Miami (Ohio) @ Cincinnati preview
Nippert Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2009 ) Cincinnati 37, Miami (Ohio) 13
The post-Brian Kelly era at the University of Cincinnati isn't off to the best of starts.
The Bearcats, who haven't beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team all season, will look to change that when they host Miami (Ohio) on Saturday night.
Cincinnati (1-3) has only defeated Indiana State, which plays at the FCS level. The Bearcats, under first-year coach Butch Jones, have lost to Fresno State, North Carolina State and Oklahoma.
Other than the 40-7 win over the Sycamores, it's been a rough start for the Bearcats. Cincinnati has been outscored 89-62 in its losses. The Bearcats played Oklahoma evenly in a two-point defeat, but they lost by double figures to Fresno State and North Carolina State.
Although both games were on the road, the results were disappointing for a team trying to defend its Big East Conference title.
Cincinnati, coming off a bye week, will face the RedHawks (3-2) in the 115th renewal of the rivalry. The Bearcats have beaten Miami four straight times and outscored the RedHawks 150-53 over that span.
Cincinnati's offense revolves around quarterback Zach Collaros, who is having an outstanding season. He has completed 60 percent of his passes while throwing for nine touchdowns and only one interception. Collaros is also the team’s second-leading rusher and has run for two touchdowns.
Stopping the Bearcats’ offense won't be an easy assignment for the Miami's young defense, which has been hit by injuries to linebacker Ryan Kennedy (torn knee ligament) and safety Jordan Gafford (concussion).
Cincinnati’s speed will pose a problem, particularly if Collaros gets rolling with receivers D.J. Woods and Armon Binns.
Tight end Ben Guidugli, who missed the Oklahoma game with a leg injury, is questionable for Saturday.
Keeping up with the Bearcats on the scoreboard will be a challenge for Miami's offense, which likes to control the ball with quarterback Zac Dysert's short passing and running backs Thomas Merriweather and Tracy Woods.
Kicker Trevor Cook, who is 9-of-10 on field goal tries, has been one of the RedHawks' biggest weapons.
Miami has matched its win total from the two previous seasons when the RedHawks went 3-21. Victories over Eastern Michigan in the second week and Kent State last week have put Miami on top of the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 2-0 record.
The RedHawks already played two road games against BCS conference schools. Miami lost the opener to Florida 34-12, but the Gators didn't pull away until scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Miami was blown out at Missouri 51-13 two weeks ago.