Mark’s Free College Football Pick Against the Spread Written by Mark on November 20, 2011 
Syracuse looks to save their season with a home win over Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3) at Syracuse Orange (5-5) Big East Network HD
The Cincinnati Bearcats visit the Carrier Dome to tangle with the Syracuse Orange in week 13 action. The Bearcats fell to Rutgers 20-3 in week 12 while the Orange had a bye week after dropping 37-17 decision to South Florida.
Life without quarterback Zach Collaros has not been good to Cincinnati with losses to both West Virginia and Rutgers since their star went down with a broken fibula. The Bearcats once looked like the surefire Big East champions but now that goal is in jeopardy with consecutive conference defeats after starting 4-0 in league action. Almost predictably the offense suffered against the stingy Scarlet Knights with only 225 total yards with a 4 of 14 performance on third down and a pair of giveaways. Cincinnati needed a viable running game to lean on but had none, finishing with only 67 yards and less than 2 ½ yards per carry. That meant relying on the passing of unproven quarterback Munchie Legaux which the Bearcats wanted to avoid. Legaux completed 12 of 31 throws for 158 yards and an interception. That left the defense on their own to win and despite giving up 385 yards this unit had their backs against the wall with Rutgers owning the ball for over 38 minutes behind over 200 rushing yards.
Syracuse had hopes of stealing the Big East title but those hopes have faded away as their losing streak has reached three games. Now the Orange are hoping to finish the season with a winning record and a Bowl which will begin to be decided at opening kick on Saturday. Syracuse hasn’t been consistent on either side of the ball in recent weeks and were easily handled by the Bulls who have struggled themselves. The Orange totaled 405 yards and moved the ball at times with 21 first downs but were forced to live and die with the pass after gaining just 105 rushing yards on 33 carries for less than 3 ½ yards per carry. Generally, turning to the air game with quarterback Ryan Nassib at the helm hasn’t been a bad alternative but Nassib struggled to consistently hook up with his receiving corps. He was 23 of 46 for 297 yards and a pair of scores which wasn’t a terrible day but it was well short of what was needed. Alec Lemmon was the receiver of choice with 179 yards on ten receptions with two scores. USF amassed 490 yards with BJ Daniels finishing with 117 rushing yards and 254 passing yards.
Cincinnati has been the class of the Big East but losing Collaros has been unfortunate as I think the Bearcats could have run the their schedule with him. Syracuse is as up and down and unpredictable as any team in the conference which makes them a difficult team to bet on. I like them here but would not be surprised at whatever happens…
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