Three keys, prediction: UC looks to slow Navy's rushing attack, keep AAC title hopes alive
A notable streak for the University of Cincinnati football team ended last week in the Bearcats' loss at Central Florida.
The 25-21 defeat snapped UC's 19-game winning streak against American Athletic Conference opponents. Cincinnati was one win shy of the AAC record. Instead the Bearcats remained tied with the mark UCF set from 2017-19 before losing at Cincinnati on Oct. 5, 2019.
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"It definitely sucks," senior tight end and team captain Josh Whyle told The Enquirer. "When it first happens, it's like, oh, we let this program down. But it can't be about that. It just happens. It's the game we play. Half of the teams in America lose and the other half win every weekend. Moving forward, it's just about continuing to do what we do."
After suffering a stinging loss to the Knights, the two-time defending AAC champion Bearcats will look to regroup and extend another winning streak Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. on ESPNU).
Cincinnati (6-2, 3-1) enters Saturday's home game against AAC foe Navy (3-5, 3-3) on a 30-game winning streak at Nippert Stadium. It's the second-longest active home winning streak in the FBS, trailing Clemson's 38 straight victories at home. The Bearcats haven't lost at home since Nov. 10, 2017 (35-24 vs. Temple).
Whyle was a senior at La Salle High School.
"Coach Fick (UC head coach Luke Fickell) said in the team meeting, 'You can't let this loss beat us twice.' I'd never heard that before. That kind of hit home," Whyle said. "You've just got to move on. It's part of the game. A lot of these guys haven't experienced a regular-season loss besides this year. It can be challenging, but it's on us captains, us older guys to lead the way and keep moving forward."
Cincinnati was an 18-point favorite against the Midshipmen 24 hours before kickoff. The over/under was 44.
3 keys to victory for Cincinnati Bearcats football vs. Navy Midshipmen
1. Start fast: Slow starts have plagued offensive coordinator Gino Guidugli, senior quarterback Ben Bryant and the Cincinnati offense all season. They proved detrimental in the season-opening loss at Arkansas and again last week at UCF.
"We put ourselves in a hole," Whyle said. "We've been saying that all week. Start hot, stay hot. We just didn't execute the way that we wanted to on third and fourth down. It wasn't good. But you saw this at Arkansas too, where we come back out at half and the fight was still on. You saw it in everybody on the field. That's really good to see, especially from the young guys."
Cincinnati can't afford another slow start against Navy. The Midshipmen love to control the clock with their triple-option offense. The Bearcats need to score early and then whenever they get another chance. Possessions will be at a premium.
2. Stop the run: Navy's triple-option attack has resulted in an AAC-leading 244.5 rushing yards per game this season. Coincidentally, that ties Arkansas for the sixth most in the FBS. UCF, which ran for 258 yards against Cincinnati last week, is right behind the Midshipmen and the Razorbacks, averaging 244.4 rushing yards per game. If the Bearcats can't stop the run again Saturday, they'll be in for a long day, as their offense watches helplessly from the sideline.
3. Establish the run: Cincinnati managed just 35 rushing yards last week. That's a far cry from the 199 yards on the ground the Bearcats averaged over the previous three games. UC will need to find a way to get the run game going against the Midshipmen, who are allowing an AAC-low 92.1 rushing yards per game.
Cincinnati Bearcats football prediction
No team has been in more close games of late than Navy. Since 2006, the Midshipmen have won 53 one-possession games. That's the most in college football during that span. Navy is 2-3 in one-possession games this season. Saturday figures to be another close one. With the home crowd behind them and the bad taste still lingering from last week's loss, the Bearcats will find a way to capture their 31st straight victory at home and keep alive their hopes of claiming their third straight AAC title. UC wins, 24-17.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats football looks to sink Navy at home
