Cincinnati has a new coaching staff, a brand new offense with six starters returning from the top American Athletic Conference defense from a season ago.
Can the Bearcats find a way to win at least six games and win the Big 12 Conference?
Brand New Bearcats Coaching Staff
The Bearcats tabbed Scott Satterfield as the man who will usher Cincinnati into the Big-12 era. Satterfield has succeeded as a head coach, amassing a 76-48 record with his greatest success at Appalachian State.
Satterfield did a decent job at Louisville, reaching three bowl games in four seasons. Still, he’ll be expected to lead the transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12, and that won’t be easy with a retooled offense.
Cincinnati Bearcats 2023 Future Betting Odds (DraftKings)
DraftKings Ohio has the following betting odds for the 2023 Cincinnati Bearcats.
- National Championship Odds +50000
- Odds to Win the Big 12 Conference +12000
- Wins Over 5.5 (+135), Under 5.5 (-155)
Schedule
The Bearcats’ schedule will be challenging but not as tricky as it looks on paper. It’s a giant leap to jump to the Big 12 Conference, but Cincinnati avoids Texas with maybe seven winnable games on the slate for 2023.
Official 2023 Cincinnati Bearcats Football Schedule pic.twitter.com/TXUmhaLxpC
— Barstool Cincinnati (@UCBarstool) January 31, 2023
Cincinnati Bearcats Offense
Just one starter returns from last season’s 8th-best scoring offense in the AAC. Arizona State transfer Emory Jones is expected to start at quarterback – Jones is a dual threat with 1304 career rushing yards.
Jones has also thrown 33 TD passes and over 4000 passing yards splitting time between Florida and Arizona State.
The majority of their offensive production must be replaced. Jones will look to transfer portal recruits Dee Wiggins and Donovan Ollie as his primary aerial weapons.
The Bearcats also return some experience in the backfield in running backs Myles Montgomery and Corey Kiner.
The offensive line has the returning starter, and it will take time for the O-Line to become a solid unit capable of excelling in the Big-12.
Cincinnati Bearcats Defense
The Bearcats’ defense is further along than the offense is, returning six starters from last season’s top-scoring AAC defense.
The Bearcats were second in their conference in sacks a season ago, and we should expect to see new defensive coordinator Bryan Brown become aggressive as he did with a Louisville defense that led the country in sacks one year ago.
Dontay Corleone is the leader of the defense, and he could wind up doubling his three sacks from his freshman season. Malik Vann and Jowon Briggs combined 19 sacks to make this one of the most formidable defensive lines in the country.
Byron Threats is the leader of a defensive backfield that helped Cincy lead the AAC in passing yards allowed. Sandy Anderson Jr is also expected to have a tremendous season, as is Florida transfer Jordan Young.
Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Analysis
Are the Cincinnati Bearcats a Good Bet to win the BCS National Championship?
No, the Cincinnati Bearcats aren’t a good bet to win the BCS National Championship.
The Bearcats are a couple of seasons removed from making the BCS playoffs, but this is a different team playing in a new conference, and the Bearcats’ schedule will be challenging. Cincy will need to win the Big 12 and likely go undefeated to make the playoffs, and Oklahoma and Baylor will have something to say about this.
Are the Cincinnati Bearcats a Good Bet to win the Big 12 Conference?
No, the Cincinnati Bearcats are not a good bet to win the Big 12 Conference.
Cincinnati doesn’t have a demanding conference schedule, and the real test begins on the 23rd of September when they host Oklahoma. If they somehow get past the Sooners, the schedule gets more manageable, but Cincy has a new everything on offense that will take time to come together.
They don’t have Texas on the schedule, but road games against BYU and Oklahoma State could give the Bearcats three losses, which won’t win the Big 12.
Are the Cincinnati Bearcats a Good Bet to Win Six Games?
Yes, the Cincinnati Bearcats are a good bet to win six games this season.
Cincinnati returns a strong defense that can compete in the Big 12, and their Bearcats schedule isn’t as demanding as others in the conference.
Cincinnati can open their season with wins against Eastern Kentucky and Pittsburgh, and they should beat Miami of Ohio. That is a 3-0 start, and now we have to find three more wins.
Two of those should come at home against Iowa State and UCF, and the Bearcats have winnable away games against West Virginia and Houston. That’s seven possible wins right there, and we only need six to win $135 for a $100 stake.
Finally, the defense should be able to carry Cincy long enough for the offense to get it going because the Bearcats’ offense has the talent to put points on the board.
If Cincy opens its season 3-0, they will surely win six games, and Cincinnati Over 5.5 wins (+135) at DraftKings is a good bet to make.
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