The Cincinnati Bearcats are one day away from beginning their 2022 season and putting one of the most memorable seasons behind them. The Bearcats are coming off a perfect 12-0 season and a second AAC Championship. The Cincinnati Bearcats fell short last year in the College Football Playoff when they lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bearcats lost nine members of that special team and will look to start a new narrative and that’s “Next Man Up”. Let’s take a look at each game and just how well we expect the Bearcats to play this season.
Week 1 @Arkansas, WIN
The Bearcats travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas to begin the season in what is the biggest opening game for the Bearcats since UCLA. The Razorbacks bring a very tough run-heavy offense that might cause problems for the Bearcats. In the end, though the Bearcats have a lot of tough players on defense and I don’t think the Razorbacks will be able to score as much as people think. I think the Bearcats establish a nice passing offense to begin the season while finding success on the ground to control the clock.
Week 2 vs Kennesaw St., WIN
The Bearcats jump back into Nippert with open arms. This is a great chance for the team to establish their offense and find out what their offense can do. This should be an easy win for the Bearcats as I expect them to control the game from start to finish. This could also be a chance to see what your backups have and what they can provide for the future.
Week 3 @ Miami OH, WIN
This will be a great test for the Bearcats’ defense. This is technically a home game for the RedHawks who will be returning a bunch of starters on the offensive side of the ball. The RedHawks are a very tough team in the MAC and will be a chance for Luke Fickell’s defense to show they still have their swagger from last year. Bearcats’ defense shows out and they extend their streak.
Week 4 vs Indiana, WIN
Indiana started off the year as a premiere matchup for the Bearcats looking to make a name for themselves. Indiana unfortunately had a lot of bad luck and didn’t live up to their preseason hype. The Hoosiers finished the year 2-10 and lost almost half of their starters. The Bearcats should be able to control this game and sweep the two game series with the Hoosiers. This game the Bearcats defense will be too much for a brand new Indiana offense in a rowdy Nippert arena.
