Cincinnati Bearcats at Tennessee Volunteers
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Saturday, September 10, 2011, 3:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Tennessee -7 1/2
Current Line: Tennessee -6
Opening Total: 51
Current Total: 53 1/2
Opening Money Line: Tennessee -230 / Cincinnati +190
Current Money Line: Tennessee -230 / Cincinnati +190
Cincinnati and Tennessee meet for the 6th time in history Saturday afternoon, but the teams haven’t played each other since 1992. Tennessee leads the series 4-1 with all 5 games played in Knoxville. Both teams are coming off blowout wins against FCS teams at home. Cincinnati, under coach Butch Jones crushed Austin Peay 72-10 and Tennessee, under coach Derek Dooley beat Montana 42-16.
Cincinnati was up 51-0 in the third quarter before Austin Peay even scored. The Bearcats outgained them 561 yards to 277, including 387 yards on the ground. Cincinnati had 32 first downs to Austin Peay’s 16. Bearcat quarterback Zach Collaros thre 4 touchdown passes but was only 12 for 19 for 134 yards. Collaros also had 5 carries for 25 yards. Ten Bearcats had at least 22 yards rushing, led by Isaiah Pead who had 7 carries for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns and one catch for 10 yards. Munchie LeGaux, Akise Teague, Jordan Luallen, and Adam Wearing also had rushing touchdowns. Senior D.J. Woods had 4 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Anthony McClung had 3 catches, 48 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kenbrell Thompkins also caught a touchdown pass. Cincinnati kicker Tony Milano was 1 for 1 on field goals but missed on of his 8 extra points. The Bearcats even brought in back-up kicker Shane Popham to kick two extra points in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats did not attempt a punt in the game.
Austin Peay gained only 277 yards, and most of that was late in the game when Cincinnati pulled their starters. Cincinnati forced 5 turnovers and 2 sacks and held Peay to 2 for 10 on third downs.
Tennessee jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the 1st half against Montana and cruised to a 42-16 victory. Tennessee gained 439 yards in the game including 311 passing yards. Quarterback Tyler Bray was 17 for 24 for 293 yards, and 3 touchdowns with no picks. He was sacked 3 times though which accounts for his 6 carries for -17 yards. Running back Tauren Poole had 24 carries, 98 yards, and a touchdown run. Marlin Lane had 10 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown, and also added 2 catches for 16 yards and a receiving touchdown. Receiver Justin Hunter had 6 catches, 146 yards including an 81 yard touchdown catch. Da’Rick Rogers had 5 catches, 100 yards and a 47 yard touchdown catch. Kicker Michael Palardy didn’t attempt a field goal but was 6 for 6 on extra points. He also had 2 punts with a 40.5 yard average.
Tennessee held Montana to 346 yards including 111 rushing yards. Tennessee forced 3 turnovers, including a 37 yard interception return by Art Evans.
Cincinnati is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 as a road underdog of between 3.5 and 10 points. The Bearcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 against teams with winning records, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 as road underdogs, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 on grass. Tennessee is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 as a favorite of between 3.5 and 10 points. The Volunteers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games against teams with winning records. The under is 4-0 in Cincinnati’s last 4 games as a road underdog, and 4-0 in the Bearcats’ last 4 against teams with winning records. The over is 7-0 in Tennessee’s last 7 non-conference game, 6-0 in the last 6 September games and 4-0 against Big East teams in their last 4. The over is 8-1 in Tennessee’s last 9 home games.
Cincinnati returns 18 starters from a disappointing season last year, but they will be much improved and could contend in the wide open Big East. However, Tennessee is a tough place to play with 100,000 fans all wearing orange and singing Rocky Top. This game will be close but Tennessee should win in the end.
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