Collaborative Predictions: Miami vs. Cincinnati

Despite all the great coverage we provide here at Cincy on the Prowl, it seems that most of us are not very good at this prediction business.  Ben Levin wisely pointed out that we are all a bunch of homers.  Perhaps that is the case although the opinions vary this week and it seems more likely than ever that one of us will be right!  Here are your weekly collaborative predictions for Miami vs. Cincinnati:

Chris Bains

Miami brings one of the best offenses and defenses to Nippert Stadium on Thursday night. Their running game hasn’t experienced the ill effects of losing Duke Johnson to the NFL and Brad Kaaya is really coming into his own at quarterback. Then there’s the defense, 2nd best in the country in turnover margin with a defense that blitzes at the regularly of Memphis but with a far more talented secondary. The encouraging news is that Hayden Moore looks to be a godsend to UC’s quarterback position and the Hurricanes will be without two starting defensive backs for the first half. While I’m going out on a limb here, I just don’t see the Bearcats losing this game. Not during a blacked out Nippert Stadium on a Thursday night.

Cincinnati 27, Miami 24

Travis Holmes

I wish I shared Chris’s optimism.

Miami comes into this game 3-0 but it is safe to say that we still don’t know a whole lot about the Hurricanes based on the level of their competition to date. Beating Nebraska was a nice feather in the cap but their only road game to date was at Florida Atlantic.

Athletically I am not sure the Bearcats can keep up with Miami. As great as Hayden Moore was at Memphis I am afraid that the expectations may be too inflated at this point. After all, he is still a redshirt freshman making his first career start. I am concerned that Mike Boone’s ankle injury is more serious than the coaching staff is letting on and the turnovers continue to be a major issue for Cincinnati.

I see the Bearcats continuing the trend of the Tommy Tuberville era in that they will greatly improve as the season goes along. However, I do not see the good guys pulling off a victory Thursday night.

Miami 42, Cincinnati 30

Ben Levin

UC ranks second in the nation in total offense and third in in total yards per game, and Hayden Moore and Co. proved last week that they can rack up big numbers just as well as anybody. However, the Hurricane defense is much tougher than the porous Memphis defense that UC tore apart last week – and even in said 752 yard performance, UC settled for 5 field goal attempts (4 of which came inside the red zone). UC leads the nation in turnovers, and Miami is great at taking the ball away. Brad Kaaya is probably an even better QB than Paxton Lynch, who lit up UC last week for 412 yards through the air (UC also now has the second worst pass defense in the nation). All of the numbers point to The U, so I can’t in good conscience pick the Bearcats to win this game. UC absolutely must protect the football and score TDs in the red zone if the Bearcats are to have any chance. It will take UC’s A+ game (probably almost a perfect game) to win, and my heart hopes that happens. But my brain says otherwise. At least our ‘Cats will look better that The U. In a headscratcher, Miami abandoned Nike this year in favor of Adidas. I give it about two months before they regret that.

Miami 48, Cincinnati 38

Alex Thomas

Let me start out by saying that I really hope we win this game. I really do hope so. I just don’t see it happening though. I’m completely confident that Hayden Moore and Co. will show out again and maybe set some more records on the offensive side. But, we are probably gonna get crushed again defensively. The combined performances of Grant Coleman, Malik Clements, and Linden Stephens were awful against Memphis. The defense just isn’t there as a unit. Yes, the D-line improved but the secondary is not good while the linebackers are average at best. We will have to play turnover-free ball to win but I don’t think that will happen. I REALLY hope I’m wrong.

Miami 45, Cincinnati 35

Mike Jorgensen

Perhaps the chilly northern air will suck the life out of Miami? Perhaps the Ruckus will intimidate them? Maybe the Bearcats are ready to blow a fuse at their 2-2 record. Say what you will about this game, but college football is not just a numbers game. I am completely terrified of our worst-in-the-nation turnover ratio against Miami’s best-in-the-nation forced turnovers. On top of that, one of Miami’s CBs said this week that he watched the film of Hayden Moore and picked up on some tendencies.  The cynic in me thinks that Cincinnati’s season is teetering on implosion and that we’re a couple bad plays away from rolling over; if that is the case then Miami will crush us by the tune of 42-13.

The optimist (and Bearcat) in me thinks that the Bearcats will come out and simply stun Miami. Our defensive front will get pressure on Miami’s backfield thus helping our young secondary. Our offense will take care of the ball. Our special teams will break a big play (maybe their first TD of the Tuberville era). Vegas has wisely left the spread at only 6 points because the Bearcats have the ability to play with this Miami team. They were perhaps unwise to leave the over under at 68 as it seems likely that we will go well over that total.

Cincinnati 41, Miami 34

There you have it!  Split decisions all the way down, the only thing left is the watching and cheering.