2015
Cincinnati
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
ACCording to the odds, the AAC title is between Cincinnati and Memphis, the two projected division winners. Interesting enough, the Bearcats have better odds to be the National Champion than Memphis (+35000 to +40000), but has a lower over/under total at 7.5 wins (all found at 5 Dimes). Cincy closed last year with a loss and struggled in non-Conference play, but with a lot of returning players, should come close to last year’s nine wins.
The over/under for Cincinnati is a bit interesting because it’s hard to see them getting worse, and their Schedule is probably a little easier than 2014. The offense led the way last year and will once again in 2015. Gunner Kiel returns at quarterback along with eight other starters. Kiel lived up to the hype for the most part and finished with 31 touchdowns. With all of his top receivers returning including Shaq Washington (66 receptions), Mekale McKay (8 TDs) and Chris Moore (8 TDs), the group should be even better than a year ago.
Mike Boone led the team at running back as a freshman with 650 yards and 9 TDs and he’ll be joined by Hosey Williams. The offensive line is the biggest question for the Wildcats as they lose their best guy, but still have three starters returning. Keeping Kiel healthy will be their biggest task and Kiel always seemed to have some kind of ailment last season.
Cincy’s defense was not good last year, but playing in the AAC, weren’t exposed all that much. against better offenses, they gave up nearly 50 points in three different instances. They’ll be led by their third coordinator in three years so that doesn’t help, to go with only five returning starters.
The secondary should be their best area with Zach Edwards returning at safety as well as Adrian Witty at cornerback, who missed most of 2014 to injury. Silverberry Mouhon will lead the front seven at defensive end, but he’s joined by a lot of new faces up front. That said, there aren’t that many potent offenses in the AAC, which is how this team finished with seven straight wins to close 2014.
Without road Games at Ohio State and Miami (FL) this year, reaching nine wins again can be expected. Cincinnati’s non-Conference road Games include Miami (OH) and BYU, with the Hurricanes travelling to Cincy this season. Getting Memphis on the road in September will be tough, but the Bearcats will be looking for revenge in that one and the Tigers should have a weaker defense than a year ago. Road Games at Houston and East Carolina are unfortunate as well, but the Cincy offense carved both of those defenses a season ago.
The Cincinnati over/under is at 7.5, but that seems kind of low for an offense that should be able to Scoreon any defense they face in the AAC.
2015 Cincinnati Football Schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Alabama A&M
Sept. 12 vs. Temple
Sept. 19 at Miami (OH)
Sept. 24 at Memphis
Oct. 1 vs. Miami (FL)
Oct. 16 at BYU
Oct. 24 vs. UConn
Oct. 31 vs. UCF
Nov. 7 at Houston
Nov. 14 vs. Tulsa
Nov. 20 at USF
Nov. 28 at East Carolina