The Bearcats (-8) are set to host the Ohio Bobcats in Cincinnati. This vital afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action live on ESPNU.
Betting Preview: Ohio Bobcats vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Ohio is a big road underdog in this matchup and is currently getting 8 points. The Bobcats are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Bearcats are -330. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 58 points, and if one team can find paydirt early, it will probably produce a nice in-game betting scenario.
The sharp action is siding with both the Bobcats and the under. The line initially opened at -9 and the total was originally 59.
The Bobcats have lost 1.0 unit so far in 2018 and are 0-2 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U mark of 1-0.
The surprising Bearcats have gained 6.0 units this season. The team is 3-0 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-2.
The Bobcats have gone 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bearcats are 3-0 SU.
The Bobcats fell to Virginia 45-31 in a contest where their defense allowed the Cavaliers to pass for 379 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 173 yards and three scores. On the offense, Nathan Rourke completed only 16-of-31 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Ouellette (only 34 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and Maleek Irons (43 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack while Papi White (six receptions, 131 yards, one TD) and Ouellette (two catches, nine yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Cincinnati just earned a 63-7 win over 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) spearheaded the running game as Jayshon Jackson (six receptions, 80 yards) and Kahlil Lewis (four catches, 92 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Ohio has run the ball on 52.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cincinnati has an overall rush percentage of 71.4 percent. The Bobcats have produced 132.0 rush yards/game and have four touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bearcats are averaging 263.7 rushing yards per game and have 11 total rush TDs.
If 2018 numbers can translate to this game, then it seems like the Bearcats should have the advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has generated 5.0 yards per carry while their 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 logged 261.5 yards/contest in the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Bearcats have recorded 162.3 pass yards per outing and also have four total pass scores.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed opponents to run for an average of 167.0 yards and throw for 431.5 yards per game. The Cincinnati defense has allowed 145.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 83.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bearcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.83 to opponents, while the Bobcats have given up a whopping 9.92 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rourke is up to 246 passing yards this year, and has completed 52 percent of his 31 attempts with two passing scores 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.
Desmond Ridder has completed 22-of-34 passes for 299 yards, three TDs and zero INTs for Cincinnati. His ANY/A stands at 9.22 for the year and 14.27 over his past two outings.
Ohio Bobcats at Cincinnati Bearcats Free Pick
SU Winner: Ohio, ATS Winner: Ohio, O/U: Under
