Collaborative Predictions: Cincinnati vs. BYU
As we approach the first ever matchup between our Bearcats and the BYU Cougars, your writers at Cincy on the Prowl have been doing their homework so that we can present our informed yet biased predictions for Friday night’s matchup.
Chris Bains (@CinBinBains)
BYU is arguably Cincinnati’s toughest opponent to date. Like Nippert Stadium, it’s asking a lot of teams to go into Lavell Edwards Stadium and pick up a win, especially on a Friday night. The Cougars have been historically strong for a while and their homefield advantage is a key part of that. Thankfully luck is on the Bearcats’ side. BYU’s all-everything quarterback Tayson Hill is down, his backup Tanner Mangum is banged up, and his backup’s backup Beau Hoge might start against UC. Meanwhile, Gunner Kiel, Mike Boone, Chris Moore, and Johnny Holton have all been cleared to play against the Cougars. This won’t be an easy one, mind you, but UC is clicking on both sides of the ball right now. I think they go into Provo and escape with a victory.
Cincinnati 38, BYU 34
Travis Holmes (@TravisBHolmes)
As I look at this matchup it’s very clear that Cincinnati needs to control the line of scrimmage to win this game. Of course, I pretty much say this every week but in a hostile atmosphere the best thing Cincinnati can do is run the football. BYU is giving up 155 yards per game on the ground and I think Cincinnati will need to rush for over 200 yards in this game to win. I worry that traveling across the country and playing in the thin mountain air will take its toll on the defense if the Bearcats don’t win the Time of Possession battle. The return of Mike Boone and company will only help the cause.
I think Cincinnati discovered something against Miami that I don’t think they knew all season… They are a damn good football team. The confidence is back, the talent has never been lacking and the Bearcats beat the Cougars Friday night.
Good Guys 33, Bad Guys 29
Alex Thomas (@GATHOMAS33 )
BYU is our most challenging opponent so far this year because of their home field advantage in Provo. However, with all of our offensive weapons back and healthy, I feel confident that we can win this game as long as we protect the ball. I would love to see Hayden Moore start but Tuberville is probably going to give it to Gunner. Save Gunner until UCONN. Still, I think we can win this game with Gunner.
JUNCTA JUVANT
Cincinnati 42, BYU 24
Ben Levin(@LevinMachine)
This is a long trip for the Bearcats, but two fellow AAC teams have made the same trip and held their own over the past two weeks. BYU needed a last-second TD to break a 38-all tie and beat ECU last week, and during that game. I like UC to pull this one off. BYU allowed 380+ passing yards last week against the Pirates, so whether it’s Gunner or Hayden taking snaps, the Cougars are ripe to be carved up by UC’s high-scoring attack. UC should also benefit from a bye week in which several key players were able to get healthy, while BYU will be playing on a short week (and potentially with a freshman backup under center). Hopefully the ‘Cats can build upon the momentum of the win over The U and get this season back on track.
Cincinnati 34, BYU 23
Mike Jorgensen (@SinceHeWillWin)
BYU is currently 2-0 against AAC teams. They handily beat a mediocre UConn team to the tune of 30-13. And held on for dear life to stop a 4th quarter come back from ECU. In the same way that UC is two stupid interceptions away from being 5-0, BYU is two circus-style hail mary’s away from being 2-4. One of those hail mary wins came against a 2-4 Nebraska team, the other is a respectable win against Boise State. I think Miami is a better team than BYU, but we had Nippert on our side for that game. This time we walk into a hostile and jet-lagged road environment. Even still, I don’t see Cincinnati relapsing into their 5 turnover-per-game trend as such I see Cincinnati winning this game unless BYU can somehow keep their hail mary magic alive. Should be a great game!
Cincinnati 38, BYU 27
There you have it! The best predictive capabilities within the Bearcat world have stated their case.