Inside the Numbers: No. 8 Cincinnati Bearcats vs Indiana Hoosiers

/
IMG_7691.JPG

Written by: Zach Greene (@zgreene650)

The Indiana Hoosiers will play their third game of the 2021-2022 season as they will host the #8 ranked team in the country, The Cincinnati Bearcats. This is one of the most anticipated games in program history. Both programs have begun to pick up steam and have been put in the national spotlight. The Bearcats will travel about two hours to Memorial Stadium to a sold-out stadium. The game will be on National Television at 12pm on ESPN. 

1)   Indiana is 9-3 All-Time Against Cincinnati

  • Indiana currently has a five-game win streak dating back to 1962, and their last win coming in 2000.

  • Schools agreed to a home and away as the Bearcats will travel to Bloomington this year while the Hoosiers will travel to Cincinnati next year.

2)   Cincy comes in a Slight Favorite (-3.5)

  • Both teams are 1-1 Against the Spread this season.

  • After starting the season 1-1, the Hoosiers come in as a slight underdog.

  • Over/Under set at 50.5

  • Money Line set at -170 for the Bearcats and +145 for the Hoosiers

  • According to https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401282725, they give Indiana a 45% chance of winning the football game.

3)   Both Programs are Built on Defense

  • The Bearcats only allowed 16.8 a game in the 2020 season. So far, they are allowing 10.5 points per game.

  • Bearcats are eighth in defensive SP+ rankings

  • Allow 3.2 yards per carry

  • 73.1 Passer Rating

  • Deshawn Pave LB leads the team with 15 tackles.

  • Led by projected first-round pick Myjai Sandlers DL

  • The Hoosiers allowed 20.35 points per game in 2020. Allowing 24 points per game so far this season

  • Will look to create some havoc at the line of scrimmage to speed of the projections of star QB Desmond Ridder

  • Led by Cornerback Tiawan Mullen, who leads the team with 12 tackles.

  • Hoosiers have made four sacks on the season in four games

4)   Memorial Stadium Sellout

  • Fans from both schools will pack the rock as tickets are sold out

  • Home-field advantage for the Hoosiers

  • Tom Allen and his players thanked the new amped student section who came out in full support against Idaho

  • https://twitter.com/zgreene650/status/1436975976781582336?s=20

  • Crowd Noise should affect the Cincinnati Bearcats being able to communicate on offense

 

5)   Cincinnati 9-1 in the 2020 Season.

  • Scored 37.5 points per game led by Dual-Threat Star Quarterback Desmond Ridder, who returned for his Senior Season

  • Ridder has thrown for six touchdowns on the season with a pick so far in two games.

  • Last season he threw for 19 touchdowns and six picks.

  • In total, he has thrown for over 7,400 yards in four seasons in the program.

  • They are led by Junior running back Jerome Ford, who has had 30 attempts for 234 and four touchdowns. Average of 7.8 yards per carry.

  • Lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 24-21 in the Peach Bowl

  • The game put Cincy on the MAP

6)   Expect a Defensive Battle

  • Both teams stress creating havoc and creating turnovers

  • ○      Cincy has created four turnovers in two games so far

  • ■      Two Picks and Two Fumbles

  • ○      Hoosiers have created three turnovers on the season

  • ■      All of which have been fumbles

  • ●      Head Coach Luke Fickell leads Cincy

  • ○      New Defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel

  • ●      Hoosiers led by head coach Tom Allen

  • ○      New Defensive Coordinator Charlton Warren

7)   Indiana will Jump back in the AP Top 25 with a W

  • IU opened up with a loss at Iowa, but it does not look as bad as Iowa beat Iowa State this past weekend.

  • Consensus top 10 if not top 8 programs in the country

  • Cincy has not played a quality opponent yet

  • Beat Murray State and Miami both at home

  • Has one ranked game left on their schedule against Notre Dame next weekend

  • Both Teams Need this win to Keep this CFP Alive