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

1. DeShawn Pace is on pace for another lights-out showing

I have always believed the key to winning is always defense and there will be few better linebackers than DeShawn Pace in Week 8.

In Week 7, he had an interception that he returned for four yards and also five tackles. He had one more interception against Notre Dame, returning it 27 yards in a clear victory. He had one more against Indiana for 39 yards. He’s leading the team in tackles and interceptions.

Pace has already received AAC player of the week honors. He’s a very modest guy even with his numbers. He said he was very surprised and did not expect to get that honor. Well, expect many more to come, big guy, you earned it.

In 2020, he had 10 solo sacks and seven assisted. Here in 2021, he has 45 solo tackles and 19 assists. He’s still waiting for fo the first sack of the season. I believe he will get that elusive sack this weekend at Memorial Stadium. A hometown kid from Cincinnati, Ohio, this sophomore is going to show just how tough a kid from the Queen City can be.

I predict this hometown hero to wrap up the Midshipmen for eight tackles, an interception, and two sacks. This is one linebacker to keep your eye on.

Don’t miss out on this matchup at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN when Navy hosts Cincinnati. The Bearcats are doing everything to prove to college football that they belong. As long as they keep this pace, it will be nearly impossible to leave them out of the playoff. I predict Cincinnati wins by 35.