2009 Cincinnati NCAA Football Predictions
Written June 28, 2009 by InfoPlays
The Bearcats certainly cemented their position on the national scene last year with their trip to the Orange Bowl and a second straight No. 17 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. With an inexperienced defense that returns just one starter, Cincinnati might have to rely on QB Tony Pike and a talented offense to put up even bigger numbers this year. The Bearcats appear to have the weapons to compete for a second straight Big East title. The college football odds don’t show much faith in this team, as the Bearcats are listed at +800 to win the Big East Conference in 2009. There are four teams listed ahead of this squad, which include WVU, Pittsburgh, South Florida and Rutgers.
Offense: Quarterback Tony Pike and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard are back to lead the Cincinnati Bearcats offense in 2009. Gilyard is the top receiver in the conference, and Pike figures to be the league’s best passer. They’ve added breakaway threats in running back Isaiah Pead, who saw limited action as a freshman last season, and Darrin Williams, who redshirted last year. They’ll compete with returnees Jacob Ramsey and John Goebel, who shared the position last year and combined for 1,271 yards on the ground. At 6-6, Pike can see over defenses and he also has surprising elusiveness for his size.
Having risen from a third string at the start of fall camp to No. 1 last year, Pike proceeded to complete 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,407 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The line is anchored by left tackle Jeff Linkenbach, a potential all-league performer. Coach Brian Kelly calls this his deepest and most talented offensive line he’s had during his three years here. At receiver, D.J. Woods showed potential last year as a freshman. Armon Binns was Cincinnati’s most impressive wideout during spring practice and might also be ready for a breakout. And junior college transfer Jamar Howard figures to help out, too.
Get a $500 bonus credited to your sports betting account when you sign up for a new account at BetUS! All you have to do is deposit $500 or more and they’ll give you this free money to bet on NCAA football this fall!
Defense: Free safety Aaron Webster is the only returning starter, but Cincinnati does have some replacements who saw extensive time on the field last year. They also return strong safety Drew Frey, who was the starter before he broke his arm against Akron in the fourth game of the season. Kelly is using the transition period as an opportunity to switch from a 4-3 base to a 3-4. It won’t be easy to replace four defenders who were drafted by NFL teams, including defensive end Connor Barwin, who led the conference in sacks. The four draftees don’t even include tackle Terril Byrd, a second-team All-American in 2007 who anchored the line for four years.
Still, Kelly feels he has plenty of depth on the line, where sophomore Derek Wolfe is an imposing specimen at 6-5, 302 pounds. In an attempt to strengthen the secondary, Marcus Barnett has been shifted from wide receiver to cornerback. Barnett responded so well that he has been penciled in as the starter after spring ball. Kelly has also moved two offensive players to linebacker. Former fullback Marcus Waugh is expected to start on the inside, and former Notre Dame quarterback Demetrius Jones shows promise on the outside. These experiments rarely work out well, but we’ll see if Kelly can pull it off.
NCAA football picks are a great investment if you cannot seem to win on your own! Give InfoPlays a try and we’ll make sure your bankroll sees more steady profits week in and week out with our expert football picks!
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- Louisville at Cincinnati Football Betting Odds
- Cincinnati at South Florida Spread
- Cincinnati vs Oregon State Odds & Predictions
- Cincinnati at Syracuse Spread
- Fresno State vs Cincinnati College Football Lines & Picks
One Response to “2009 Cincinnati NCAA Football Predictions”
Got something to say?
- Betting on Football
- College Football Odds
- Understanding Football Odds
- Football Gambling
- College Bowl Betting
- Football Betting Forum
- Football Sportsbooks
A football injury can be of various kinds, and can manifest itself in many forms. Sometimes this can occur due to wear and tear of the body, contact during a game, or other times due to an improper warm up.
Reply