The Cincinnati Bearcats have been one of the best teams in the AAC for a long time. They have posted nine or more wins in 12 of their last 15 seasons, even in the Covid-shortened 2020 year.
Last year was historically great as they went 13-0 during the regular season and conference championship to earn the first ever Group of Five CF Playoff berth.
The dream season ended there however as Alabama’s defense dominated in a 27-6 win.
Gone now are the best players on the offense in QB Desmond Ridder and WRs Alec Pierce and RB Jerome Ford.
The same is true for the defense, starting with top-4 pick, CB Sauce Gardner off to the Jets. But it doesn’t end there for last year’s nationally 10th ranked unit. Safety Bryan Cook, CB Coby Bryant headline the depth players gone as well.
But coach Luke Fikell is one of the best in the business and between his recruiting, the team’s move to the Big 12 next year and players who remain from last year’s team, there remains a lot of talent here.
The biggest questions will be at quarterback and in the defensive secondary.
Evan Prater is likely next man up and the sophomore has just 11 attempted passes in two seasons of very limited play. He did however rush for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
He carries a lot of promise as a dual threat.
Depth in the secondary is thin, so it’s a question of who will step up and be a difference maker.
2022 Cincinnati Bearcats NCAA Football Futures Odds
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 150/1
Odds to win the 2022 ACC Championship: +190
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 9 (-165)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1400 | No -10000
2022 Heisman Contenders: None
Official website: gobearcats.com
Twitter Account : @GoBearcatsFB
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 150/1
These are long odds for a team that isn’t as good as last year’s. But experience is a powerful elixir. Making the playoffs comes with raised expectations and this is still a team that has playoff aspirations.
The schedule is lighter, but starts with a bang, visiting a #23 ranked Arkansas. Win that one and they’ll at least be thinking of another perfect season. But going all the way feels like a stretch.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds to win the 2022 ACC Championship: +190
The Bearcats are one of three favorites, along with Houston and UCF. They’ll visit UCF on October 29th and they don’t have Houston on their schedule. A win there, will go a very long way towards booking a spot in the championship game.
Again, that experience counts and so does having a six-game stretch after Arkansas against weaker opponents to help iron out the kinks with all that roster turnover.
The Verdict: Worth a bet
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 9 (-165)
This is their swan song in the AAC, giving Cincinnati extra motivation to go out with a bang. They would have cleared this bar in their last three full seasons and even with all the turnover at key positions, there is enough talent on the roster to expect another double digit winning season.
Beyond Arkansas and UCF, their next toughest opponents are Indiana -at home and perhaps Navy.
The Verdict: A strong bet
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1400 | No -10000
Considering no group of five team had ever done it before, and the loss of talent and experience this season, it seems a stretch to think they’ll be back here again. There are too many strong teams in the power five conference to make this a worthwhile bet in the yes camp. And the odds are so strongly in favor of no, that it would take a $10,000 bet to earn a payout of $100.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Cincinnati Bearcats 2022 Schedule
| SEASON | |||
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
| 3-Sep | 3:30 p.m. | at Arkansas* | ESPN |
| 10-Sep | 3:30 p.m. | Kennesaw State* | ESPN+ |
| 17-Sep | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Miami (OH)* | ESPNU |
| 24-Sep | TBA | Indiana* | |
| 1-Oct | TBA | at Tulsa | |
| 8-Oct | TBA | South Florida | |
| 22-Oct | TBA | at SMU | |
| 29-Oct | TBA | at UCF | |
| 5-Nov | TBA | Navy | |
| 11-Nov | 7:30 p.m. | East Carolina | ESPN2 |
| 19-Nov | TBA | at Temple | |
| Nov. 25/26 | TBA | Tulane | |
Home stadium: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
*Non-conference game – All times are in Eastern time
Bet on the Cincinnati Bearcats 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
