2021

Championship Week did little to change the top four college football programs in the nation. However, there’s been quite a shake-up in terms of playoff seeding following the result from the SEC title game, which features two of the four participants in the highly-anticipated College Football Playoff.

NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with all they need to know about the upcoming college football postseason. This time, let’s break down the final four teams about to duke it out at the 2021 College Football Playoff. Find out more about the CFP to give yourself a boost when it comes to placing stakes on all the intense college football postseason betting action on tap.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Death, taxes, and Alabama in the CFP. Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide proved that they’re still the cream of the college football crop after their dominant 41-24 win over former top-ranked team Georgia in the SEC title game. Not only did the Tide seize control of the No. 1 spot from the Bulldogs, but they’re also heavy (-13.5) favorites to advance into the National Championship game for the sixth time in seven years.

Led by sophomore quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Young and a defense that ranks eighth in the FBS in yards allowed per game, ‘Bama’s experience in the CFP pushes the team over the top once more. Although, one possible cause for concern for the team is that its second-best wideout in John Metchie III could miss the remainder of the postseason due to a knee injury.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Luke Fickell has his No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats amidst a magical season. In fact, they’re the first Group of 5 program to make the College Football Playoff and going a perfect 13-0 in the process at that. And much like their fearsome opponent at the Cotton Bowl this coming weekend, the Bearcats have the seventh-best defense at a little over 305 yards allowed per game and just a hair above Alabama’s own season average.

Desmond Ridder, who has a 30:8 TD-INT ratio this season, will need to play the game of his life against a stout ‘Bama D. Also working in favor of Cincinnati is that the Tide have played down to their competition at times this season, losing to a middling team in LSU and barely suffering another upset at the hands of Auburn.

Georgia Bulldogs

Although the loss to Alabama is a letdown, it still didn’t hurt the playoff chances of the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby Smart’s side did just enough during the regular-season campaign and in their valiant loss to the Tide to secure the No. 3 seed in the CFP. And, much like ‘Bama and Cincinnati, Georgia’s top-ranked defense in the nation is what got the team to this very point.

There may be a quarterback controversy brewing in their upcoming Orange Bowl showdown against the Wolverines (more on them below), as Stetson Bennett and J.T. Daniels has opposing skill sets facing Michigan’s daunting defense. Then again, the Bulldogs would be wise to go back to their proven running game with the stud backfield duo of Zamir White and James Cook; both of whom were rendered relatively inept in the loss to ‘Bama.

Michigan Wolverines

Former NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh has finally made it to the big dance, as he has sent his alma mater Michigan into the CFP for the first time in school history. The No. 2 Wolverines might be (+8) underdogs to date against Georgia, but Harbaugh’s gang is just hot off a 42-3 shellacking of Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Continuing the pattern of elite defenses in the College Football Playoff final four is Michigan, which has allowed just an average of 16.1 points per game to their opponents this season. The Wolverines also possess the ninth-best rushing offense in the nation (223.8 RYPG). Expect the Orange Bowl to be a total grind and with Michigan being in a tight contest against the Bulldogs that’ll likely be decided by the final possession.

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