The No. 15 Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0, 0-0) host the South Florida Bulls (1-1,0-0) Saturday after topping the No. 22 Army Black Knights 24-10 a week ago.
The victory was the first meeting of two ranked teams at Nippert Stadium since 2008, adding another signature win for head coach Luke Fickell. Fickell has the Bearcats rolling as they head into the American Athletic Conference opener against a Bulls team trending in the opposite direction . The Bearcats’ current trajectory points to yet another big year after posting back-to-back 11 win seasons (2018, 2019).
The series when being played in Ohio is 6-2 (10-2 Cin. overall) in favor of the Bearcats, but the incumbent Bulls will not have to endure the frigid cold like USF’s last trip to Nippert Stadium in 2018.
USF head man Jeff Scott planned to select a starter for the beginning of conference play, but COVID-19 related issues made the Bulls play without numerous players, including touted North Carolina transfer Cade Fortin. Fortin will be active for the first time as a Bull Saturday afternoon.
If the USF offense can find it’s footing and the Bulls’ defense steps up Saturday afternoon, I truly believe it’ll be a closer game than the current 21 point spread. The Bulls will need to come out hot and put points on the board if they want to get a ranked road win over the Bearcats.
Go Bulls!!