The Cincinnati Bearcats are fresh off a bye week and will look to rebound in this matchup against the East Carolina Pirates. The over/under on this game is 77 with the Pirates favored by 3, but UC has an average scoring differential of -3 so far. Cincinnatians are looking for some payback after their last meeting resulted in a 21 point loss from Cincinnati’s perspective, which was only slightly more than 1 touchdown margin at 33-2.
This weekend, the Cincinnati Bearcats will meet the East Carolina Pirates. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our forecast, odds, and selection for Cincinnati vs. East Carolina.
Cincinnati is on the verge of being the first Group of Five club to reach the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma had already lost in November. Oregon has now dropped two games in a row. Michigan State and Michigan both lost, ensuring that the Big Ten would have just one club with a single defeat and no unbeaten teams. In the grand scheme of things, Cincinnati’s victory against Notre Dame is a huge poker chip. If it’s a two-team race for the fourth and final spot, and Cincinnati and Notre Dame are the two contenders, Cincinnati has the clear advantage. If Georgia defeats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, an undefeated Cincinnati team will clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Luke Fickell has decided to remain with the Bearcats, putting an end to any speculation that coach may rejoin former athletic director Mike Bohn at USC. The University of Cincinnati is taking another step toward historic greatness with this game versus East Carolina. For the Bearcats and all UC alumni, it’s an incredible and electrifying event. People who study college football odds are amazed at how well Cincinnati has fared.
East Carolina, which has secured bowl eligibility and clinched a winning season under coach Mike Houston, is attempting to play spoiler. ECU has a history of winning tight, difficult games while making the crucial few plays need to stay in the AAC. In recent weeks, gritty victories against Memphis and Navy have shown why the Pirates are a difficult out and have made such significant improvements under their coach. It’s one of the reasons why a Cincinnati East Carolina decision would not be that straightforward.
Here’s how the odds have been set by the bookmakers:
College Football Betting Odds: Cincinnati vs. East Carolina
-14.5 in Cincinnati (-106)
+14.5 in East Carolina (-114)
Over: 57.5 points (-106)
Below: 57.5 (-114)
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Why Cincinnati Might Be able to Cover the Spread
After weeks of difficulties and erratic performances, the Bearcats dropped the hammer on SMU. It was as if everyone in the Cincinnati locker room was sick of hearing how overrated they were, how they didn’t deserve to be in the College Football Playoff, and how they were wasting a position that might have been filled by Notre Dame, Oklahoma, or other Power Five league rivals. Cincinnati demonstrated how good it can play when it is at the top of its game. It serves as a good reminder of where this team’s ceiling is: extremely high. East Carolina is unable to compete.
East Carolina’s Chances of Covering the Spread
This season, the Pirates have been persistent, tenacious, and inventive. They’ll regard this game, which will be shown live on national television, as their Super Bowl. This is a common situation in college football, when an underdog team pours all of its emotions and trick plays into one game in the hopes of pulling off a season-saving shock. Given East Carolina’s success in tight games this season, it’s not a stretch to believe that the Pirates can bring Cincinnati into a close game and win in the fourth quarter. The Pirates are a force to be reckoned with.
East Carolina-Cincinnati final Pick & Prediction
The Bearcats are a truly excellent club that deserves to be in the playoffs. East Carolina, on the other hand, is a tough club that will almost certainly make some huge plays. Cincinnati will win outright, but considering how well ECU has played this season, 14.5 seems like a huge margin.
East Carolina-Cincinnati final Choose: +14.5
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