Group of Five New Year’s Six Watch, Week 14: And then there were four
By Dante Pryor
The Bearcats have been on quite a streak. They’ve won nine in a row since their loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. They’ve had their fair share of close wins as well. They travel to the Liberty Bowl to take on the high-powered Memphis tigers in the season finale. The Bearcats have two things that travel well, a defense and a run game. They are going to Memphis to ground and pound the Tigers. They want to run with their one-two punch of Michael Warren II and Gerrid Doaks.
They want chunk plays, but against Memphis Cincy is going to shorten the game, and keep that high-powered offense on the bench. That’s a good game plan, but the Bearcats have to score touchdowns if they want to beat the Tigers.
Speaking of the Tigers, they want to turn this into a track meet. Memphis doesn’t mind giving up points because they want their offense on the field so they can score points. They did find some defense against an improving South Florida, but they have no problem playing a 48-42 game.
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Whether they play a track meet or ground and pound with the Bearcats, this season finale is step one of two. If the Tigers want the invitation to the Cotton Bowl, they have to beat Cincinnati twice. Beating a team twice isn’t easy to do. Let’s sit back and see if either the Tigers and the Bearcats can.