The Ohio Bobcats and Cincinnati Bearcats are ready to square off on the turf at Nippert Stadium. This crucial afternoon game starts at 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU is scheduled to televise the action.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview
In this Saturday game, Cincinnati is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 8 points. The Bobcats are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Bearcats are -330. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 58 points, and if one side can find paydirt early on, it would likely generate a reasonable in-game betting opportunity.
This opening line was originally -9 and the O/U was set initially at 59, so early action has shifted toward both the Bobcats and the under.
The Bobcats are 0-2 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.0 unit so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 1-0. The surprising Bearcats have gained 6.0 units this season. They’re 3-0 ATS and own an O/U record of 0-2.
The Bobcats are 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bearcats are 3-0 SU.
The Bobcats are looking to bounce back from a 45-31 loss to Virginia last week. The defense allowed the Cavaliers to pass for 379 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 173 yards and three scores. Olamide Zaccheaus shredded the defense in that one with 247 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Nathan Rourke completed just 16-of-31 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Ouellette (only 34 yards on 14 rush attempts) and Maleek Irons (43 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) propelled the ground attack while Papi White (six receptions, 131 yards, one TD) and Ouellette (two catches, nine yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Cincinnati is coming off of a blowout 63-7 win over Alabama A&M. The team’s defense held its ground in the victory, keeping the Bulldogs to just 134 passing yards and 48 rushing yards. Brian Jenkins Jr. was a bright spot in the loss, posting 51 yards on two catches for Alabama A&M. As a group, the Bearcats collectively completed 21-of-26 passes for 332 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Desmond Ridder went nine-for-10 for 199 yards and three touchdowns while Ben Bryant was six-of-eight for 75 yards and one interception. Tavion Thomas (141 yards on 18 rush attempts, two TDs) and Charles McClelland (121 yards on 16 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as Jayshon Jackson (six receptions, 80 yards) and Kahlil Lewis (four catches, 92 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps in the win.
Ohio has run the ball on 52.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cincinnati has a rush percentage of 71.4 percent. The Bobcats have produced 132 rush yards per game and have four scores on the ground this year. The Bearcats are logging 264 rush yards per game and have 11 total rushing TDs.
If 2018 numbers are any indication, then it’s looking like the Bearcats should hold an edge in all aspects of the ground game, as their backfield has logged 5.0 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.3 to opponents. The Bobcats have registered 3.8 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.8 to opponents.
The Bobcats offensive scheme has tallied 262 yards/contest in the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Bearcats have put up 162 pass yards per game and also have four total pass scores.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed 167 rush yards and 432 pass yards per game. The Cincinnati defense has allowed 145.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 83.7 yards per game on the ground. The Bearcats are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.83 to opponents, while the Bobcats have allowed a whopping 9.92 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Rourke is up to 246 yards this year. He’s completed 16-of-31 attempts with two scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He has a 7.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.86 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Desmond Ridder has managed to complete 22-of-34 passes for 299 yards, three TDs and zero INTs. Ridder’s ANY/A sits at 9.22 for the year and 14.27 across his last two games.
NCAA Pick: Ohio Bobcats at Cincinnati Bearcats
SU Winner – Cincinnati, ATS Winner – Cincinnati, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Cincinnati defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks seven times this year. Ohio has recorded four sacks.
Cincinnati has lost one fumble in 2018 while the Ohio offense has let two get away.
Each team has produced one pass play of 40 or more yards. The Bobcats have have made five pass plays of 30+ yards while the Bearcats have created two such plays.
The Ohio defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Cincinnati has given up zero such plays.
The Ohio offense has created one rushing play of 20+ yards, while Cincinnati has created six such runs.
The Bobcats defense has allowed one rushing play of 20 yards or more, while the Bearcats have given up two such runs.
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