Cincinnati @ Houston preview
Robertson Stadium
Cincinnati looks to continue its hot streak and stay in the race for the American Athletic Conference title when it visits Houston on Saturday. The Bearcats, winners of five straight, sit a half-game behind Central Florida and in a second-place tie with Louisville heading into this contest. The Cougars have lost two straight to drop 1 1/2 games behind the Knights and out of the AAC race.
Cincinnati has been hot thanks to the hot hand of quarterback Brendon Kay, who ranks second in the country in completion percentage at 72.6. The Bearcats' defense has also been solid, holding its last eight opponents to 26 points or less. Houston has dropped two straight disappointing contests - to Central Florida and Louisville - by a total of 12 points.
TV: Noon ET, ESPNews. LINE: Houston -3.5
ABOUT CINCINNATI (8-2, 5-1 AAC): The Bearcats hadn't received much production from sophomore wide receiver Mekale McKay, who transferred from Arkansas prior to the season. But McKay made his mark in last week's rout of Rutgers, catching three passes for 124 yards and three scores, giving him 13 catches for 402 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. “When he's in the game, he's a force,” coach Tommy Tuberville told Cincinnati.com. “We've kind of slowly been bringing him along. He's only been with us for three months.”
ABOUT HOUSTON (7-3, 4-2): After losing two straight, Houston is out of the running for the conference's automatic BCS bid, but coach Tony Levine is trying to remind his team that there are still things to fight for in the next two weeks. The Cougars are bowl eligible with two home games left to play. “We just have to look forward,” linebacker Efrem Oliphant told the Houston Chronicle. “We have to focus on next week and the week after that and finish off the season on the right note.”
EXTRA POINTS
1. Cincinnati ranks eighth in the nation in total defense, giving up 304.8 yards a game.
2. Houston WR Deontay Greenberry (70 catches, 1,042 yards, nine TDs) suffered a head injury in the loss to Louisville and is considered day-to-day as he undergoes mandatory concussion testing.
3. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 13-8, though the teams haven't met since November 2002.
PREDICTION: Cincinnati 24, Houston 21