Cincinnati Football: Collaros Back With Bearcats For Showdown With West Virginia

If the Syracuse game was any indication of what life would be like without quarterback Zach Collaros, then the Bearcats certainly want no part of that. 

Cincinnati struggled mightily, suffering a 31-7 defeat to the Syracuse Orange two weeks ago. The Bearcats were without their star quarterback in that game and yesterday Collaros was medically cleared to play and will be in the starting lineup tomorrow against West Virginia.

The Mountaineers like the Bearcats have been struggling of late and enter having lost two consecutive conference games. 

The Big East Conference is still wide open as seven of the eight teams have two conference losses. Pittsburgh at 3-1 is the only team with less than two losses. 

While it may not seem likely, if the Bearcats win their remaining four games, a Big East Championship is not out of the question. 

To do so, Cincinnati will have to start by winning a road game in Morgantown against a Mountaineer team who hasn't won a game in four and a half weeks. 

The Bearcats will have to return to their old ways from a season ago if they have any chance to win these final four games. 

A more balanced attack will be necessary, as running back Isaiah Pead has disappeared in recent weeks. Cincinnati will need to get him back on track to have any chance against West Virginia. 

Controlling the West Virginia rushing attack led by Noel Devine will be key. The Bearcats cannot allow him to get on track in this one or it will be a long day for a defense who has trouble stopping anybody. 

Hopefully the bye week will help cure some of the Bearcats ills on both sides of the ball and they can return to their form from the previous two seasons. 

If they plan on getting back on track, it has to start now and it begins tomorrow against West Virginia.