Will The Cincinnati Bearcats Go Undefeated?
By Matt Niehaus
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats have one undefeated season in the history of their football team. Will 2013 be a repeat of
Dec 27, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Anthony McClung (6) celebrates after a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
2009?
The 2013 season has all the makings of a possible undefeated run for the Bearcats, the team is on a crash course to square off against the Louisville Cardinals in the final game of the season, a game that most people believe will decide the American Athletic Conference championship.
There are a few key games on the Bearcats schedule that could pose a problem for the team but there a few games that the Bearcats should just steamroll over.
Purdue (Aug 31): This Boilermakers team isn’t picked by anyone to win the B1G conference but the first game of the season always has everyone amped up. Cincinnati debuts a new head coach, a new offense and a new mentality. Brendon Kay is expected to line up under center for the Bearcats. The game will be a Nippert at 12pm. Cincinnati wins 31-14
@Illinois (Sept 7): Cincinnati and Illinois signed to play a home and home series prior to the 2009 season. The away portion of that contract happens this season. Illinois like Purdue is not a team that will strike fear in their opponent this season. After going 0-8 in conference last season the Fighting Illini are looking for any glimmer of hope. Cincinnati beat Illinois 49-36 at Nippert on 2009 on their way to an undefeated season. Cincinnati will win again this season 34-17.
NW State (Sept 14): Does this warrant a description? NW State is being paid to play this game, hopefully for their sake it isn’t a 70-3 annihilation like the SE Missouri State game of 2009. Cincinnati wins big, you pick.
@Miami (Sept 21) Cincinnati is looking for their 8th straight win in the battle for the Victory Bell. Miami hasn’t been competitive in this game since 2006 when Cincinnati won 24-10. The last five seasons have seen Cincinnati tear apart the RedHawks. Miami though may stand a chance, their Affliction inspired uniforms and helmets may distract the Bearcats. Cincinnati wins big 45-10
@South Florida (Oct 5) The South Florida Bulls are an interesting team every season. Every year there is some sort of explosiveness that scares opposing teams. Willie Taggart has taken over at USF after the firing of Skip Holtz. Taggart was previously at WKU where he took the hilltoppers to a bowl game. Cincinnati beat the Bulls 27-10 last season in Cincinnati, expect the same thing this season. USF is rebuilding, Cincinnati is going for a BCS bowl it would be very surprising if this game were close. Cincinnati wins 30-10
Temple (Oct 11) Temple has a football team? Who knew, the Owls don’t stand a chance on paper against the Bearcats. Temple went 2-5 in conference last season, don’t expect much of an improvement this season. The Bearcats picked apart the Owls last season 34-10 expect the same this season.
Connecticut (Oct 19) Will the Huskies return to their winning ways of 2011? Unlikely, head coach Paul Pasqualoni enters his third season as the Huskies head coach. His first two seasons have seen 5-7 records, while they look to build off of those records, the Bearcats are still a little to powerful for the Huskies to compete. Expect a repeat of 2012 with a Bearcats win 35-14.
@Memphis (Oct 30) The Memphis game will be the first time the Bearcats have played an expansion team this season. Memphis has had a respectable football program in the past. They look to try to compete in the AAC this season, although their offensive play lacks a little. Down side for Memphis is their quarterback is the CEO of FEDEX’s son, the title sponsor of their stadium, highly unlikely they will get better QB play this season. Cincinnati played well the last time they were in Memphis at the Liberty bowl. Expect another Cincinnati win 42-17
SMU (Nov 9) SMU will make their first trip to Nippert in November. June Jones enters his 5th season as the Mustangs head coach. Jones has not turned the program around like many expected. SMU did win a bowl game last season while finishing second in their division of C-USA. Unfortunately the competition is a little more competitive in the AAC. Cincinnati wins 31-24 in a close one.
@Rutgers (Nov 16) Rutgers and Cincinnati has been a decent matchup the last few seasons. 2009 was a blowout of the Scarlet Knights in the first game of the season, 2012 though saw a close 10-3 win for Rutgers. It has become a hard matchup to predict. Rutgers enters its second season with head coach Kyle Flood who hopes to build off a 9-4 record last season. Cincinnati wins in a nail biter 20-17.
@Houston (Nov 23) Houston is a team I expect to be very competitive in years to come in the AAC. Although this year is not one of them. Cincinnati’s offense and defense are just to powerful for the Cougars. This game could be a surprise but Cincinnati should have this one in the bag, 30-17.
Louisville (Dec 5) The game the AAC can’t wait for, the showdown between the two best schools in the AAC. Louisville and Cincinnati are on a crash course to square off on December 5th both undefeated. It would be a dream matchup for the AAC, tons of media attention. Louisville is expected to be top 7 in the pre season poll. After an epic game last season that went to the Cardinals, Cincinnati knows this is their only chance to get back the Keg of Nails. Cincinnati shocks the world and ruins the Cardinals potential national title and BCS hopes with a 24-21 win. Sending Teddy Bridgewater to the draft defeated.
Is this article bias towards the Bearcats? Sure it is, as a UC student and soon to be alum you expect your school to win. Those 2008 and 2009 seasons spoiled me. Hopefully this Bearcats team can do what everyone expects of them.