Cincinnati @ Miami (OH) preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2012 ) Miami (Ohio) 14, Cincinnati 52

Cincinnati looks to end its non-conference slate on a high note Saturday when it travels to Miami (Ohio) in the 118th meeting between the old rivals. The Bearcats have ridden the roller coaster through the early portions of the season, sandwiching a pair of easy wins around a blowout loss at Illinois. Cincinnati has won each of the last seven meetings with the RedHawks, including a 52-14 triumph last season at home.

Bearcats quarterback Brendon Kay threw four touchdown passes to match his career high in his return to the starting role last Saturday in a 66-9 win over Northwestern State. Kay, a sixth-year senior, was brought back into the fold after Munchie Legaux was lost for the season with a knee injury. Miami has put up little resistance in two road contests thus far, losing to Marshall and Kentucky by a combined score of 93-21.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Cincinnati -22.5

ABOUT CINCINNATI (2-1): Although his performance came against an FCS opponent, Kay showed little rust in his first start since the Belk Bowl last season. He completed his first eight passes and finished 13-for-15 for 275 yards and the four scores. Despite the solid effort, head coach Tommy Tuberville said this week that Kay will yield some snaps to freshman backup Bennie Coney, who completed all five of his passes and had one touchdown last weekend in relief duty.

ABOUT MIAMI (0-2): At the very least, the RedHawks will be rested after getting last weekend off to recover from a 41-7 setback at Kentucky. They were outgained by an alarming 675-122 margin and got their only points on a fumbled punt return. Senior quarterback Austin Boucher completed 4-of-14 passes for only 23 yards for Miami, which converted 1-of-16 third downs in its worst offensive showing since a 27-0 loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 1, 2011.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This series, which began in 1888, is the second-oldest FBS rivalry behind Michigan-Notre Dame (1887). The winner captures the Victory Bell.

2. Miami head coach Don Treadwell was the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2004-06.

3. The RedHawks rank last in the nation in total yards per game (180.5).

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 34, Miami 10