UConn vs Cincinnati College Football Betting Preview

UConn vs Cincinnati College Football Betting Preview

Written by on October 24, 2015

Neither the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-3) nor the Connecticut Huskies (3-4) are in the upper tier of the AAC Conference so far this season, but both are still hopeful of grabbing one of the season’s automatic bowl berths. For that reason, both teams will be taking this weekend’s NCAA Football odds matchup at Nippert Stadium seriously, knowing it could go a long way towards boosting their chances for bowl eligibility. With both teams are coming off losses in games they could have won, Cincinnati to BYU and Connecticut to South Florida; who will stand tallest to grab the win in this game?

How To Bet the Huskies vs Bearcats NCAA Football Odds, TV & Game Info

Venue: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015 Time: 4:30 PM ET TV: CBS Sports Network NCAAF Odds: Connecticut (+12), Cincinnati (-12)

Why Bet on the Cincinnati Bearcats

The Cincinnati Bearcats fell short to BYU 38-24 in last week’s matchup. As has been the case severally this season, their defense was their major undoing, allowing too many points to BYU. Meanwhile, QB Hayden Moore was not as productive has he has been in the recent times, completing 15 of 30 for just 219 passing yards with no touchdowns. And to make matters worse, the freshman signal-caller who has been able to compliment his passing with running was under heavy pressure most of the game, terribly accumulating just 9 rushing yards on 20 carries. Nevertheless, Shaq Washington gave his level best in the losing circumstances, grabbing five receptions for 103 yards, while Mike Boone was the only runner of significance with 53 yards on nine carries. It will be interesting to see how the Bearcats offense fair against Connecticut solid defense that is spearheaded by DBs Andrew Adams and Jhavon Williams, who are leading the AAC in pass defense. The pair could be an obstacle the Cincinnati offense that requires balance to be successful. It is however not all lost for Cincinnati in the offense, as the team is decently averaging more than 36 points a game, and is using two quarterbacks, Gunner Kiel and Moore, who have been able to stretch defenses. The team is also diversely endowed and potent at the skill positions. This offense should be able to step up against the Huskies defense that allowed more than 450 total yards in the previous game.

Why Bet on the Connecticut Huskies

As for the Huskies, the biggest necessity is the need to play better this weekend after losing three of their last four games, including last week’s 28-20 loss to visiting South Florida. QB Bryant Shirreffs carried the offense through the air with 365 yards and a TD while completing 28 of his 41 passes. Shirreffs was also the star of the Huskies in the rushing attack with 100 yards and a score on 19 carries. His biggest support came from Alec Bloom, who grabbed five receptions for 97 yards for the Huskies. However, that was not enough to give them the win, mainly due to defensive blunders. Still, after Cincinnati’s defense gave up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against BYU, Shirreffs and his Connecticut offense should be able to give the Bearcats a run for their money. Offensive issues aside, the Huskies must do a better job with their rushing defense. South Florida rushed for 275 yards on the Huskies in the previous game, something that could expose them against the Bearcats who’ve been running the ball decently. That said, Connecticut is guaranteed to have a tough time against the Huskies, who rank 29th in scoring defense averaging just 20 points per game and 38th in total defense averaging 357 yards per game. Added to the fact that they are creating turnovers, ranking 17th in the country with a +0.86 turnover margin, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Cincinnati’s offense is throttled to the point of suffering an upset.

The Huskies vs Bearcats Main Key Betting Trends

  • The Bearcats are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games
  • The Huskies are 5-14 ATS in their last 19 games
  • The Bearcats are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games
  • The Huskies are 1-4 SU in their last five games
  • The Bearcats are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games at home
  • The Huskies are 5-14-3 ATS in their last 22 games on the road
  • The Bearcats are 19-5 SU in their last 24 games at home
  • The Huskies are 1-7 SU in their last eight games on the road
  • The Bearcats are 5-1 SU in their last six games when playing Connecticut
  • The Huskies 1-5 SU in their last six games when playing Cincinnati
  • The total has gone OVER in four of Cincinnati’s last six games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in six of Connecticut’s last nine games on the road

My Expert Cincinnati vs. Connecticut Betting Prediction and Pick

Cincinnati is a better team on paper and playing at home should motivate the team for a good showing. However, as evidenced by Connecticut’s defensive numbers, the Bearcats’ offense won’t be having it easy. All in all, you can expect Shirreffs to make a good number of big plays in this game, helping Connecticut to cover the spread, but Cincinnati should be good for the win, probably with the total probably going high OVER.