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Free NCAA Football Prediction: Cincinnati vs Indiana Odds
Looking for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Indiana Hoosiers free picks? College football betting sees the Bearcats taking on the Hoosiers on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 3 predictions like this Cincinnati Indiana free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 3
Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (1-1)
Date: Saturday, September 18, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Memorial Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Cincy -3.5 / Indy +3.5
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Cincy -170 / Indy +150
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 50
Week 3 college football sees the Bearcats and Hoosiers meet at Memorial Stadium.
After securing another Victory Bell to start the 2021 campaign against Miami Ohio, the Bearcats picked up an easy win last weekend over Murray State to start the season 2 – 0. The Bearcats might have some crowd on their side this weekend being that both campuses are about 130 miles apart.
This is the first meeting between these programs since 2000 and the Hoosiers hold the edge with a 9 – 3 – 2 record in the series.
The Hoosiers lost their season opener to Iowa, 34 – 6, but they wisely scheduled Idaho last weekend and cruised to a 56 – 14 home win over the Vandals. Indiana will hit the road to face Western Kentucky to wrap up their non-conference schedule next weekend. The Hoosiers Big Ten slate will open the following weekend in Happy Valley against Penn State and we know nothing gets any easier throughout the conference.
The Bearcats are favored by -3.5 points in this AAC vs. Big Ten matchup.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Desmond Ridder earned 1st Team All-AAC honors a year ago and it seems as if he has been wearing a Cats uniform for quite some time in only his junior season. Obviously, everyone is taking advantage of the 2020 season that basically gave everyone their year back to play in 2021, or beyond in some cases. Ridder already has 37 starts under his belt and that certainly gives the team confidence around him.
Ridder has completed 34 of his 47 pass attempts in 2021, and that, in case you missed it, is good for a ridiculous completion percentage of 72.3%. He averages 11 yards per attempt and has 6 TD passes to only 1 INT through the first two games of the campaign.
Jerome Ford wants to run the rock all over the field and he has accomplished that so far gaining 234 yards on the ground with a couple of catches to his credit as well.
Coach Fickell has slowly gotten time for Charles McClelland who is just getting his legs back after the ACL tear last year.
Ridder has thrown the ball to 13 different receivers already as both Tyler Scott and Jadon Thompson have each caught 5 balls to lead the team. However, Scott has blown open two big runs and has scored twice picking up 155 yards making that average of 31 ypc looking very nice.
The Bearcats defense ranks 10th against the pass and 14th in points allowed surrendering 21 points through 2 outings (10.5 ppg).
Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers opened up the season with an ugly loss to Iowa, 34 – 6, and that result is basically why the line setters have them as 4-point home dogs this weekend.
Getting past Idaho makes no difference to anyone out here so scheduling Cincinnati is certainly a big step up for non-conference play. Indiana’s Tom Allen only lost one Big Ten game to Ohio State a season ago, and that includes wins over Wisconsin, Michigan, and a 24 – 0 Skunking of Michigan State in the 6 – 1 mix before the bowl loss to Ole Miss to end the season. Allen has his team believing they can stay in the Big Ten elite tier of programs, and being a home dog to Cincinnati has got to light a fire in Bloomington this weekend.
The offense has sputtered at times and that is why you see the Hoosiers ranked outside the top-100 in many categories. The Hoosiers are sitting 118 in total yards, 110 in passing yards, and rank 96th in rushing yards per game, so there is room for concern.
Michael Penix has one job and that is to stay on the field this season and be there for the entire year. Penix has had an injury end his last two seasons and he certainly wants to avoid that in 2021. Penix has not exactly thrown the ball worth a damn this year, as he has completed more big passes to the other team than his own. (2 / 3 TD to INT ratio)
It is pretty clear that Stephen Carr is going to be the man out of the backfield this season for Allen. Carr has picked up 175 yards on 41 carries through two games and has found the end zone on one occasion.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Bearcats are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
- Over is 4-1 in Bearcats last 5 games as a favorite.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Bearcats last 5 vs. Big Ten.
- Hoosiers are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games as a home underdog.
- Over is 14-5 in Hoosiers last 19 games as an underdog.
- Over is 35-14-3 in Hoosiers last 52 games as a home underdog.
Free Week 3 NCAA Football Pick
This is a tough game to decide on being that they both have experienced QBs and expectations to do well in 2021. I am going with the road team and Ridder over Penix.
4* Free Week 3 NCAA Betting Pick:
I am not a big fan of saying road points, but a win by 4 points is not a lot to ask for a tough Cincy team that travels well.
4* Free Week 3 NCAA Betting Pick: Bearcats -3.5
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