Miami and Cincinnati both saw conference dreams significantly dashed in Week 6, but only one of them can right the ship Saturday.
How to watch Miami vs. Cincinnati: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Which team will rebound after a disappointing Week 6?
The Hurricanes suffered a disappointing loss on the road to Georgia Tech, while the Bearcats were dismantled 41-14 at home against Memphis. The common thread between the two fanbases right now? A frustration with defensive schemes. Miami fans have pointed to the Hurricanes’ continual failure to stop the run, while Cincinnati fans are calling for defensive coordinator Hank Hughes’s immediate dismissal.
Miami’s still in the race for the wide open ACC Coastal, but the loss to the undefeated Yellow Jackets has set them back some. This non-conference game won’t help them in the standings, but it could provide a boost before a difficult end to the season sees them face Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia and Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati’s AAC hopes are significantly less assured, with a November date against heavy favorites East Carolina their only chance at getting back in the race. Memphis looks like a very strong team and should be a fellow competitor, while UCF may also still be in the race.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 12 p.m. ET.
TV: RSN. Here’s a list of affiliates.
Radio: Here’s a list of affiliates for Miami. For Cincinnati, tune in to 700 WLW.
Online streaming: ESPN3.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked. Miami is 3-3 on the season, while Cincinnati is 2-2. The Hurricanes hold a 10-1 lead in the all-time series, winning the last 10 contests in a row.
Vegas: Miami opened as a 13-point favorite, and that line has since moved all the way up to -17. The over/under is set at 57.
Weather forecast: 88 degrees with a chance of thunderstorm.
Two things at stake
A loss to Cincinnati would be disastrous for Al Golden’s now-questionable job security.
The Bearcats’ strong start has been quickly undone by back-to-back losses against solid competition. A win over the Hurricanes would go a long way towards calming the fan base.
One big matchup
Brad Kaaya vs. Cincinnati secondary. Miami's true freshman quarterback has struggled at times this season, throwing nine interceptions through six games, but he performed quite well against the Yellow Jackets, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt.
He’ll be facing a Cincinnati pass defense that has proven very vulnerable so far this season, giving up 11 touchdowns against one interception through four games. The Bearcats are giving up 9.4 yards per pass attempt (Memphis put a whopping 12.4 number on them), third worst in the country.
Further reading
For full coverage of Miami, check out State of the U. For more on Cincinnati, head over to Down the Drive.
See More:
