The Alabama Crimson Tide and Cincinnati Bearcats are gearing up for one of the most anticipated matchups of the College Football Playoff era.
Alabama is the defending national champion, and it has been to the playoff more than any other program since the postseason format was implemented in 2014. Cincinnati is the first Group of Five program to qualify for the postseason. The Bearcats' undefeated regular season earned them the No. 4 seed and a spot in the Cotton Bowl opposite the Crimson Tide.
Oddsmakers have Cincinnati as the largest underdog of bowl season, but it can certainly give the SEC champion a test on New Year's Eve, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban is well aware of that.