October 20, 2017

By Dylan Edwards, SMUMustangs.com

After getting a bye week to rest up, SMU is on the road for the second straight game in conference play. The Mustangs face off against a Cincinnati team that has been the victim of a very rigorous schedule so far this season. The Bearcats are 2-5, but the combined record of the five teams that beat them is 26-3.
 
SMU is looking is looking to return to Dallas with its first 5-2 start to a season since 2011.
 
When SMU has the ball…
 
Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn have been wreaking havoc for defenses over SMU's last two games. Against UConn and Houston, the duo combined for 50 receptions for 544 yards and five touchdowns. Against Houston, each caught 10 passes for 150 yards, making SMU the only team in FBS with teammates to accomplish that in the same game.
 
SMU's committee of running backs are difficult to slow down, and Cincinnati has not been very good at stopping the run. The Bearcats allow 220 yards per game on the ground, ranking 110^th nationally. Teams haven't done much through the air against Cincinnati, but that probably has some to do with being ahead and having success on the ground.
 
Cincinnati will definitely have their work cut out to stop SMU's dynamic scoring offense. The Mustangs rank sixth in the nation in points per game while the Bearcats rank 105^th in points allowed per game. SMU is explosive, ranking in the top 10 in plays of 20+ yards. The Bearcats rank outside the top 100 in limiting those same types of gains. 
 
When Cincinnati has the ball…
 
Cincinnati's offense has struggled against the stiff competition they've faced so far this season. The Bearcat offense ranks outside the top 100 nationally in rushing yards per game, yards per game, and points scored per game.
 
SMU's defense ranks third in the conference in stopping the run, so the Mustangs should have the advantage against Cincinnati's rushing attack that ranks 12^th in the conference and 122^nd nationally.
 
The Mustangs have also shown they have a knack for getting to the passer, ranking eight in the nation and first in the conference with 21 sacks. Cincinnati ranks 16^th in pass attempts per game yet has only allowed 11 sacks. That shows they've been able to protect the passer some. That matchup upfront will be an important one for SMU to win, obviously.