Cincinnati Bearcats 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Cincinnati Bearcats 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 4-8

2016 ATS – 3-9

U-G-L-Y.

The 2016 version of the Cincinnati Bearcats did not resemble anything that we have come to associate with their brand of football. The wins have not been there like during the amazing 2007-2012 run, but seriously, you could always count on these guys at least scoring some points. AMIRITE ?

Cincinnati started out 3-1 but finished the season losing seven of their last eight games. Things were particularly u-g-l-y late in the season when they were outscored 78-13 over a 3-game span. New HC Luke Fickell will try and get this team moving in the right direction.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

East Division – #4

American Athletic Conference – To be determined

OFFENSE

The Bearcats will look to get back to their old point-scoring ways this season under new OC Mike Denbrook. Hayden Moore has the tools to get the job done at QB and should be solid provided that he can win the job AND provided that there is not another “musical chairs” fiasco at the position.

The Bearcats look loaded at WR. Their top two producers from 2016 are back this season (Devin Gray, Kahlil Lewis – combined 1400+ yards, 10 TD) and they should be able to MATRICULATE very effectively in the passing game and cause problems for the majority of their opponents. RB Mike Boone was injured about 3/4 of the way through last season and Cincinnati will need him to stay healthy and provide production both rushing and receiving.

The offensive line is our primary concern. They only return 2/5 starters to the group and they struggled last season running the football (118 yards per game – #117 FBS). Cincinnati was tied for LAST in the FBS with 8 rushing TDs the entire season. The Bearcats have always been most dangerous when they rip you apart with BOTH their running and passing attacks.

DEFENSE

Cincinnati has allowed 400+ yards per game for three straight seasons. New HC Luke Fickell was the DC at Ohio St, and theoretically, should whip the Bearcats defense into shape.

First order of business ? Figure out a way to get more PENETRATION and disrupt opposing offenses. The Bearcats only managed to tally 19 sacks last season, a number only exceeded on the stink-o-meter by the 2015 unit that bagged 13. Only three starters return in the front seven this season and they will be without their three leading tacklers from 2016. The good news ? The secondary returns 3/4 starters and had a fine 18 TD to 17 INT ratio last year. There is upside with this defense if the front 7 can exceed expectations.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Bearcats will have excellent PK Andrew Gantz back in the fold after missing almost the entire 2016 season with a leg injury. The punting game may get a boost with AUSSIE JUGGERNAUT James Smith looking to win the job. The return game should be fine with the speed they have on hand.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot

September 16 – at Miami Ohio. This game comes after an almost-certain bruising beatdown at the hands of Michigan. A conference tilt with Navy is on deck.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The Bearcats have introduced a new tradition of getting DRILLED in bowl games. They have lost their last three by a combined score of 114-41. On paper, those games were supposed to be close, as the closing lines were 3 or less on every occasion.

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the BEARCATS a 6.0 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.

Do not adjust your sets. Yes, despite some obvious questions with this team, we think that they could be a sneaky ATS play on many occasions. The offense is going to be a lot better and we like the situation at QB. We also feel that Luke Fickell is going to have these guys playing MUCH harder than your pal Tommy Tuberville.

There are questions so just be patient and observe. Don’t go crazy right away. Just file this team away in the POTENTIAL POINT SPREAD JUGGERNAUT file. Especially from mid-season through their bowl (?) game.

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