2022 Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions

2022 CINCINNATI BEARCATS BETTING ODDS, PREDICTIONS, PREVIEW

The Cincinnati Bearcats showed what a Group of Five program would need to do in order to make the College Football Playoff last year. Cincinnati went on the road and beat both Indiana and Notre Dame by double digits in back-to-back weeks on its way to finishing the regular season 12-0. The Bearcats were the only unbeaten team in the country, but they still finished No. 4 in the CFP Rankings, just ahead of the one-loss Notre Dame team they defeated earlier in the year. Only three other teams from major conferences finished with just one loss, so Cincinnati only had to beat out the Irish in order to become the first G5 program in the CFP.

Cincinnati was able to keep it somewhat close against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. The Crimson Tide were up 17-6 entering the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats had no answer for the mighty Alabama defense. It was a disappointing end to the greatest season in program history, and now Luke Fickell has the Bearcats poised to be a forced to be reckoned with in the Big 12 next summer.

This offense is sure to take a step back in 2022 though. Desmond Ridder is now in the NFL, and leading rusher Jerome Ford and top receiver Alec Pierce have all moved on. Eastern Michigan transfer Ben Bryant is likely to be the new starting quarterback, but Evan Prater has had some time to learn in this system.

Ryan Montgomery and Charles McClelland both saw a decent amount of action backing up Ford in 2021, and they are likely to be the top two running backs for the Bearcats. Cincinnati will probably run the ball a lot more this season with a new quarterback and a very good offensive line. All five starters from last year’s offensive line return, including First Team All-ACC selections Jake Renfro, Lorenz Metz, and Dylan O’Quinn.

Four of the top six receivers from last year return, so the loss of Pierce isn’t too bad. Tight end Josh Whyle and underneath receiver Tyler Scott should see more balls their way, and Hawaii transfer Nick Mardner can go over the top with his 6’6 frame.

Updated on 12/24/2024

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The Bearcats ranked 11^th in Defensive SP+ in 2021. Cincinnati is certain to slide back some this year without so many talented members of last year’s unit though. Ahmad Gardner was a top five pick, and fellow defensive backs Coby Bryant and Bryan Cook were also selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. Three other starters were also drafted this spring, so Fickell has his work cut out for him now that defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman is Notre Dame’s head coach.

Arquon Bush and Deshawn Pace will be asked to help lead a rebuilding defense. Malik Vann is a solid player up front, and the Bearcats were able to bring in transfers Jowon Briggs and Ivan Pace. However, there is guaranteed to be some regression on this side of the ball.

Kudos to Fickell and Cincinnati for an incredible 2021 campaign. This year’s Bearcats are going to be hard-pressed to return to the AAC Championship Game though. They are retooling on both sides of the ball, and they have to go on the road to face SMU and UCF in consecutive weeks. Cincinnati doesn’t have to play Houston or Memphis, but this team won’t win 10 or more games in the regular season.

Best Bet: Under 9 Wins (+110)

2022 CINCINNATI BEARCATS SCHEDULE

• Sat., Sept. 3 - at Arkansas
• Sat., Sept. 10 - vs. Kennesaw State
• Sat., Sept. 17 - vs. Miami-Ohio
• Sat., Sept. 24 - vs. Indiana
• Sat., Oct. 1 - at Tulsa
• Sat., Oct. 8 - vs. USF
• Sat., Oct. 22 - at SMU
• Sat., Oct. 29 - at UCF
• Sat., Nov. 5 - vs. Navy
• Fri., Nov. 11 - vs. ECU
• Sat., Nov. 19 - at Temple
• Sat., Nov. 26 - vs. Tulane

WIN TOTAL ODDS

• Over 9 (-130)
• Under 9 (+110)

CINCINNATI BEARCATS ODDS TO WIN AAC CHAMPIONSHIP

+180

If the Bearcats can split their games with SMU and UCF, they will be conference title contenders. However, there are a lot of questions surrounding a team considered to be the favorite. It’s hard to see value in backing the Bearcats at this price.

CINCINNATI BEARCATS ODDS TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

+6600

The Bearcats needed a perfect storm to sneak into the CFP last season, but they won’t be able to catch lightning in a bottle again. This is a significantly less talented team that may lose four or five games in 2022.

CINCINNATI BEARCATS 2022 HEISMAN CONTENDERS & ODDS

The Cincinnati Bearcats do not have any Heisman contenders to begin the 2022 season.

2021 CINCINNATI BEARCATS BETTING RESULTS

• SU: 13-1
• ATS: 8-6
• O/U: 6-8
• ATS-Home: 5-2
• ATS-Road: 3-4
• ATS-Favorite: 8-5
• ATS-Underdog: 0-1

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