Cincinnati Football: Week 12 preview, odds, predictions at Temple

Luke Fickell’s team is heading to Philadelphia for a must-win matchup against Temple this week. Check out our Week 12 preview with odds, predictions and pregame quotes as Cincinnati takes on Temple.

Cincinnati is fresh off a win over East Carolina and needs to avoid a slip up at Temple in order to stay in the AAC championship race. Kick off is scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 PM on ESPNU and fuboTV.

Temple comes in with a 3-7 record but has looked a lot better in recent weeks behind a dynamic passing attack. In the last three matchups, the Owls are averaging 36.7 points and 366.0 passing yards.

True freshman quarterback EJ Warner took over the starting job in September and has steadily improved. Warner threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns in a 54-28 win over South Florida earlier this month.

A few other players to watch are sophomore running back Edward Saydee, senior receiver Jose Barbon and junior linebacker Layton Jordan. Barbon leads the team with 54 catches and 727 receiving yards.

Cincinnati Football: Week 12 preview, odds, predictions at Temple

• Date: Saturday, November 19 at 4:00 PM
• Location: Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia
• TV Broadcast: ESPNU and fuboTV
• Series History: Bearcats trail 9-13-1

It will be important for the Bearcats to limit Barbon from getting into open field because he’s dangerous after the catch. Arquon Bush, Ja’Quan Sheppard and Taj Ward will be key in shutting down Barbon.

Cincinnati is currently a 17-point favorite with the over/under set at 51 total points per WynnBET. My prediction is the Bearcats will jump out to a lead in the first quarter and hold off Temple in a 31-17 win.

Despite being heavy favorites, Cincinnati expects a fight from the Owls on Saturday evening. In a recent press conference, senior linebacker Wilson Huber discussed the matchup via Cincinnati Athletics.

"“November is for contenders and we’re in a spot that we are capable of doing everything that we set out to this year. I don’t know if the urgency is even higher because we’re still going about business the way we have in the past but I think it’s in the back of our head that we have two weeks left in the regular season so the message is what are you willing to do for two weeks. If we do what we need to do, we’ll have a chance to achieve our goal. We know if we’re going to get where we want to, we have to take care of this week first. Temple has been a tough opponent the last couple years and I think they’re picking up steam.”"