Cincinnati vs. UCF Picks, Predictions College Football Week 9: Can Bearcats Extend AAC Winning Streak?
Cincinnati or UCF have met in each of the past five AAC Championship games and collide in a potential preview in Week 9. We're breaking down the betting angles with our top Cincinnati-UCF picks.
The Bearcats have won six consecutive games after a season-opening loss to Arkansas. Their latest win was significant because it was head coach Luke Fickell's 54th career victory, making him the winningest coach in school history.
UCF is coming off its first conference game but can still pull even with Cincinnati in the AAC standings with a win this week.
Here are our top picks for Cincinnati-UCF in Week 9 (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Check out all of our top college football picks for Week 9, as well as our best bets.
Cincinnati vs. UCF Picks
Cincinnati vs. UCF ATS Pick
Cincinnati +2 (-110) ★★
The Bearcats were admittedly conservative with quarterback Ben Bryant last week as he worked his way back from a concussion he suffered in the game against South Florida. Cincinnati called 42 running plays versus 35 passes yet still had 12 Havoc plays out of its 77, mainly because of Charles McClelland's bruising running and 8.1 yards per carry en route to a 129-yard day.
Cincinnati has won a record-tying 19 straight AAC games and should cover for the eighth time in its previous nine games against teams with a winning record.
Cincinnati vs. UCF O/U Pick
Under 56.5 (-110) ★★★★
Cincinnati plays on the road, which usually means good things for the Under. Going back to the start of the 2016 season, the Under is 25-10 in the Bearcats' last 35 road games, the highest percentage among all FBS teams with the Under cashing in their road games. The Bearcats bring a three-game Under streak into this matchup, and it has also cashed in five of UCF's previous six games.
These are the top-two scoring teams in the AAC, combining for Over 74 points per game. But we will follow the trends and expect more of a defensive struggle to ensue.
Cincinnati vs. UCF Prop Pick
UCF team total Under 28.5 (-120) ★★
UCF has faced just one team ranked in the top 50 of defensive SP+ and was held to 14 points (its season-low is 13). It was the only game that quarterback John Rhys Plumlee completed fewer than half of his passes and had a QBR under 36.
We expect similar struggles against a Bearcats defense that is the best the Knights have seen all year, ranking 19th in defensive SP+.
Where to Bet on Cincinnati vs. UCF Picks
Cincinnati-UCF picks made 10/28/2022 at 6:09 a.m. ET
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