Cincinnati Bearcats Football: Previewing the Rutgers Game

After the news that quarterback Zach Collaros has a broken ankle, and coming off a close 24-21 loss to West Virginia, the Cincinnati Bearcats are still all alone in first place and control their own destiny to win the conference. 

Sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux will make his first career start after playing some wide receiver last season, and will be going against the best defense in the Big East. 

If Cincinnati plans on winning the Big East, it will likely need to win at least two of their three remaining games.  Saturday against Rutgers will be the toughest of the three. 

Here is a preview of what to expect from Rutgers. 

Offense

The Rutgers offense is ranked in the bottom half of the country and averages just over 27 points per game. 

Their leader on offense—and certainly a favorite to be a first-team all-Big East selection—is Mohamed Sanu. 

Sanu has 973 yards and seven touchdowns on 94 receptions.  He has six 100-yard games and has an outside chance to be the Big East offensive player of the year if Rutgers can win the conference. 

Quarterback Chas Dodd has stepped back into the starting role after missing five games in the middle of the season.  He has nine touchdowns and six interceptions on the season, while completing less than 57 percent of his passes.

Running back Jawan Jamison has rushed for 547 yards and four touchdowns on 165 carries.  His 3.3 yards per carry, and the success of the Bearcats run defense, which ranks second in the country, will make it a tough day on the ground for the Scarlet Knights.

Defense

The Scarlet Knights defense is ranked 11th in the country, allowing only 18.2 points per game. They have only allowed one opponent to score more than 26 points all season and will have a chance to feast on a quarterback making his first career start.

Rutgers is in the top five in the country in turnovers forced with 28.  They are led by cornerback Duron Harmon who has five interceptions.

Defensive lineman Justin Francis leads the team with 6.5 sacks and linebacker Steve Beauharnais has five on the season.

Cincinnati will keep running their spread offense, even without Collaros in the lineup, and will have to try not to turn the ball over to be able to stay in the game.

Outcome

It is Senior Day for Rutgers and they will likely be pumped up by a chance to jump into a five-way tie for first place in the Big East with a win.

The home-field advantage, and the fact that Legaux is making his first career start for Cincinnati, will make things difficult for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats will have to win the turnover battle to stay in the game; the ineptitude of the Rutgers running game will keep Cincinnati in it.

In the end, the Scarlet Knights will be a little too much. 

Prediction: Rutgers 23, Cincinnati 20