Houston’s perfect start to the season continued on Saturday with an emphatic 34-point victory over Vanderbilt. The Cougars will look to stretch their unbeaten run even further when they take on the resurgent Cincinnati Bearcats in an intriguing clash this coming weekend.
Who will grab the edge in this AAC showdown? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this college football matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Baylor vs. Kansas State and Michigan State vs. Nebraska.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars Preview
Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston
When: Saturday, November 7, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bearcats at Houston Cougars – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
Betting on the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3, 2-2 AAC)
The Cincinnati Bearcats extended their winning streak to two games with a comprehensive 52-7 victory over Central Florida on Saturday. Quarterback Gunner Kiel was the star of the show for the Bearcats, completing all 15 of his passes for 319 yards and five touchdowns. It was a fantastic performance by Kiel who posted an unbelievable quarterback rating of 388.6.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Cincinnati’s offense was simply sensational on Saturday, compiling a total of 726 yards in this one-sided contest. Kiel was sizzling right from the get-go, going 7-for-7 for 158 yards and three touchdowns in the opening quarter. Shaq Washington benefited from Kiel’s masterful performance, catching eight passes for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also set a new Cincinnati reception record in this game with 205 career catches.
It won’t get any easier, though, for this passing duo as they will next face a Houston squad that possesses one of the league’s best defenses. The Cougars have allowed just eight scores through the air this season. In their last game against Vanderbilt, the Cougars held the Commodores to a measly 44 passing yards.
For the Bearcats to stretch their unbeaten run against the Cougars, they will need to continue their excellent play on the defensive end. They have surrendered just 20 points in their last two games. The Bearcats will need to be at their best, though, against a Houston offense that is averaging 45.9 points per game this season, fifth-best in the FBS.
The Bearcats are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last seven road games.
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Betting on the Houston Cougars (8-0, 4-0 AAC)
Houston stretched its unbeaten run to eight games with a resounding 34-0 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. It was another convincing performance by the Cougars who reached the 8-0 mark for the fourth time in their school history and the first time since the 2011 season.
Leading the way for the Cougars in this ballgame were quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and running back Kenneth Farrow. Ward was efficient on Saturday, completing 15 of his 23 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He made his presence felt on the ground as well, rushing for 33 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. Farrow also wreaked havoc against the Vanderbilt defensive line, running for 82 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was the Cougars’ exemplary defense. They held the Commodores to just 185 total yards on Saturday. Such was the Cougars’ dominance in this game that Vanderbilt didn’t cross into Houston territory until 12:08 remaining in the third quarter. The Cougars collected their first shutout victory since a 34-0 win over SMU on November 29, 2013.
The Cougars will need to bring that same kind of defensive performance for them to preserve their unbeaten slate against Cincinnati. The Cougars are allowing just 17.3 points per game this season, 18th in the FBS. They will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Cincinnati offense that is averaging 38.5 points per game this campaign, 16th in the entire FBS.
The Cougars are 6-0 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Houston stretches its unbeaten run to nine games with a 31-24 victory.
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