Cincinnati Football: Players to watch in the Bearcats battle with Big 12 foe UCF
By Charles Post
Check out several players to keep an eye on as the Cincinnati Bearcats face the UCF Knights this week including a pair of potential All-Big 12 wide receivers!
Make sure to preview the annual rivalry versus UCF including the latest odds, players to watch, pregame quotes and more prior to Saturday afternoon.
Players to watch in the upcoming matchup against UCF include defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, running back Myles Montgomery and safety Bryon Threats.
The Knights are fueled by veteran quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, star wide receiver Javon Baker, along with senior linebacker Jason Johnson and others.
Cincinnati Football: Players to watch in the Bearcats battle with Big 12 foe UCF
- Date: Saturday, November 4 at 3:30 PM
- Location: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati
- Series History: Schools tied 4-4
- TV Broadcast: FS1 and fuboTV
Baker has compiled a team-best 585 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 29 catches this season, and is regarded as one of the Big 12’s best receivers.
Johnson recorded a team-high 72 total tackles this year including an impressive 15-tackle performance in a narrow loss to the Baylor Bears in September.
Plumlee dealt with several injuries during his career but is a dangerous playmaker when healthy, totaling 1,108 passing yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
The Bearcats opened as 4.5-point underdogs with the over/under currently placed at 58.5 total points against UCF according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Cincinnati Football: Bearcats should consider playing underclassmen amidst losing skid
Cincinnati freshmen Rayquan Adkins, Barry Jackson Jr and Ken Willis, plus sophomore Brady Lichtenberg could receive increased playing time going forward.
Lichtenberg replaced Bearcats starting quarterback Emory Jones in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss against the Oklahoma State Cowboys last week.
Montgomery finished with a team-high 90 rushing yards and one touchdown but it wasn’t enough to propel Cincinnati past Oklahoma State on Saturday.
The Florida product showed off his big play ability with a 63-yard touchdown to tie it early on before exiting with a minor injury in the second quarter.