BYU football is gearing up for another meeting with Cincinnati. The BYU Cougars enter this game ranked 11th in the country, but outside the College Football Playoff. BYU has a strong team this year, and the Bearcats may struggle to keep up. BYU is among the leaders in the country when it comes to takeaways, and they can punish opponents for mistakes, often turning takeaways into points. BYU's electric offense, led by true freshman Bear Bachmeier, will be a strong test for Cincinnati.
BYU is 9-1. Cincinnati is 7-3. BYU's LJ Martin has 912 rushing yards compared to Tawee Walker's 652 yards. Linebacker Jack Kelly has seven sacks compared to 3.5 for the Bearcats' Jalen Hunt. The Cougars have a point differential of +178, while the Bearcats sit at just +148. BYU averages 33.7 points per game and 13 points allowed per game. While Cincinnati averages slightly fewer points per game at 34.4, it also averages 19.6 points allowed per game. BYU can score, and Cincinnati's defense will have its hands full.
BYU comes into this game off a dominant win against TCU, winning 44-13. The Cougars dominated from the start and never looked back. The Cougars have a strong offense and a turnover-hungry defense. This will be a good game, and ESPN's FPI gives the Cougs a 67.9 percent chance of winning. BYU is +8 in the turnover margin, and they don't mess around when they take the ball away. With weapons such as LJ Martin, Chase Roberts, and Parker Kingston, BYU can quickly get six on most drives.
Overall, this is a game that BYU should win. The Cougars are heavily favored, have an efficient offense, and a tight defense. Additionally, Will Ferrin should be locked in when needed. BYU Football knows that this is a must-win, and they need to focus. Cincinnati should not be taken lightly, and BYU must stay aggressive and disciplined the entire game if they want to win it. BYU controls its own destiny, and the Cougars are hungry and anxious not to repeat last year's letdown.
It's up to them to make it happen.