Cincinnati vs. Miami (OH): Preview, Prediction, and Game Odds

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami (OH) RedHawks.

Saturday, September 16; 6 p.m. CT; Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: Big 12 Now/ESPN+

Radio: Bearcats Sports Network

2023 Records: Cincinnati, 2-0; Miami (OH), 1-1.

Rankings: None.

Series History: Cincinnati leads series, 60-59-7.

Last Meeting: Cincinnati def. Miami (OH), 38-17 (2022).

Line: Cincinnati (-17.0)

Fun Fact: This series goes all the way back to 1888, with the two teams tying their initial meeting, 0-0. Called the ‘Victory Bell’ series, it is the oldest current non-conference college football rivalry in the United States. The contract for the game goes through the 2029 season, but it was last played in Oxford, Ohio, in 2017. Cincinnati has won the last 16 meetings.

WR XZAVIER HENDERSON

The Florida transfer is flashing the talent that allowed him to lead the Gators in receptions last season with 36 catches. He put together a career-best performance in his first game with the Bearcats, catching seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Last week against Pitt the Panthers paid attention to the tape because they held him to one catch. But, it’s only a matter of time before the Bearcats free him up to be more productive, perhaps more productive than he was in 2022.

CB JUSTIN HARRIS

The senior cornerback made some history in his first career start last week against Pitt. He tied the school record for pass break-ups in a game with four. It’s been a long time coming, as he’s played in 35 games for the Bearcats, but missed most of the 2021 season with a spinal fracture suffered in Week 2. That was the season the Bearcats reached the College Football Playoff. Before his career-high game against PItt, he had his first interception of his career in the Bearcats’ season opener.

WR GAGE LARVADAIN

Yeah, so, the Bearcats are going to watch to watch out for this guy after what he did to UMass last week. He caught eight passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns to help the RedHawks beat the Minutemen, 41-28. His 273 yards is second-best in program history for a single game. He also caught a school-record 99-yard touchdown pass from RedHawks quarterback Brett Gabbert. In just two games he has 353 receiving yards, which leads the NCAA.

DL KOBE HILTON

Hilton scored a Big Man Touchdown against UMass, as his fumble recovery for a touchdown was Miami’s first “scoop and score” since Chris Wade did so back in 2013 at Kentucky. The redshirt junior is coming off a 2022 in which he had 32 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and a forced fumble. He only has four tackles so far this season, but his disruptive ability up front helps the entire defense.

Cincinnati is tied with Clemson for the national lead with a 26-1 home record since the start of the 2019 season. The Bearcats are also hoping for their 13th straight sellout at home. The Bearcat defense did something it hadn’t done since 2019 against Pitt last week. By holding the Panthers to 10-of-32 passing, it was their best defensive mark since the Bearcats held UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to 8-of-26 passing in the 2019 opener. The Bearcats have also been problematic at night. They’ve won 14 straight night games and nine straight night games at home.

Head coach Chuck Martin made an interesting point on Monday. He said his program had likely played the fewest home games in recent memory. The school’s student newspaper did the math and, indeed, he was right. Since the start of the 2019 season the RedHawks have played just 16 home games. In that span the RedHawks are 14-2. That won’t help them on the road this week against the Bearcats, a team they last beat in 2005, when the game was played in … Oxford. You get the idea. This is going to be a tough win to get. The RedHawks went 6-7 last year.

Cincinnati has a great winning streak going into this one that it’s hard to see them lose to the RedHawks. Now, a letdown is always possible. But the Bearcats are great at home and great under the lights at Nippert. The Bearcats ease away in the second half.