Cincinnati Bearcats
Head coach: Tommy Tuberville
2014 Record: 9-4; 7-1 AAC
2014 Bowl: 33-17 L to Virginia Tech at Military Bowl
2015 Returning Starters: 8 offense, 5 defense
Odds to win 2016 CFB Championship: +80000
Odds to win 2015 AAC Title: +230
Regular Season Wins: Over 9 (-150); Under 9 (+130)
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QB Gunner Kiel came in as a former No. 1 recruit of Notre Dame and he began changing things immediately with six TD passes in his debut.
The Cincinnati Bearcats are hoping Gunner Kiel is enough to make them the toast of the American Athletic Conference. He threw for 31 TD passes last year to tie the single season Bearcats’ record and Cincy returns all seven of its top receivers. The offense could be very potent this season.
Shaq Washington caught 66 passes and four TDs and is on pace to become the UC all-time receptions leader. Mekale McKay and Chris Moore each caught eight TD passes and the Bearcats have plenty of deep threats on the roster.
The team ranked 13th in passing offense, but its rush lingered behind at 72nd. The preseason focus has been on improving the rush game, but top backs Hosey Williams and Tion Green missed most of last season with injuries. Mike Boone was good for 650 yards and nine TDs as a freshman and he’ll be in the running for the No. 1 back job along with Williams this season.
The OL loses three-time all-league LT Eric Lefeld but three starters do return (Parker Ehinger (LT), Justin Murray and Deyshawn Bond).
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Defensively, the Bearcats have some work to do. The 55-34 loss to the Miami Hurricanes helped ensure Cincy was last nationally in defense, and HC Tommy Tuberville simply said, “We can’t tackle anybody…we look like the Bad News Bears.”
The Cats had just surrendered 710 yards in a 50-28 loss to Ohio State and though the team got it together in the second half to some degree, the No. 96 overall finish in defense calls for major improvement. The lack of defensive speed causes major problems halting plays and making them.
Losing LBs Jeff Luc (134 tackles) and Nick Temple (113 tackles) will hurt. Terrell Hartsfield will be missed too (nine sacks). DE Silverberry Mouhon is the best of the front seven. S Zach Edwards is back, and he had 121 tackles a year ago. Veteran CB Adrian Witty will also add stability and experience, after missing most of last season with a leg injury.
The Bearcats have its third defensive coordinator in three seasons with Steve Clinkscale becoming the new DC after having been the secondary coach.
The special teams will also have a new coordinator in Ty Linder who comes from TCU. Andrew Gantz had a good debut as kicker, hitting 16 of 20 FG last year and punter Sam Geraci was good for 39.4 yards per punt last year. The coverage groups have to improve. Shaq Washington should add some punch as a punt returner, while Johnny Holton will be the kick returner.
The Bearcats have gone 9-4 in back-to-back seasons and appear to be building momentum, but NCAA oddsmakers at 5dimes expect much the same setting the O/U at 9 wins again this season.
The Bearcats shared the AAC title lasts season, but a team hasn’t finished in the AP top-25 under Tuberville since his ’07 Auburn group. That really has to be the goal in Cincy, to crack the top-25, while winning the AAC East is a benchmark the team must achieve. Kiel should put the team in position to be very good again, but Cincy really would like a double-digit win season.
Prediction: 9 wins
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