West Virginia Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) will face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday at noon EST, and the game will be broadcast on FS1.
According to BetMGM College Football Odds, Cincinnati is favored by 4.5 points in the matchup.
In terms of historical performance, West Virginia currently holds the edge in their series, leading 17-3-1.
What does this game mean for both teams? For Cincinnati, a victory would secure bowl eligibility and effectively double their win total compared to last season. The Bearcats also have an added incentive, as they seek to defeat West Virginia for the first time in 15 years, dating back to the last matchup when the Mountaineers visited Nippert Stadium. This game will mark West Virginia’s first contest with newly appointed defensive coordinator Jeff Koonz, who took over following the departure of Jordan Lesley. The Bearcats are determined to improve upon last year’s performance, where they struggled defensively, allowing an overwhelming 424 rushing yards in a 42-21 defeat against the Mountaineers.
A pivotal aspect to focus on will be the battle between West Virginia’s running offense and Cincinnati’s defensive unit. The Mountaineers rely heavily on their running game, being the sole Big 12 team with three running backs ranked among the top 13 in the conference for rushing yards. Impressively, they have achieved over 140 rushing yards in 23 of their last 24 outings stretching back to 2022.
In terms of players to keep an eye on, West Virginia’s quarterback Nicco Marchiol is set to make his second consecutive start as Garrett Greene continues to recover from a head injury. Marchiol made an impressive debut against Arizona, completing 18 of 22 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
On the Cincinnati side, linebacker Jake Golday, in his first season, leads the Bearcats with 45 tackles and is quickly distinguishing himself as one of the Big 12’s top linebackers. A transfer from Central Arkansas, Golday accounted for 84 tackles, seven of those for a loss, and registered 4.5 sacks this season.
As for some interesting facts, this game will serve as a celebration for the 100-year anniversary of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. Additionally, Jared Bartlett, an experienced sixth-year linebacker for the Bearcats, who ranks second in the Big 12 with 5.5 sacks, spent his initial five seasons with West Virginia. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby from Cincinnati has been impressive, as he is one of only three FBS quarterbacks this season to surpass 2,000 passing yards while recording over 15 passing touchdowns and more than five rushing touchdowns. West Virginia’s ability to convert on fourth down has also been noteworthy this season, with a total of 17 conversions, ranking second in the FBS. The Mountaineers had success in their previous game against Arizona, scoring three touchdowns on fourth down plays. Lastly, Bearcats running back Evan Pryor leads the FBS with an impressive average of 9.2 yards per carry. West Virginia has limited six of its eight opponents to under 130 rushing yards this year, showcasing their defensive capabilities.