With the 2015 college football season remarkably right around the corner, the Golden Nugget’s sportsbook in Vegas has kicked off the betting by opening up early lines for major games. Three Cincinnati games made the list and the Bearcats are favored in two of them.
- September 24th: Memphis (-2) over Cincinnati
- October 1st: Cincinnati (-2.5) over Miami (FL)
- October 31st: Cincinnati (-7) over Central Florida
It’s not really a surprise that the two games UC’s favored in are both at Nippert Stadium while the one where the Bearcats are dogs is on the road. Not only that but it’s against AAC West favorite Memphis in what should be a rocking Liberty Bowl stadium (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write two years ago). The Tigers and Bearcats both finished with seven wins last year, tying for the conference championship, and each returns a boatload of talent next season.
So in that sense this game could easily flip to 2 points in UC’s favor come tip off, despite it being a bit of a struggle considering it’s on the road.
As for the other two games where lines have been established, they’re not much of a surprise either. As mentioned, they’re both being played in the friendly confines of Nippert. Plus the one against the Hurricanes is on a Thursday night. Not exactly an easy task for the visiting team.
UC is currently a 2.5 point favorite over Miami (FL), which the sportsbook is effectively saying will be decided by a field goal. I wouldn’t surprised if this expanded or shortened depending upon how each of these team’s September went. The same goes for the Bearcats’ game with UCF, their first meeting since joining the AAC. Cincinnati actually opened as a six point favorite and it’s since widened to a touchdown. This could easily swing one way or the other depending on how their Septembers and Octobers go.