Cincinnati Football: Last-minute predictions as the Bearcats take on East Carolina

Following a win over Navy, Cincinnati will stay home for the first night game at Nippert Stadium in 2022 with East Carolina coming to town. The matchup will kick off tonight at 8:00 PM on ESPN2 and fuboTV.

Led by fifth-year quarterback Holton Ahlers and star half back Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina’s offense is balanced and explosive. In order to win tonight, the Bearcats have to be locked in and limit big plays.

Ahlers has 2,632 passing yards and 18 touchdowns this season but Mitchell is the driving force. Despite missing multiple games, Mitchell has a conference-high 863 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

It’s going to be key to contain East Carolina’s offense but the Bearcats have to be able to score with more consistency. Despite averaging 33.2 points a game, Cincinnati hasn’t scored 30+ points in four games.

Cincinnati Football: Last-minute predictions as the Bearcats take on East Carolina

• Date: Friday, November 11 at 8:00 PM
• Location: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati
• TV Broadcast: ESPN2 and fuboTV
• Series History: Bearcats trail 13-12

According to WynnBET, the Bearcats are favored by five points over East Carolina with kick off Friday at Nippert Stadium. The over/under is set at 52.5 total points as Cincinnati aims for a fifth straight win over the conference opponent.

East Carolina averages 32.3 points and 467.2 yards per game behind a spread offense that can line up from several different formations. During a 3-game win streak, the Pirates are averaging 36 points.

Both teams are currently vying for second place in the AAC standings with potential to secure a spot in the championship game. With only three games left, the loser could be eliminated from the 6-team race.

Even though the Bearcats have won nine of the last 10 games against East Carolina, this game should be much more competitive. I’m picking Cincinnati to protect home field and earn a 27-23 win tonight.

In a midweek press conference, Ben Bryant looked ahead to the matchup via Cincinnati Athletics.

"“They are a really good team with a good defense that’s very physical. They have a lot of seniors and older guys on that defense so they know what they’re doing. They’ve been around for awhile so they’ll give us their best shot. I think we’re all looking forward to it. It’s a really big game and there’s a lot on the line. I think we’re playing our best when our backs are against the wall and it’s crunch time so we have to make plays and do everything we can to win. Just really excited for the opportunity to play a good team. I think really just making sure everyone knows the importance of each meeting and practice. Before we know it, Friday is going to be here and we’re going to be out at Nippert with the lights on and everyone out there. We have to make it all count.”"