Cincinnati Football: 3 reasons the Bearcats will beat SMU in Week 8

No. 9 Cincinnati football have a huge road game as they take on No. 16 SMU for a key spot in the race for the College Football Playoff.

Week 8 of the 2020 season will feature several key storylines including the beginning of Big Ten play. This is a conference that will feature a potential College Football Playoff contender. This week, there will be four ranked matchups that will make a significant impact on the playoff race.

While the game of the week will be No. 18 Michigan at No. 21 Minnesota, a win between one of these opponents would only push them toward the playoff by a small percentage.

Meanwhile, one of the most important games for the AAC and its push towards a College Football Playoff spot is No. 9 Cincinnati (3-0, 1-0 AAC) traveling to Dallas to take on No. 16 SMU (5-0, 2-0).

The winner of this game will be the heavy favorites in the Group of Five to be eligible for the College Football Playoff; they will essentially be the only team from the AAC to be considered for the playoff as they are the only undefeated teams left.

The Mustangs come into this game as a 2.5-point favorite over the Bearcats. They come into this game with one of the most explosive offenses in the nation while the Bearcats boast a prolific and efficient defense.

The last time these two teams met was in 2018 when the Bearcats beat the Mustangs 26-20 in Dallas.

Here are the three keys to reasons why the Bearcats will win once again in Dallas.