Cincinnati Bearcats Football

With kickoff to the Liberty Bowl now less than three weeks away, the big question that is hanging over the University of Cincinnati is whether or not star quarterback Zach Collaros will be ready in time.

Collaros is currently recovering from a severe ankle injury suffered on November 12 against West Virginia.

Whether or not he plays will go a long way toward helping Cincinnati knock off SEC foe Vanderbilt.

He is the leader of the team and a fifth-year senior who has played in his fair share of big games over his career.

Even though he missed the better part of four games, Collaros was still named a second-team All-Big East selection this past week and is one of the most explosive players in the conference.

The team is preparing to go with Munchie Legaux under center, but anything Collaros could give them would be an added bonus.

Collaros is expected to begin throwing and running this week, so Cincinnati should have an idea of how far along he is after a few days of practice. From the Tennessean:

“That is still a possibility that he’ll play in the bowl game,” said [Cincannati coach Butch] Jones

“He’s taken tremendous strides in the rehabilitation effort. He’s about two weeks ahead of schedule. He’s walking already. We’re hoping that by as soon as next week he may be able to start throwing and doing his drops (to pass) and participating in practice.

“It’s an ongoing process. A lot of it is outside our control. It’s just how the body heals. But there is a tremendous opportunity right now that he may be able to participate in the Liberty Bowl.”

The Bearcats resumed practice Saturday and have now begun pregame preparations for their showdown against Vanderbilt.

Ticket sales have been going very good for Cincinnati so far, as they sold over 25 percent of their allotment within the first few days.

After sweeping the Big East awards, Cincinnati senior defensive tackle Derek Wolfe received more accolades when he was named a second-team All-America selection by Yahoo! Sports on Friday.

Wholfe will be a key for Cincinnati to stop the Vanderbilt rushing attack.

The countdown is officially on for Cincinnati as the New Year's Eve Liberty Bowl is only 20 days away.

After winning a share of the Big East title on Saturday, the Cincinnati Bearcats had another nice day at the office on Thursday, cleaning up in the postseason awards.

Head coach Butch Jones was named Big East coach of the year after taking a team that finished 4-8 in his first year in 2010 and improving to 9-3 and co-Big East champs in 2011.

Senior running back Isaiah Pead was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and senior defensive tackle Derek Wolfe was named co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

It was quite a day for a program that was picked to finish fifth in the eight-team Big East before the season started.

Pead was brilliant all season with his big plays and long runs that single-handedly won games for Cincinnati.

He finished the regular season with 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 304 receiving yards and three more touchdowns.

His 5.3 yards per carry were a career low, but with Zach Collaros out, teams were gearing up to stop Pead during the final three weeks of the season.

As a game-changing back, Pead was the most explosive player in the conference. 

Wolfe was not only the best defensive player in the conference, but one of the best in the nation.

He had his biggest game in the season finale on senior day against Connecticut.

Wolfe led the league in sacks at 9.5 and tackles for loss at 19.5. Those are some serious numbers for a defensive tackle—good enough to rank him 12th nationally in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss. 

He currently ranks fourth all-time in sacks at Cincinnati.

The awards didn't stop there for the Bearcats.

Senior linebacker J.K. Schaffer, junior safety Drew Frey, senior guard Randy Martinez and junior punter Pat O'Donnell were also named first-team all-Big East selections along with Wolfe and Pead.

Senior quarterback Zach Collaros and senior offensive tackle Alex Hoffman were named second-team all-Big East performers.

With six of the eight all-Big East selections being seniors, Cincinnati will have much talent to replace next season. These seniors will get their final send-off on New Year's Eve against Vanderbilt at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

This group, and these seniors in particular, will want nothing more than to go out with a win.

For the 21 Cincinnati Bearcats seniors who played their final game at Nippert Stadium, there was no better way to go out than with a win on Senior Day and a share of the Big East title in the process.

This group will likely go down as the most successful group that the Cincinnati football program has ever seen and they got there through hard work. 

"I can't say enough of what this senior class has meant to our football family," said Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones.

After winning the Big East each of their first two seasons, Cincinnati finished 4-8 last season. The senior group bounced back this year and it all started with their preparation in the offseason.

"When we're sitting there in December and January and watching the bowl games from our couch, it definitely motivates you," said senior linebacker J.K. Schaffer.

Schaffer went over 100 tackles on the season against Connecticut, becoming only the fifth player in the history of Cincinnati football to do so three years in a row.

For the seniors, winning this title was not only a little more difficult than the first two, but much more rewarding in many ways. 

"There was not a lot of blowouts...we had a lot of dogfights this year," said senior defensive tackle Derek Wolfe.

Cincinnati may not be as talented as they were in past years, but they knew how to win close games and one reason for that was the senior leadership, particularly at the quarterback position with Zach Collaros.

The injury to Collaros may have cost Cincinnati a chance to go to a BCS Bowl, but enough can't be said about the job they did when he went down in Week 9. 

"I think we did a good job without him," Wolfe said. "Zach has a lot to do with this team on and off the field. His presence is huge...He's gonna be a great coach some day."

The victory over Connecticut was a perfect example of how Cincinnati has been playing all year. They have taken advantage of every opportunity they have been given and capitalized on it.

No play was more evident of the way the season has gone than the Huskies first drive.

Connecticut was backed up near their own end zone and quarterback Johnny McEntee dropped back to pass.

Instead of trying for the sack, Cincinnati defensive end Walter Stewart took the ball from McEntee for a touchdown in one of the most bizarre plays imaginable.

"Not too many times can you get a sack in the end zone and get the football out all in the same play," Steward said.

The play sparked the crowd and the Bearcats never trailed the entire game.

"Any time you can score on defense it's huge. It helps out the entire team and gets the crowd involved too," Schaffer said.

The Bearcats second touchdown came on a Drew Frey interception return for a touchdown and from there Cincinnati was off to the races, capping off a magical season not many people thought possible before the season started.

Cincinnati was predicted to finish fifth in the Big East preseason polls and that clearly served as motivation for the players.

"I've been here four years, we have three Big East Championships and it seems like every year we are picked to finish last," Stewart said. "It's all about going out on the field and just proving it."

That is exactly what Cincinnati did in the season finale and throughout the entire season.

The Cincinnati Bearcats are looking to close out a nine-win season by taking down the inconsistent, but still dangerous UConn Huskies.

The Huskies can close out this season with .500 record and a big win over one of the best teams in the Big East.

Let's take a closer look to see who has the upper hand.

Where: Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)

When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN, ESPN3

Spread: Connecticut +9, according to SportsBook

Go with Cincinnati here. UConn is 1-2 at home this season, beating only Buffalo. It's impossible to know what to expect with the Huskies, but their struggles in the very few road games they've had this season will likely surface again here.

Over/Under: 47

Go with the under. The Bearcats have an underrated defense that allows under 20 PPG, and aside from a few stat-inflating offensive performances in the beginning of the season, they've been relatively quiet. They may score 33.4 PPG, but they've scored below that mark in six of their last seven outings.

Key Injuries

Connecticut

John Delahunt, TE (Knee), Questionable
Martin Hyppolite, LB (Knee), Questionable
Jimmy Bennett, T (Knee), Out for Season
D.J. Shoemate RB (Shoulder), Out for Season

Cincinnati

Zach Collaros, QB (Ankle), Out for Season
Dominique Battle, DB (Knee), Out for Season

Click Here for complete USA Today injury report

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

The Bearcats are a bubble team at this point, and finishing inside the rankings would speak volumes about where their team is headed. Losing Brian Kelly was a setback, but it hasn't crippled Cincinnati, and after losing eight games a season ago, a nine-win season is huge step in the right direction.

Keys to Connecticut Win

Get Johnny McEntee comfortable. UConn is 1-3 in the four games he's thrown at least one interception and 4-3 in games that he doesn't. While protecting the football isn't going to guarantee them a victory, turning it over almost guarantees them a losing result.

Avoid the early onslaught. They are going up against a talented Cincy team on the road on ESPN in the final game of the season. There is a lot of pressure on their shoulders and are getting hit with a wave of offense like they did in their last four losses.

Keys to Cincinnati Win

Put the pressure on UConn early. Cincinnati is the better team here, and overwhelming the Huskies by putting them in an early hole is will take away the upset threat from the get go.

Let running back Isaiah Pead take over the game. He's broken for over 100 yards five times this season, and wearing down the UConn defense and protecting the lead will allow them to further extend their advantage when they get into the fourth quarter.

Prediction

Cincinnati 27, Connecticut 17

Although the 8-3 Cincinnati Bearcats hosting the 5-6 Connecticut Huskies in a Big East battle may not seem like one of the weekend's biggest games, it could very well determine which Big East team will earn an automatic spot in a BCS bowl game.

Cincinnati is one of three teams with a chance, but a win over UConn is an absolute must. The Bearcats have been fairly inconsistent in losing two of their past three games, but they have had to adjust to life without quarterback Zach Collaros who was lost for the season with a broken ankle.

While the Huskies have been unable to build off a magical 2010 season that saw them win the Big East, they have been competitive all season and ruined Rutgers' hopes of winning the conference by upsetting the Scarlet Knights last week.

UConn will have a chance to play spoiler for the second consecutive week, but the Bearcats will be desperate to avoid the same fate as Rutgers. This will be far from the sexiest matchup, but it will certainly be a hard-fought one.

Where: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3

Listen: WTIC 1080AM (Connecticut) and WLW 700 (Cincinnati)

Betting Line: Cincinnati (-10)

Key Storyline: Can UConn Play Spoiler Once Again?

For contending teams in any sport, there is nothing more annoying than a team that is out of it, but takes great pride in spoiling the seasons of others. That is the role that Connecticut has taken on this season as they are longer in contention for the Big East. They ruined things for Rutgers last week and can do so again this Saturday against Cincinnati.

The Bearcats need some things to break their way in order to win the conference, but they need a win first and foremost. Cincinnati hasn't played its best football as of late and the Huskies aren't going to just lie down, though, so the Bearcats will need to ramp up their effort this weekend or else they will go by the wayside like Rutgers.

Who Might Not Play for Connecticut: TE John Delahunt

Connecticut Huskies junior tight end John Delahunt missed last week's game against Rutgers with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Cincinnati. Delahunt has been used very sparingly in the passing game as the No. 2 tight end, but he still has an important role in the offense.

Delahunt essentially serves as the main blocking tight end in what is a run-heavy offense. Because of that, his potential absence could adversely affect UConn's running game. Delahunt may not seem like a high-impact player, but sometimes losing role players can hurt just as much.

Who Might Not Play for Cincinnati: QB Zach Collaros

While the Cincinnati Bearcats are largely healthy, one big injury that they must deal with is starting quarterback Zach Collaros. In the Bearcats' Week 11 game against West Virginia, Collaros suffered a broken ankle so he will miss the remainder of the season.

Collaros was an excellent dual-threat quarterback who made Cincinnati's offense go. Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen have stepped in during Collaros' absence, and while they have done a nice job, Collaros' absence will surely be felt as the Bearcats make a run at the Big East Championship.

BCS/Top 25 Implications

Believe it or not, this game is huge in terms of BCS implications. The Bearcats are currently embroiled in a three-way race for the Big East title with West Virginia and Louisville. Should Cincinnati win and West Virginia lose, the Bearcats will win the Big East. Should both schools win, it will go to a tiebreaker with the winner being whichever team is ranked highest in the BCS standings.

The nod would likely go to the Mountaineers in that instance. Should both Cincinnati and West Virginia lose, Louisville would win the conference. All the Bearcats can do is take care of their own business, though. With that said, a win would allow the Huskies to qualify for a bowl, so there is plenty of incentive for UConn in this game.

What They're Saying

Since starting quarterback Zach Collaros suffered a season-ending ankle injury a couple weeks ago, the Cincinnati Bearcats have been employing a two-quarterback approach with Muchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen. While that strategy tends to backfire at times, Connecticut head coach Paul Pasqualoni believes it gives Cincinnati a bit of an edge, according to Bill Koch of Cincinnati.com.

Both quarterbacks can throw, Pasqualoni said. I think the quarterbacks are similar. I don't know a great deal about both of them but the plays I see them run are plays we're going to have to rehearse. It's going to be hard.

 

Connecticut Player To Watch: RB Lyle McCombs

It was the case when they won the Big East last year and it continues to ring true in 2011, but the Connecticut Huskies are one of the more vanilla teams in the nation. You can't blame the Huskies too much as their style has been fairly successful, but there simply isn't a lot of mystery when it comes to what they're going to do.

On offense, it is a given that Cincinnati will receive a heavy dose of freshman running back Lyle McCombs. The Huskies don't receive consistent quarterback play in the least, so McCombs has been their go-to guy all season. He has piled up over 1,100 yards and eight total touchdowns, and he will most likely need his seventh 100-plus-yard rushing performance of the season for UConn to come out on top.

Cincinnati Player To Watch: RB Isaiah Pead

Cincinnati is generally a much more offensively balanced team than Connecticut, but that has changed a bit since quarterback Zach Collaros was lost for the season. The injury forces the Bearcats to lean even more upon senior running back Isaiah Pead, who has had an absolutely fantastic year as a dual-threat back.

Not only does Pead have over 1,000 yards and 11 scores on the ground, but he has also pitched in as a pass receiver with over 300 yards and three touchdowns in that respect. Pead will have to continue his all-purpose dominance both as a runner and a safety valve for the Bearcats quarterbacks. Provided Pead keeps up his excellent play, the Bearcats should be fine.

Key Matchup: Lyle McCombs vs. Cincinnati Front Seven

The Huskies have absolutely no passing game to speak of, so if running back Lyle McCombs isn't on top of his game, then they don't stand much of a chance of winning. That is precisely why the Bearcats will have to focus intently upon stacking the box and stopping the run on defense.

If McCombs has any sort of success, it works against Cincinnati on a couple levels. Not only does it allow UConn to put some points on the board, but it also gives them a big edge in the time-of-possession battle. Provided the Huskies can possess the ball and keep Cincinnati's offense off the field, they will have a major advantage in the game.

Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Connecticut 17

It will all be on the line Saturday when the Cincinnati Bearcats play their regular season finale against Connecticut at historic Nippert Stadium. 

Cincinnati will be playing their first game at Nippert Stadium since September 22. 

A win would give Cincinnati their third Big East title in four seasons, and possibly propel them to the Orange Bowl. 

Connecticut is coming in after a big win against Rutgers, so Cincinnati will need to play a good game to win the conference title. 

Here is a preview of what to expect from Connecticut on Saturday. 

Offense: 

The Huskies oftentimes struggle to score points, averaging 24 points a game, which is only good for 83rd in the country. 

Quarterback Johnny McEntee has thrown for 1,858 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with seven interceptions. 

His main targets are wide receiver Kashif Moore, who has 557 yards and five touchdowns, and wide receiver Isiah Moore with 496 yards. 

Running back Lyle McCombs has been the most important offensive player for the Huskies. He has carried the ball 254 times for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 172 yards receiving and a touchdown. 

The Bearcats will need to focus on stopping the run if they plan on stepping the Connecticut offense. 

Defense: 

While the defense is not one of the top in the nation, the Huskies are much better on that side of the ball. 

They rank 45th in the country, allowing 23.4 points per game. 

The defense has only allowed over 35 points once this season but have consistently given up at least 20 points each conference game, with the exception of the 10 they allowed to South Florida.

Linebacker Jory Johnson is the leader on defense with 93 tackles including seven for loss. He also has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the season.

Cincinnati will need to limit their turnovers and control the ball to win this one.

Overall: 

Cincinnati will come into this game ready to play, and Connecticut will have to take their first punch and try to hang in there.

It will be senior day for a group that has been through a lot during their years in Cincinnati, including two conference championships.

Even without quarterback Zach Collaros, Cincinnati will be able to move the ball on the Huskies and if they can limit their turnovers, will win.  Then a conference championship should be no problem.

Prediction: Cincinnati 27 Connecticut 16