Official SMU-Cincy Score Prediction Thread

[SmooBoy]

My heart says 35-24 SMU, but my head says go with our season scoring for/agst averages: 42-32 Cincy.

[SMU89]

66 - 35 SMU

[feelthehorsepower]

48-24 SMU

[malonish]

525600 points.

[Lebanese4Life]

48-31 Cincy

[RGV Pony]

45-41 Bearcats

[StallionsModelT]

Cincinnati 38
SMU 31

[Nacho]

smu 54
cincy 46

[Harry0569]

SMU (3-4) at Cincinnati (6-2) Nov. 9, 12:00, ESPN3

Why You Should Give A Hoot: The softest portion of Cincinnati’s schedule is now in the rear view mirror. The Bearcats will have to do some heavy lifting if they plan on rising up and winning the American. Of their last five opponents, four began the game winless while the fifth, Memphis last Wednesday, had just one win. Cincy will need to step up its overall game, beginning with this week’s visit from SMU. The Mustangs won their two games leading into last weekend’s bye, beating Memphis and Temple in shootouts. If the Ponies are going to extend their streak of postseason games to five, they’ll need to author at least one upset in the next month.

Why SMU Might Win: Sure, the Cincinnati D has been statistically sound, but who has it faced? The Mustangs will challenge the Bearcats in ways that it hasn’t been challenged since allowing 45 points to Illinois. Senior QB Garrett Gilbert, the triggerman of the nation’s fifth-ranked passing game, is doing a nice job of getting the ball in the hands of receivers Jeremy Johnson, Darius Joseph and Keenan Holman. Over the last three games, Gilbert has thrown for 11 touchdowns, 1,343 yards and just a single interception.

Why Cincinnati Might Win: The Mustangs have kept just one opponent under 30 points this fall, and that was when Memphis hung 29 on them. The Bearcats can move the ball with balance, aided by a veteran O-line that leads the American in sacks allowed. QB Brendon Kay is a high-percentage passer, while the backfield is flush with options, such as Ralph David Abernathy and Tion Green.

Who To Watch Out For: SMU will have its hands full with the Cincinnati pass rush. The Mustangs are 113th nationally in sacks allowed, while the Bearcats are 12th at getting to the quarterback. SMU must pay particular attention to DE Silverberry Mouhon, who’s enjoying a breakout sophomore year.

- The Mustangs will want to attack the line of scrimmage on Saturday, especially if Cincinnati G Austen Bujnoch remains hampered with a foot injury. SMU likes to press the flesh up front with DE Beau Barnes and linebackers Randall Joyner, Kevin Pope, Stephon Sanders and Jonathan Yenga.

- WR Anthony McClung delivered a solid October as Kay’s preferred target. He caught 27 balls for 318 yards and four touchdowns in four games, but will now be matched up against SMU’s best corner, Kenneth Acker.

What Will Happen: Weather-permitting, Cincinnati and SMU will stage a track meet at Nippert Stadium. The Mustang D doesn’t stop anyone, and the Mustang offense has the firepower to keep pace. The Bearcats, though, are home and better equipped to make a stop late in a close game. They’ll remain unbeaten in Cincinnati, riding an offense that’ll amass more than 500 balanced yards.

Prediction: Cincinnati 37 … SMU 30
Line: Cincinnati -9 o/u: 63.5

[ponyte]

SMU wins 42-30.
We will need to have a two possession lead late in the game.

Cincy’s O and D haven’t faced the solid competition we have. And we have had time to prepare and get healthy.

[RyanSMU98]

I think SMU wins this one, and fairly convincingly. I'm saying 49-35. If you believe that JJ is in his last year, you have seniors that want to send him off in style and assistants basically auditioning for new jobs. GG is playing lights out and the receivers are more synched up each week; the o-line is getting better each week, and I think the D finally comes together as a unit and shuts Cincy down in a statement game. It's nice to dream, anyway.

[feelthehorsepower]

SMU wins 42-30.
We will need to have a two possession lead late in the game.

Cincy’s O and D haven’t faced the solid competition we have. And we have had time to prepare and get healthy.

We should take this one. We have faced the toughest schedule out of anyone in the AAC, tougher than what Loserville and UCF have played against...so we'll see an "upset" happen this Saturday.

[Harry0569]

Cinci currently favored by 9

[Pony ^]

SMU 79
Tcu 51

Oops wrong thread

[Pony ^]

Seriously though, I think the AAC is a very weak conference and Cincy is not that good. 49-31 ponies