Last season, the Cincinnati Bearcats did something that no other non-Power 5 Conference has ever accomplished. The Bearcats made it to the College Football Playoff. This season, we shouldn’t expect Cincinnati to again go undefeated. But the Bearcats will have a decent season. Check out 5 fearless predictions for teams in the American Athletic Conference so you can plan your bets against the NCAAF Odds.
5 Fearless College Football Betting Predictions for the AAC
2022 NCAAF College Football Season
- When: August 27, 2022 – Dec. 10, 2022
Cincinnati upsets Arkansas on Sep. 3
Why not start with Luke Fickell’s bunch? Arkansas is a solid SEC team. But the Razorbacks will be in for a rude awakening when they take on the Bearcats in the first week.
Cincinnati lost their starting quarterback in Desmond Ridder and star power on defense. However, the offensive line returns. Cincy’s offensive line should be one of the best in the nation.
The O-line alone will ensure the Bearcats mange an underdog moneyline victory over Arkansas in Cincinnati’s first game.
UCF goes undefeated in conference play
Gus Mahlzahn knows a thing or two about beating quality teams. Malzahn took the Auburn Tigers to the National Championship when he coached in the SEC.
Last season, Central Florida played well. The Knights finished at 9-4. Malzahn’s team won their final 6 games, which means the Knights should enter the season with plenty of momentum.
Not only that, but quarterback Mike Keene and rusher Isaiah Bowers returns. So do three players along the offensive line.
If UCF upsets Cincinnati on Oct. 29, it’s a home game for the Knights, they will go undefeated in conference play.
Houston loses a single conference game, versus Memphis on Oct. 7
Cincinnati got so much press last season that people failed to realize the Cougars, like the Bearcats, were on their way to a solid bowl game.
Houston beat Auburn to win the Birmingham Bowl. The Cougars went 8-0 in the AAC last season. This season, Houston could go 8-0 again. But the Cougs face rival Memphis on the road. So chalk up 1 conference loss for Dana Holgorsen’s bunch.
The Central Florida Knights end up playing in a New Year’s Day Bowl
The AAC could produce a couple of New Year’s Day Bowl teams. The first will be the Central Florida Knights, who will suffer a single loss this season.
UCF will fall to Cincinnati in the AAC Championship. With only one loss on their record, the Golden Knights will grab a bid to a New Year’s Day Bowl.
Cincinnati also plays on New Year’s Day
The Bearcats will also suffer a single loss. UCF will beat Cincinnati on Oct. 29. Up until that game, the Bearcats will be ranked in the Top 10.
After the loss, Cincinnati may fall out of the Top 10. But that won’t preclude them from grabbing a New Year’s Day Bowl bid because the Bearcats will beat undefeated UCF in the AAC Championship.