The last time the University of Cincinnati football team visited Temple, the Bearcats coincidentally were a top-25 team seeking a berth in a major bowl game.
Cincinnati lost to the Owls.
Scouting report:No. 25 Cincinnati football not overlooking Temple after entering CFP rankings
Then-Bearcats starting quarterback Desmond Ridder was under pressure all day. Ridder threw an interception, was sacked three times and managed just 111 yards on 14-for-33 passing in a 24-17 overtime defeat in Philadelphia.
"If you can't protect the quarterback, it's going to be a long day," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said after the loss.
Protecting the quarterback will be key again for both teams Saturday (4 p.m. on ESPNU), when the No. 25-ranked (College Football Playoff rankings) Bearcats (8-2, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) head back to Philly to take on Temple (3-7, 1-5).
Three keys to victory for Cincinnati Bearcats football vs. Temple Owls
1. Put pressure on E.J. Warner: Cincinnati has 32 sacks this season. The Bearcats will need to add to that total on Saturday. The Cincinnati defense will face a true freshman in 6-foot, 190-pound Temple quarterback E.J. Warner, who's as hot as any signal-caller in college football. Warner entered the week as the nation's leader in passing yards this month (830). The Bearcats will need to make Warner uncomfortable and force him into making some freshman mistakes.
2. Protect Ben Bryant: Like Cincinnati, Temple has 32 sacks through 10 games. The two teams are tied for the AAC lead in that category. The Bearcats' offensive line has had its struggles this season. As has Bryant. The senior quarterback has owned that. Bryant and the line need to be sharp Saturday, and that starts with Bryant having time to survey the field against the Owls and the AAC's second-best passing defense.
3. Be special on special teams: Two of Cincinnati's four games against Temple under Fickell (2-2) have come down to a single possession. In addition to the Bearcats' seven-point loss to the Owls in Philly in 2018, they narrowly defeated Temple 15-13 at Nippert Stadium in 2019. Special teams are usually the difference in close games. If Saturday is another close one, Cincinnati will need punter Mason Fletcher, kicker Ryan Coe, punt returner Ryan Montgomery and kick returners Tre Tucker and Jadon Thompson to be difference-makers. Thompson was that last week, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in a 27-25 win over East Carolina.
Cincinnati Bearcats football prediction vs. Temple Owls
Temple won't play in a bowl game this season, so at this point, the Owls' objective is to spoil other teams' bowl plans. Cincinnati's objective at the beginning of the season was to "play for a championship." That's still possible with a win Saturday. The two-time defending AAC champion Bearcats will remain in line for their fourth-straight AAC title game appearance and a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game if they can get past Temple. Because of that, Cincinnati will find a way to come out on top. UC wins, 27-21.
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