Categories
NCAA Football

Cincinnati Bearcats 2013 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2013-14 NCAA Previews (AAC) – Bearcats

The Cincinnati Bearcats are a very good program trying to find their place amongst a realigned college football world.

Cincinnati Bearcats (Team Link)
Coach: Tommy Tuberville
2012 Record: 10-3
Odds of winning BCS Championship: +25000

[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

None of the big conferences wanted them to join their broods and despite their high levels of recent success they seem to always be looking for a new coach.

This time around the new coach is Tommy Tuberville, a much more known quantity than Brian Kelly or Butch Jones was when they came to town from Central Michigan (yes both of them). The fact that a guy like Tuberville was interested in the program speaks volumes to how it has developed over the last 10 years, a period in which 10+ win seasons were not uncommon.

This year the Cincinnati Bearcats have a real good chance of winning the very first American Athletic Conference Championship. It will probably all come down to the last week of the season against Louisville and you can bet they will want to leave the Cardinals a little bloodied as they head to the ACC – not to be confused with AAC from here on forward.

The strength of Cincinnati this year should be an offensive line that returns all 5 starters from a year ago when they led the Big East in scoring and rushing offense. The line is made up of 3 seniors a junior and a soph and if they do their job like they did last year the Bearcats will once again be a formidable offense even though there is some debate as to who should navigate it. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

The big questions for Cincy in 2013 are in the backfield. QB Munchie Legaux is back but all reports are that senior Brendon Kay will be the starter in the pivot. The Bearcats are also breaking in a new starting running back in Ralph Abernathy IV – he proved to be very effective last season averaging better than 5 yards per carry. If you have a bad line you have no chance to get anything done on offense. Even though the skill players are a little green there I expect the offense to be just fine because of all the experience up front.

On defense the Bearcats return 6 starters from a unit that gave up less than 20ppg last season. The most important among them is middle linebacker Greg Blair who led the team with 138 tackles. Blair is joined by returning outside backer Nick Temple and Florida transfer Jeff Luc to form one of the best linebacking units in the country. Up front they have a plethora of experience players coming back but the back end is an area of concern. Cincinnati was 89th in the country against the pass last year and are breaking in a couple of new starters back there. If they can get a good push up front that would help alot.

2013-14 Record Projection: 11-1

The overall outlook for Cincinnati should be very positive. They may be unwanted by the “power” conferences but they have a high level proven coach and are in position to win pretty big this year and for the forseeable future. This season they have a great schedule to make a run at the first ever American Athletic Conference Championship – and it should not be overlooked that they are avoiding new conference foes UCF this season. It will be interesting to see if they change their style of play much with the arrival of Tuberville. He has a history of being a coach that favours physical play and Cincinnati is set up to have success with their experienced line and commitment to defense. There will not be a lot of buzz about the Bearcats but this is a team that should finish the season in the Top 25, easily.

Bearcats Schedule

AUG 31 – Purdue
SEP 7 – @Illinois
SEP14 – Northwestern State
SEP21 – @Miami(Ohio)
OCT 5 – @South Florida
OCT 11 – Temple
OCT 19 – Connecticut
OCT 30 – @Memphis
NOV 9 – SMU
NOV 16 – @Rutgers
NOV 23 – @Houston
DEC 5 – Louisville

GRAB OUR BEST Expert CFB Picks for 2013 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting! —–>

By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.