College football betting kicks off in the new year with a terrific tilt between a pair of Top-10 teams as the Georgia Bulldogs face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Peach Bowl.
No. 8-ranked Cincinnati has gone a perfect 9-0 this season but are installed as 7.5-point underdogs against perennial SEC powerhouse Georgia.
We break down the college football odds with our best picks and predictions for Georgia vs. Cincinnati at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday, January 1, with kickoff at noon ET.
Peach Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview
Weather
This game will be played under a roof at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta so weather will not play a factor. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Georgia: Monty Rice LB (Out), Eric Stokes CB (Out), Kendall Milton RB (Questionable), Richard LeCounte DB (Questionable), Trey Hill C (Out), Tre' McKitty TE (Out), Jermaine Johnson LB (Out), Ben Cleveland OL (Out), DJ Daniel CB (Out)
Cincinnati: Gerrid Doakes RB (Probable), James Wiggins S (Questionable)
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Over is 4-0 in Georgia's last four games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Georgia vs. Cincinnati.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
With the exception of losses to a dominant Alabama squad and a high-powered Florida offense, Georgia has rolled over most opponents, winning their other seven games in comfortable fashion. The Bulldogs also have the added benefit of playing this game in their home state of Georgia.
That said, it won't be easy to win, let alone cover against a team as good as Cincinnati. The Bearcats might be a Group of Five team, but they've been one of the best in the country, going 9-0 with an average scoring margin of plus-21.9 ppg.
The Bearcats have been particularly tough on the defensive side of the ball, holding FBS foes to 309.6 yards and 15.5 points per game. Although Georgia's offense has played better since JT Daniels took over at quarterback, it still won't be easy to move the ball against a Bearcats stop-unit that has limited opposing QBs to an average passer rating of 93.6, second-best in the country. This is especially true with the Bulldogs missing two of their best offensive lineman in Ben Cleveland and Trey Hill.
That brings us to the biggest X-factor in this game: Georgia's bevy of starters that won't play on Friday. While UGA fans got some good news when head coach Kirby Smart announced that pass rusher Azeez Ojulari and defensive back Mark Webb would play despite rumors to the contrary, several other key starters have chosen to opt-out.
Truth is that Georgia is loaded with pro prospects, and won't value playing in a non-CFP bowl game as much as a hungry Cincinnati squad made up of guys who won't sniff the NFL. Take the Bearcats with the points.
PREDICTION: Cincinnati +7.5 (-110)
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Over/Under Pick
With two teams that allow fewer than 20 points per game and feature big, fast and skilled defenders at every level, you might think the Under is the automatic play. We're not so sure because when it comes to betting, strong defenses can be a double-edged sword with oddsmakers often shading the total a tad too low.
Recent trends suggest that might be the case, with the Bulldogs cashing the Over in four straight games and the Bearcats going 4-1 to the Over in their previous five.
UGA has also stepped up on offense after USC transfer Daniels emerged as the starter at QB, averaging 41.7 ppg over their previous three games, with Daniels throwing for nine touchdowns and one interception. Take the Over.
PREDICTION: Over 49.5 (-110)
Team Total Bet
The Bearcats defense has gotten the most attention, but their offense has been a bit underrated this year. Sure the defense has been giving them great field position, leading to 37.4 ppg, but the offense is still rolling up yards, ranking 19th in the country with 460 ypg.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder is a threat through the air with 2090 passing yards, and on the ground with 609 rushing yards, while running backs Gerrid Doaks and Jerome Ford have combined for 1059 rushing yards behind a veteran offensive line.
Although UGA has plenty of depth, three starters have chosen to opt-out on defense: interception leader Eric Stokes, tackling machine Monty Rice and Jermaine Johnson, who is second on the team in tackles for loss. No matter who you are, losses like that are bound to affect your play. Take the Over on the Bearcats team total of 22.5
PREDICTION: Cincinnati team total Over 22.5 (-110)
Peach Bowl: Georgia vs Cincinnati Betting Card
- Cincinnati +7.5 (-110)
- Over 49.5 (-110)
- Cincinnati team total Over 22.5 (-110)
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Use our NCAA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on College Football Bowl Games?
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