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Cincinnati Football: Can Bearcats avoid upset vs. Temple in Week 13?

By Dante Pryor

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 04: Cincinnati Bearcats players and fans celebrate after the game against the Central Florida Knights at Nippert Stadium on October 4, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Central Florida 27-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 04: Cincinnati Bearcats players and fans celebrate after the game against the Central Florida Knights at Nippert Stadium on October 4, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Central Florida 27-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Temple Owls visit Cincinnati football for “Nippert at Night” in American Athletic Conference action. Here’s everything you need to know.

It’s Nippert at Night as the Temple Owls visit the No. 17 Cincinnati Bearcats in AAC East action. The Owls (7-3, 4-2) look to pull the upset over the Bearcats (9-1, 6-0) and spoil their New Year’s Six hopes.

Temple has had a very interesting season. They beat Maryland when they were ranked, and Memphis this season. Central Florida also racked up 63 points against them and they lost an odd game to Buffalo. To say their season has been up and down is an understatement.

Cincinnati has been on quite the streak since their 42-0 loss to Ohio State. They’ve won eight in a row in fact since their loss to the Buckeyes.

This game is simple: the Bearcats need to win in order to keep their New Year’s Six hopes alive, and the Owls looking to play spoiler and improve their bowl standing.

Here’s more information about the game:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Nippert Stadium
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

This is an interesting game. Both Temple and Cincinnati are similar in their style of play. Each team wants to run the ball, be physical, and play defense. This one comes down to which defense can take away the other’s strength.

For the Bearcats, they want to run with their stable of running backs led by Michael Warren II and Gerrid Doaks. Quarterback Desmond Ridder can run when need be as well. The Owls want to run with Re’Mahn Davis and Jager Gardner. Whichever defense can stop the opposition’s run game will win this one.

Next to the run game, turnovers will play a huge part, specifically in the pass game. Temple quarterback Anthony Russo and Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder have combined to throw 17 interceptions this season. Both quarterbacks have shown a tendency to throw to the opposition at times this year.

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Prediction

Neither team is a stranger to playing in tight games this season, and this one should be no different. Both the Bearcats and Owls play such a similar style of football it’s hard at times to tell the difference between them aside from the jerseys. However, this one is at home, and the Bearcats pull this one out late.

Final Score: Cincinnati 27, Temple 21

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