by On Saturday, September 14th at noon, the 128th matchup between Miami University (OH) and the University of Cincinnati, popularly known as the “Battle for the Victory Bell,” will kick off. One of the oldest rivalries in college football began in 1888 with this historic game between two of Ohio’s finest football programs. Although expectations are different for both programs going into the game, this matchup is anticipated to be competitive.
Miami RedHawks (Ohio)
Miami (OH) enters the game hoping to replicate their 31-24 victory against the Bearcats from the previous year. The RedHawks, led by head coach Chuck Martin, want to continue the program’s recent trend of consistent improvement. Offensively Miami will rely on quarterback Brett Gabbert, who was effective last season until an injury kept him sidelined for the rest of the season. The key for the Redhawks will be to find ways to extend drives and keep Cincinnati’s offense off the field.
The Red Hawks’ defense must find ways to counter Cincinnati’s multifaceted attack. Matthew Salopek, fifth-year returning middle linebacker, will be crucial to Miami’s attempts to stop the Bearcats’ running game and put pressure on the quarterback. Miami’s secondary must also be on point because Cincinnati’s passing game has the potential to be very dangerous due to huge plays in the Bearcat’s week two matchup against Pitt.
The Cincinnati Bearcats
Following years of success under former coach Luke Fickell, Cincinnati, under the direction of head coach Scott Satterfield, enters the game with high hopes. After falling short of the Redhawks last year, the Bearcats are hoping to raise the victory bell once again. For the Bearcats, quarterback Brendan Sorsby has shown himself to be an effective passer. Against Pitt in week two, he threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Corey Kiner totaled 149 yards on 20 carries. After giving up a 21-point lead late in the fourth to Pitt last week the Bearcats look to improve to 1-1 in this exciting matchup Saturday at noon.
Predictions
The Bearcats are slight favorites in this matchup, coming off a heartbreaking Week 2 loss. They are looking to bounce back not only for the sake of this season but also to maintain the intense competitiveness between these two programs. The RedHawks, riding high after a MAC championship and last year’s win over Cincinnati, aim to continue their streak despite a close loss to Northwestern in Week 1. The spread is set at Miami (OH) +3.5, suggesting this will be a tight contest between two competitive Ohio teams. Expect this game to come down to the final seconds, with a result that could go either way.
