The Cincinnati Bearcats (1-1) play the Miami Redhawks (1-1) Saturday with kickoff from Paycor Stadium (home of the Cincinnati Bengals) set for noon ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Technically a neutral-field environment, the 2 programs will continue the oldest-running non-conference rivalry, with the Victory Bell at stake in the 126th meeting. The series record is 59-59-7.
Cincinnati has won every battle since 2006 and are huge favorites in this game. The Bearcats beat Kennesaw State 63-10 last weekend after kicking off the season with a 31-24 loss to Arkansas, a program now sitting 10th in the nation.
QBs Ben Bryant and Evan Prater have combined to replace what Desmond Ridder (now with the Atlanta Falcons) gave the Bearcats attack. It’s been a tougher-than-expected transition, but Cincinnati does have a legit defense and returned many of its offensive linemen.
Miami, on the other hand, lost to Kentucky 37-13 in a game they made difficult for the Wildcats to pull away. The Redhawks then beat Robert Morris 31-14 behind QB Aveon Smith‘s 3 TDs.
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Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:22 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Miami (Ohio) +900 (bet $100 to win $900) | Cincinnati -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Miami (Ohio) +22.5 (-108) | Cincinnati -22.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati picks and predictions
Prediction
Cincinnati 41, Miami (Ohio) 17
Money line
PASS.
Cincinnati has dominated this rivalry and will continue to. Its linebackers and the whole defense looked quick and the offensive line has held up. This should be a solid win, but it’s not worth the price.
Against the spread
LEAN CINCINNATI -22.5 (-108).
Cincinnati dropped out of the top 25 following a loss to Arkansas, but that was a game that showed resilience and was a positive for the season’s outlook, especially having to incorporate many new faces.
The Bearcats then destroyed Kennesaw State as expected. They should have their way with the Redhawks here. They won last season 49-14 and the 2019 matchup 35-13. Also, Miami hasn’t shown much this season.
It postponed getting destroyed by Kentucky, but did lose the second half 24-3. The Redhawks haven’t thrown for more than 200 yards in a game and will have a tough time running all over the Bearcats as they did Robert Morris.
Considering this is a rivalry, the Bearcats should keep the gas on the entire game.
Over/Under
BET OVER 50.5 (-112).
The Redhawks might not have a great offense, but they did put up 13 on a Kentucky team that ranks in the top 10 and also drop 31 on a Sun Belt side. They should get on the board enough to help the total here.
Betting the Over is virtually a bet on the Bearcats.
Having dropped 63 in their last game behind Bryant, who had an 85% completion rate and 3 touchdowns, backing the Bearcats seems preferred here. The Bearcats also ran for 200 yards.
Cincinnati can do both, and the Redhawks’ defense, which allowed 37 to Kentucky, may struggle to stop the Bearcats.
In the rivalry game, 1 that has generally seen Cincinnati put up big points in recent history, back the OVER 50.5 (-112).
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