2021 College Football Playoff predictions, picks: New blood enters race, but is Alabama still team to beat?

Alabama is the new No. 1 seed in the latest College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide will play in a CFP semifinal for the seventh time in its eight-year existence. Alabama is a 13.5-point favorite over No 4 Cincinnati. No 3 Georgia holds a 7. 5-points edge over 2 Michigan. For the first time since Year 2 of the CFA in 2015, there are two new teams in bracket.

The NCAA football championship game is in 36 days. Alabama is the defending champion and the top seed. The Crimson Tide is trying to win their 15th championship of the wire service era. Michigan is playing with house money already. Cincinnati is happy to be here. The bracket features three of top five scoring defenses, three top eight scoring offenses and three passers. Georgia has both the most pressure and questions surrounding it. It's the second-best run next to Notre Dame winning five Stiff Arms from 1943-56.

Alabama Crimson Tide is the favorite in the Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati Bearcats. The Crimson Crimson have the best wide receiver (Jameson Williams) and the nation's best defensive player (linebacker Will Anderson Jr.) in their team. Cincinnati's defense is too stout and quarterback Ridder is dynamic. Cincinnati came within a field goal of Georgia last season and beat Indiana and Notre Dame on the road this season.

2021 College Football Playoff predictions, picks: New blood enters race, but is Alabama still team to beat?

Georgia hasn't won a national title in 40 years. Alabama Crimson Tide is the team to beat in the 21st College Football Playoff.

Michigan is the team of destiny in the Orange Bowl semifinal. The Wolverines are aiming to get back to Indianapolis for the title game. They want to finish No. 2 in CFP rankings. They hope to have Harbaugh's name on the ring of honor inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Wolverines are going for the first national championship since 1997. They beat Ohio State for first time in a decade and won the Big Ten for the first time since 2004. Georgia's WR George Pickens is injured, but Brock Bowers might be the best tight end in the country. Michigan RB Blake Corum has home-run ability.

No. 2 Michigan is making a case for the College Football Playoff. No. 3 Georgia is also making an argument. SportsLine's computer model has returned almost $3,600 in profit over the past five-plus seasons.

2021 College Football Playoff predictions, picks: New blood enters race, but is Alabama still team to beat? College football experts predict Alabama will win the whole thing.

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2021 College Football Playoff predictions, picks: New blood enters race, but Alabama still team to beat.