Cincinnati @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2010 ) Syracuse 31, Cincinnati 7

THE STORY: Cincinnati and Syracuse have combined for five straight losses, as both teams need a win in the worst way to turn around sinking seasons. Cincinnati, winless since losing quarterback Zach Collaros to an ankle injury, scored a season-low three points last week in a pivotal loss to Rutgers that dropped the Bearcats into a tie for third in the Big East conference race. They’ll likely have to win out and hope for help to reach a BCS bowl game for the third time in four years. Syracuse, meanwhile, just wants to get to the postseason. The Orange were the darlings of the conference after a 5-2 start and an impressive rout of high-powered West Virginia, but have hardly been competitive since.

TV: Big East Network LINE: Cincinnati -2

ABOUT CINCINNATI (7-3, 3-2 BIG EAST): Munchie Legaux completed just 12 passes and fumbled on his second snap in his first collegiate start last week. That’s forced coach Butch Jones to adopt a two- and perhaps even three-quarterback system for Saturday’s game at the Carrier Dome, where Cincinnati has won two of the last three. The passing attack may see improvement against a Syracuse secondary that lost leading tackler and the Big East interception leader in safety Philip Thomas, who has been suspended for the rest of the season. Regardless of who's under center, it’s imperative Isaiah Pead gets a steady workload. The running back ran for just 28 yards last week against the Scarlet Knights but is still part of a rushing attack that ranks second in the conference.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (5-5, 1-4 BIG EAST): Perhaps Senior Day will inspire QB Ryan Nassib, who has been rather unspectacular since lighting up West Virginia for four touchdowns in the Orange’s last win Oct. 21. This seems to be the most favorable matchup Nassib has seen all year, as Cincinnati ranks 110th in the nation in allowing 277.2 passing yards per game. Pushing the ball downfield would certainly benefit fellow senior Antwon Bailey, who hasn’t eclipsed 70 yards rushing in more than a month.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Bearcats are trying to avoid a repeat of last season’s collapse when they lost four of the final five games.

2. Syracuse’s once balanced offense has failed to maintain any kind of early rhythm, being shut out in the first quarter in three straight losses.

3. This is Syracuse’s last best chance to pick up that elusive sixth win to become bowl-eligible. The Orange are winless in conference away from home and travel to Pitt in next week’s regular season finale.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 38, Cincinnati 23 – Nassib has two big-play targets in Nick Provo and Alec Lemon, who has gone over 100 yards receiving in consecutive games. It’s undoubtedly viewed as a must-win game for both teams, but Syracuse may have the physical edge after an intense two weeks of practice that saw lengthy battles of the first team offense against the first team defense.