Cincy on the Prowl
Fansided

Cincinnati Football’s Seven Most Important Games of 2016

By Bearcat Jones

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Sep 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Temple Owls quarterback P.J. Walker (11) throws a pass under pressure in the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Temple won 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Temple Owls quarterback P.J. Walker (11) throws a pass under pressure in the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Temple won 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Temple (Oct. 29 – Week 9)

Temple was predicted to finish above the Bearcats in The American’s preseason media poll, and this game will be a tough test on the road in Philadelphia.  While LB Tyler Matakevich has moved on to continue terrorizing Cincinnati quarterbacks on a different day of the week with a different Pennsylvania team, the Owls return 1,200-yard rusher Jahad Thomas (who lit the Bearcats up for 193 rushing yards last year) and the quarterback previously known as P.J. Walker (he now wants to be called Phillip).

Temple will still play ferocious defense, so the Bearcat quarterbacks will have to have the collective act together for a late-October road trip.  The Owls are the defending East division champs, and may come in one game ahead of UC in the standings if they can beat USF the week before.  Hopefully the date is still early enough in the season that weather won’t be a factor.

Next: The Most Important Game of 2016