College football prediction: No. 19 Arkansas to host No. 23 Cincinnati

The staff for the University of Cincinnati football team pumped artificial crowd noise through the speakers during its practices this week. The hope is that the loud noise will prepare the Bearcats for their game against Arkansas on Saturday.

UC football coach Luke Fickell is preparing his team for the game against Arkansas. He has never been inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Ficcke's team lost to Alabama in last season's College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl semifinal. Arkansas won nine games last year. Both teams are looking to build on that. Arkansas is looking for their first win since 2011. UC is aiming to improve on its record-shattering 2021 College football season.

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson is a dual-threat threat. He completed a school-record 171 straight passes without an interception last year. Jefferson has a new weapon this season in Oklahoma transfer wide receiver Jadon Haselwood. Fickell is curious about how he will be used. The game will take place on national television. No. 19 Arkansas will host No 23 Cincinnati. The winner will play in the 2022 Heisman Trophy game.

Ben Bryant and Evan Prater are the only players who have college starts at quarterback for Cincinnati. They need to take care of the football and take advantage of Arkansas' defense.

Cincinnati's team captain needs to be the undisputed leaders against a top-25 SEC foe. Fickell announced the team captains for this season on Tuesday. They are Wil Huber, Jabari Taylor, Dylan O'Quinn, Josh Whyle and Tre Tucker.

No. 19 Arkansas is playing Cincinnati at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. ESPN will broadcast the game on ESPN. SEC Network will air the pregame show in the FAYETTEville from 10 a.m. to noon. The UC radio network call will be on WEBN-FM (102.7), Sirius 158, XM 202 and Sirius App 965.

Arkansas was a 5.5-point favorite 24 hours before kickoff.

No. 19 Arkansas is predicted to play No. 23 Cincinnati on Saturday. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Arkansas will beat Cincinnati 28-24 in front of a hostile crowd. Cincinnati needs to replace a program-record nine 2022 NFL Draft picks. Arkansas has many of its prominent pieces back from last season's 9-4 (4-5 SEC) campaign.