Cincinnati Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Navy in Week 8

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) sets up a play before the snap in the second quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The Bearcats led 35-10 at halftime.East Carolina Pirates At Cincinnati Bearcats /

2 of 4

CINCINNATI, OHIO – OCTOBER 16: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats throws a pass in the second quarter against the UCF Knights at Nippert Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. Desmond Ridder approaches 400 yards with three scores

It all starts with Heisman candidate Desmond Ridder. He’s had a masterful season already with 108 completions for 1,444 yards and 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions on a 159.6 quarterback rating.

Ridder can also be a great runner at quarterback when he needs to be. Especially in red zone and short-yardage situations. He has astounding numbers already but what is so amazing about Ridder is not only the great numbers but clutch plays in the big critical moments of a game. He knows how to win and he wants to win.

If you love an exciting clutch player when the heat is on, this is your guy.

Last week against UCF, he threw for 140 yards and a touchdown. It was a light workload for Ridder but it’s all he had to do thanks to Bearcats running back Jerome Ford who scored three touchdowns for Cincinnati. It was his best game of the season since the opener against Miami (OH) when he scored four touchdowns on 295 yards. Sensational performances like that are going to raise him higher in that Heisman race.

I predict this big arm behind the Bearcats line will have 375 yards and three touchdown passes.

Home/Cincinnati Bearcats