5 intriguing storylines to track during huge College Football Week 8 slate

Will No. 21 Cincinnati survive a tough test at SMU in College Football Week 8?

The Cincinnati Bearcats are facing their toughest test of the season since their Week 1 matchup at Arkansas when they face SMU this week. The Luke Fickell-led team is the highest ranked Group of Five team in college football right now at No. 21, but conference rival Tulane is hot on their tails at No. 25.

The Bearcats are coming off a game in which they underperformed big time and look more vulnerable than ever. They were 27-point favorites at home against South Florida and won by just four points. It’s probably why the odds makers have them listed as just three-point favorites on the road this week at SMU— one of the few AAC teams that can keep up with them offensively.

Mustangs QB Tanner Mordecai and Bearcats QB Ben Bryant have put up similar numbers so far this season with 15 TD and 6 INTs apiece through their first six games of the season.

But with Cincinnati coming off a bye week and SMU squeaking by Navy last week at home, this should be a game where the Bearcats surpass expectations by a wide margin and keep their Group of Five flag flying high.