PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Thursday Night Game of the YEAR (81-58-2, +$14,772 NCAAF Run!)
(NCAAF) Houston vs. Cincinnati,
09/15/2016 3:30 PM, Score: 40 - 16
Point Spread: 8.50 | -110.00 Cincinnati (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 8.50 | -110.00 Cincinnati (Home)
Result: Loss
Houston: The Cougars made a huge statement with their 38-24 Peach Bowl win over then-No.7 FSU last year and then made their case for possible admission to an expanded Big 12 by shocking the then-No.3 Oklahoma Sooners 33-23 on September 3 at NRG Stadium. QB Ward threw for 321 yards and two TDs (no INTS) plus the Houston defense held Oklahoma's offense (which averaged 43.5 PPG in 2015) without a point until a meaningless TD with just over two minutes to go in the game. Houston moved to 2-0 on the season, after a 42-0 win over Lamar last Saturday, a game that was delayed 3 1/2 hours by lightning and torrential rain. Ward was held out vs. Lamar because of the conditions (as well as an iffy shoulder) and three players topped 100 yards rushing. RBs Kevin Justice (111 yards, two TDs) and Mulbah Car (109 yards, TD) plus QB Kyle Postma (106 yards, two TDs). However, Ward is set to go against Cincy.
Cincinnati: Tommy Tuberville's Cincinnati team has opened 2-0, after a 38-20 win at Purdue last Saturday, the first for this school at a Big Ten site in 59 years! The Bearcats opened 2016 with a 28-7 against Tennessee Martin. Sophomore QB Hayden Moore (510 passing yards, five TDs, one INT, 71 rushing yards and two TDs after two games) accounted for five scores in the road win at Purdue last week. Nate Cole (12 catches, 145 yards, three TDs) and Devin Gray (nine catches, 167 yards) lead a new group of receivers for Cincinnati after the Bearcats graduated six senior receivers. Linebacker Eric Wilson leads the AAC with 24 total tackles and the defense had five interceptions against Purdue, three by senior safety Mike Tyson. Cincinnati ranks second in the the AAC with 13.5 PPG allowed (23rd in the nation).
The pick: Houston comes to town ranked No. 6 in the AP poll and as winners of 16 of its past 17 games. Houston is the first top-10 team to visit Nippert Stadium since then-fifth-ranked West Virginia played there on November 17, 2007 (Bearcats lost that one 28-23 but covered as a home dog). Houston owns a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series against Cincinnati but the Bearcats have won four of the last five games. Yes, Ward is 20-2 as the Cougars' starting QB but note that the Cougars prevailed just 33-30 last season in Houston. The past three meetings between the two schools (all AAC games) have been decided by a 17 combined points. It's hard to argue against Houston too strongly but winning at Cincinnati is a tough chore. The Bearcats are 16-3 SU at home under Tuberville at home and 27-5 SU at home going back to 2011. As a home dog, I'm making the Bearcats a 10* play.
Cincinnati: Tommy Tuberville's Cincinnati team has opened 2-0, after a 38-20 win at Purdue last Saturday, the first for this school at a Big Ten site in 59 years! The Bearcats opened 2016 with a 28-7 against Tennessee Martin. Sophomore QB Hayden Moore (510 passing yards, five TDs, one INT, 71 rushing yards and two TDs after two games) accounted for five scores in the road win at Purdue last week. Nate Cole (12 catches, 145 yards, three TDs) and Devin Gray (nine catches, 167 yards) lead a new group of receivers for Cincinnati after the Bearcats graduated six senior receivers. Linebacker Eric Wilson leads the AAC with 24 total tackles and the defense had five interceptions against Purdue, three by senior safety Mike Tyson. Cincinnati ranks second in the the AAC with 13.5 PPG allowed (23rd in the nation).
The pick: Houston comes to town ranked No. 6 in the AP poll and as winners of 16 of its past 17 games. Houston is the first top-10 team to visit Nippert Stadium since then-fifth-ranked West Virginia played there on November 17, 2007 (Bearcats lost that one 28-23 but covered as a home dog). Houston owns a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series against Cincinnati but the Bearcats have won four of the last five games. Yes, Ward is 20-2 as the Cougars' starting QB but note that the Cougars prevailed just 33-30 last season in Houston. The past three meetings between the two schools (all AAC games) have been decided by a 17 combined points. It's hard to argue against Houston too strongly but winning at Cincinnati is a tough chore. The Bearcats are 16-3 SU at home under Tuberville at home and 27-5 SU at home going back to 2011. As a home dog, I'm making the Bearcats a 10* play.
