Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview

It’s not often we see a Group of Five game on a major network in primetime, but the Cincinnati Bearcats’ success this season has led to their AAC Championship Game showdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane being placed in primetime. This will be the last game in a championship tripleheader on ABC that begins with the Big 12 Championship Game at 12 p.m. ET and the ACC Championship Game at 8 p.m. ET.

The 2020 AAC Championship Game will take place at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

College Football Betting Odds

Tulsa +14

Cincinnati -14

Total 45

The two best teams in the AAC were originally supposed to square off last week. However, that game was called off due to COVID, just like several games for both the Bearcats and Golden Hurricane this season. A win for Cincinnati would guarantee the program a New Year’s Six Bowl, but it’s a shame that the Bearcats have no shot at the playoff given the position of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Cincinnati is a huge favorite in this game.

Cincinnati Offense vs. Tulsa Defense

This is the matchup to watch. The AAC Offensive Player of the Year (Desmond Ridder) and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year (Zaven Collins) will square off when the Bearcats have the ball. Ridder is having the best year of his career. He is completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,821 yards (8.5 YPA) with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Cincy’s junior quarterback is also the second-leading rusher on the Bearcats with 526 yards (7.9 YPC) and 11 touchdowns on the year.

Gerrid Doaks leads Cincinnati with 660 yards (4.8 YPC) and seven touchdowns on the year. Doaks has had some big games against Houston and SMU earlier this season, and he would love to lead the Bearcats to their first AAC title in the championship game era as a senior. Jerome Ford has been solid as the second running back with Charles McClelland lost for the year with an injury.

Cincinnati is one of the most run-heavy teams in the country, so the Bearcats don’t have a receiver with more than 300 receiving yards. Josh Whyle and Michael Young Jr. both happened to be all-conference selections though, despite neither player leading the team in receiving yards.

Collins has been one of the most impressive defensive players in the country this season. He kept Tulsa unbeaten with a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in double overtime against Tulane earlier this year, and he leads the Golden Hurricane in tackles, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, and defensive touchdowns. His play is a big reason why Tulsa ranks in the top 20 in scoring defense (19.9 PPG) and total defense (328.4 YPG).

Tulsa Offense vs. Cincinnati Defense

Zach Smith should be healthy enough to play against Cincinnati this week, and his steady hand is needed. While Smith hasn’t posted great numbers as a quarterback in this offense, he has four years of starting experience in this system. He is completing 57.8 percent of his passes for 7.7 YPA with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this year. Smith must stay healthy since primary backup Seth Boomer is out for the year due to injury, and Carson Collins is doubtful due to a leg issue.

The Golden Hurricane only have one of their top four running backs from the summer healthy for this game. Shamari Brooks was injured just before the start of the season, and both Deneric Prince and T.K. Wilkerson are listed as questionable. Corey Taylor II should be the feature back with that in mind, and he is averaging 5.2 YPC.

This offense is all about the receivers. Smith doesn’t throw to running backs or tight ends, as over 95 percent of receptions and receiving yards belong to wide receivers. Keylon Stokes, Josh Johnson, Juancarlos Santana, and Sam Crawford Jr. have all had good seasons.

Cincinnati has a scary defense. The Bearcats placed five players in the First Team All-AAC list on defense, including three defensive backs. This defense is allowing just 14.3 PPG and 301.7 YPG, ranking in the top five nationally in both categories.

Prediction

Tulsa has been incredible fortunate to even reach the AAC Championship Game considering this team has needed to erase four double-digit second half deficits this season. That makes Cincinnati the pick even if the Bearcats are prohibitive favorites.

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