EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

Overview:

On Saturday, October 20^th, the (6-0) Cincinnati Bearcats will be on the road to take on the (4-3) Temple Owls.

The Crowd:

The Crowd projects a final score of Temple 27.5 – Cincinnati 26.3 with an over/under of 53.8.

Lou Holtz and Mark May:

Lou is predicting a final score of Temple 31 – Cincinnati 27.

Mark is predicting a final score of Cincinnati 24 – Temple 13.

2018-19 Statistics (130 total teams):

Passing offense: Temple 239.4 YPG > Cincinnati 212.3 YPG

Rushing offense: Cincinnati 255.5 YPG > Temple 141.4 YPG

Scoring offense: Cincinnati 38.3 PPG > Temple 31.4 PPG

Scoring defense: Cincinnati 13.7 PPG > Temple 22.0 PPG

Passing defense: Temple 152.7 YPG > Cincinnati 154.3 YPG

Rushing defense: Cincinnati 117.3 YPG > Temple 180.6 YPG

Turnover Margin Per Game: Cincinnati 0.0 > Temple -0.2

Summary:

Cincinnati is (6-0) to start the season with wins over UCLA, Miami (OH), Alabama A&M, Ohio, UConn, and Tulane.  Cincinnati isn’t exactly playing the best competition but we have to give them credit for taking care of business against inferior teams.  The Bearcats rank 31^st in points per game (38.3) and 3^rd in scoring defense (13.7 PPG).  Quarterback Desmond Ridder has completed 65% of his passes for 1,062 yards with 10 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.  Ridder is also the team’s second leading rusher with 315 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Running back Michael Warren II has rushed for 664 yards and 11 touchdowns.  The Bearcats’ defense ranks 8^th against the pass (154.3 YPG) and 21^st against the run (117.3 YPG).

Temple is (4-3) to start the season with victories over Maryland, Tulsa, East Carolina, and Navy.  They were defeated by Boston College, Buffalo, and Villanova.  The Owls rank 58^th in points per game (31.4) and 39^th in scoring defense (22.0 PPG).  Quarterback Anthony Russo has completed 58% of his passes for 1,173 yards with 6 touchdowns to 7 interceptions.  Russo has to do a better job taking care of the football as his untimely turnovers have been crippling at times for Temple.  Running back Ryquell Armstrong has rushed for 626 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Depth is a question mark as the production behind Armstrong is slim to none.  The Owls’ defense ranks 5^th against the pass (152.7 YPG) and 92^nd against the run (180.6 YPG).

Bottom Line:

Temple has won their last three head to head games against Cincinnati but this year is going to be a different story.  Desmond Ridder’s dual threat ability will be problematic for a Temple defense that has struggled to stop the run all season.  The Bearcats will prove why they have one of the best defenses in college football and will win this one on the road.

Cincinnati wins 28-20

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