Photo courtesy of Alabama athletics
Analytics; a phrase that the sports world has come to love, yet hate at the same time. In today’s analytical-driven space, sports are contrived, consumed and even predicted by the letter of the number and the glory of the stats.
And while Alabama may enter its highly-anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Cincinnati as a 13.5-point favorite, the numbers may suggest otherwise. Here’s a look to see how both teams compare for the Cotton Bowl:
Offense
Quarterback
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Athletics
Cincinnati – Senior QB, Desmond Ridder
Season Stats: 3,190 passing yards, 30 touchdown passes, eight interceptions, 75.4 QBR, 361 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns
Desmond Ridder with an absolute NFL throw when UC needed it most, to try and put the Irish away in South Bend. pic.twitter.com/18kPSeXgQD
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 2, 2021
Alabama – Sophomore QB, Bryce Young
Season Stats: 68 completion percentage, 4,322 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, four interceptions, 88.9 QBR
Some stuff you just can’t coach. Reviewing the tape from the SEC Championship Game, the poise and throw from Bryce Young are top tier. pic.twitter.com/Wb4k9ghGVP
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 9, 2021
Advantage: Alabama
Running Back
Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics
Cincinnati – Junior RB, Jerome Ford
Season Stats: 200 carries, 1,242 yards, 19 touchdowns, 6.2 yards per rush
Jerome Ford has hit the end zone FOUR TIMES in just the first half for @GoBearcatsFB 😳 pic.twitter.com/LU0fWnLo8Z
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2021
Alabama – Senior RB, Brian Robinson Jr.
Season Stats: 223 carries, 1,071 yards, 14 touchdowns, 4.8 yards per rush
Brian Robinson Jr : 19 carries for 73 yards & 2 TD's; 5 catches for 68 yards & a TD pic.twitter.com/SRE0pRb2On
— Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) October 17, 2021
Advantage: Cincinnati (Slim)
Wide Receivers
Cincinnati – Alec Pierce, Tre Tucker, Tyler Scott
Senior WR, Alec Pierce – Season Stats: 50 receptions, 867 yards, eight touchdowns, 17.3 yards per catch
*Alec Pierce down there somewhere*#CFB
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 30, 2021
Junior WR, Tre Tre Tucker – Season Stats: 32 receptions, 414 yards, two touchdowns, 12.9 yards per catch
Sophomore WR, Tyler Scott – Season Stats: 26 receptions, 477 yards, five touchdowns, 18.3 yards per catch
Alabama – Jameson Williams, John Metchie III (OUT), Slade Bolden
Junior WR, Jameson Williams – Season Stats: 68 receptions, 1,445 yards, 15 touchdowns, 21.3 yards per catch
JAMESON WILLIAMS IS GONE@AlabamaFTBL strikes back. pic.twitter.com/JHFIBMwuwF
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 4, 2021
Junior WR, Slade Bolden – Season Stats: 32 receptions, 333 yards, two touchdowns, 10.4 yards per catch
Junior WR, John Metchie III – Season Stats: 96 receptions, 1,142 yards, eight touchdowns, 11.9 yards per catch
Advantage: Alabama (Even with Metchie out)
Tight Ends
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Athletics
Cincinnati – Josh Whyle, Leonard Taylor
Junior TE, Josh Whyle – Season Stats: 25 receptions, 320 yards, six touchdowns, 12.8 yards per catch
Desmond Ridder : 18/30 for 176 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT & a 124.6 QB Rating
Josh Whyle : 4 catches for 60 yards & 2 TD's (Had 1 TD catch all season coming into today's game) pic.twitter.com/npwxre9B53— Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) October 23, 2021
Senior TE, Leonard Taylor – Season Stats: 27 receptions, 274 yards, four touchdowns, 10.1 yards per reception
Alabama – Cameron Latu, Jahleel Billingsley
Junior TE, Cameron Latu – Season Stats: 20 receptions, 299 yards, six touchdowns, 14.9 yards per catch
Jahleel Billingsley – Season Stats: 16 receptions, 244 yards, three touchdowns, 15.3 yards per catch
Touchdown Alabama 😁🔥
Jahleel Billingsley with a Touchdown 🔥pic.twitter.com/2FqFaOoEHg
— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) September 18, 2021
Advantage: Cincinnati
Overall Offensive Numbers
Team Stats |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 39.2 | 42.2 |
| Total Yards | 428.1 | 495.5 |
| Yards Passing | 248.7 | 347.9 |
| Yards Rushing | 179.4 | 147.6 |
Advantage: Alabama
Defense
Defensive Line
Cincinnati – Curtis Brooks, Jowon Briggs, Myjai Sanders, Jabari Taylor
Senior DL, Curtis Brooks – Season Stats: 50 tackles, 7.5 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery
Sophomore DL, Jowon Briggs – Season Stats: 41 tackles, three sacks
4-star UVA commit Jowon Briggs is one of the strongest defensive tackles in the country. pic.twitter.com/p4PosQ9rXI
— Dave Lackford, Esq. (@DaveLackfordESQ) June 28, 2018
Senior DL, Myjai Sanders – Season Stats: 34 tackles, 2.5 sacks, fumble recovery, five passes defended
Senior DL, Jabari Taylor – Season Stats: 28 tackles, two sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery
Alabama – Phidarian Mathis, Byron Young, Tim Smith
Senior DL, Phidarian Mathis – Season Stats: 46 tackles, eight sacks, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Phidarian Mathis is one of the most fun guys to watch this draft cycle. Has top shelf movement skills for a guy of his size, plus length on top of it, and plays with a motor that runs incredibly hot. Type of play he makes below is usually made by guys 30-40 pounds lighter pic.twitter.com/dgGaBZpBYF
— Ryan Booher (@RyanBooher6) December 16, 2021
Junior DL, Byron Young – Season Stats: 38 tackles, two sacks
Sophomore DL, Tim Smith – Season Stats: 25 tackles, 0.5 sacks, pass defended
Advantage: Cincinnati
Linebackers
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati athletics
Cincinnati – Joel Dublanko, Darrian Beavers, Deshawn Pace, Ty Van Fossen
Senior LB, Joel Deblanko – Season Stats: 106 tackles, 5.5 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery, interception
Great eye discipline by Joel Dublanko, reading Clayton Tune and emerging in the passing lane to snag an interception. #Bearcats
— College Football Network (@CFN365) December 4, 2021
Senior LB, Darrian Beavers – Season Stats: 88 tackles, three sacks, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, interception, two passes defended
Sophomore LB, Deshawn Pace – Season Stats: 86 tackles, 0.5 sacks, fumble recovery, four interceptions, two passes defended
Junior LB, Ty Van Fossen – Season Stats: 62 tackles, sack, fumble recovery
Alabama – Henry To’oTo’o, Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner
Junior LB, Henry To’oTo’o – Season Stats: 100 tackles, four sacks, forced fumble, pass defended
Sophomore LB, Will Anderson Jr. – Season Stats: 91 tackles, 15.5 sacks, two passes defended
Will Anderson Jr. appreciation post 🔥
🤖 15.5 sacks
*most in FBS🤖 32.5 tackles for loss
*FBS record@will_anderson28 | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/jTUF1Ni96Q— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 10, 2021
Freshman LB, Dallas Turner – Season Stats: 25 tackles, 5.5 sacks, fumble recovery
Advantage: Alabama
Safeties
Photo courtesy of Alabama athletics
Cincinnati – Byran Cook, Ja’von Hicks
Senior Safety, Byran Cook – Season Stats: 87 tackles, sack, interception, nine passes defended
PICKED BY CINCINATTI IN THE ENDZONE!!
Bryan Cook with the takeaway! pic.twitter.com/ougfnuKiEk
— Sports Talk Central (@SportTalkCenter) September 18, 2021
Senior Safety, Ja’von Hicks – Season Stats: 48 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, three passes defended
Alabama – Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams
Junior Safety, Jordan Battle – Season Stats: 74 tackles, three interceptions, two touchdowns, three passes defended
Jordan Battle: Most coverage snaps played among Safeties without allowing a TD this season (398) pic.twitter.com/KfL0iLdFyD
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 23, 2021
Junior Safety, DeMarcco Hellams – Season Stats: 74 tackles, three interceptions, three passes defended
Advantage: Alabama
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati – Coby Bryant, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
Senior CB, Coby Bryant – Season Stats: 40 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, touchdown, 11 passes defended
Junior CB, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner – Season Stats: 35 tackles, three sacks, forced fumble, three interceptions, four passes defended, no touchdowns allowed
Sauce Gardner hasn't allowed a single catch in the red zone this year 🔒@GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/hJl8Dvcbi8
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 14, 2021
Alabama – Josh Jobe (OUT), Kool-Aid McKinstry
Senior CB, Josh Jobe – Season Stats: 38 tackles, two interceptions, four touchdowns
Freshman CB, Kool-Aid McKinstry – Season Stats: 17 tackles, sack, interception, pass defended
Freshman All-SEC Team
Kool-Aid McKinstry 💨#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/YTNfYI9nh0
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 9, 2021
Advantage: Cincinnati
Overall Defensive Numbers
Team Stats |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Points Allowed Per Game | 16.1 | 20.2 |
| Pass Yards Allowed | 168.3 | 223.3 |
| Rush Yards Allowed | 137.5 | 82.8 |
Advantage: Even
Conclusion: Take the points
Sound the alarm. 👀#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/lvnTkrocqb
— Cincinnati Bearcats (@GoBEARCATS) December 16, 2021