Bold predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. No. 6 Utah

The UC Bearcats didn’t have long to celebrate their upset of eighth-ranked Texas Texas on Homecoming last week.

That’s because the Bearcats now face undefeated and No. 6 Utah, which has the nation’s longest active win streak at 13 games. The Utes' last loss was in last year’s “Holy War” to rival BYU in Provo, 24-21 Oct. 18, 2025. The Bearcats would benefit if the Utes looked ahead to this year’s BYU game, which Utah hosts Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"I think for us, we need to show how much of an environment we have here,” UC head coach Scott Satterfield said. “ I know it’s Halloween, but dress up and come out yelling in this game. We’re going to need to have that home field advantage because it certainly helped us last week, and we know when we play here it’s different for us because of that. Hopefully, our fans will show up and be loud.”

Utah's 3-headed monster arrives in Cincinnati for Halloween

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin and running back Wayshawn Parker have all taken direct snaps and are all threats as UC found out last year in a 45-14 walloping in Salt Lake City. Dampier threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 78 yards. Parker ran for 104 yards with a touchdown. Ficklin had just 14, but also scored and is every bit the runner Dampier is when in the game. Sometimes, they're both in the game.

"They do a lot of that and they have the talent to put out there," UC coach Scott Satterfield said. "It makes you have to go over all this stuff. Defensive coaches sit in the office all day anyway; it just makes them sit longer to go over all the formations you could get. We call it 'chasing ghosts'. You don't know what you're going to get."

3 bold predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Utah Utes

1. UC Bearcats, Utah Utes will both have 100-yard rushers

For the Bearcats, either Gi'Bran Payne or Cole Tabb will reach the century mark for the fourth time. Payne is expected to be back and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, while Tabb is at 9.6 yards per tote. Zylan Perry has had tough yards the past two weeks and averages 6.5 yards per lug.

Utah's Parker averages 92 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry. Of the two quarterbacks, Ficklin averages 6.7 yards and Dampier 4.7.

2. Both UC's JC French, Utah's Devon Dampier will throw INTS

French threw 260 passes without an interception, then threw a pair in his next three passes vs. Texas Tech. Fortunately, it didn't affect his game. Dampier has similar passing numbers as French but has thrown six interceptions. He has 15 touchdown passes to French's 13. Utah has eight picks as a team, while the Bearcats have five.

3. Field goals will play key role in UC vs. Utah

Both kickers have two misses on the year, with UC's Stephen Rusnak's field goals all coming from 40 yards or beyond. Dillon Curtis is just 1-for-3 in the 30-39 yard range, but has a 54-yarder this season. Rusnak's longest is also 54. A key to UC's defensive success vs. Texas Tech was holding them to field goals on several offensive drives.

What Utah coach Morgan Scalley said about Cincinnati Bearcats

On coming to Nippert to face the Bearcats?

"Their offense is humming right now. Statistically, 20th in the country in total offense. Eighth in the country, second to West Virginia in the Big 12 in terms of rushing offense, so another game where we're going to have to be really stout up front. They're 22nd in the country in pass-efficiency offense with a quarterback that's playing really well. Obviously, Coach Satterfield did a great job bringing in a new quarterback and getting him going. He's 15th in the country in completion percentage. He's efficient. They don't turn the ball over. They're doing some really good things and they're playing with confidence. They're going to be playing at their house, their packed house."

On playing UC on Halloween after they've knocked off Texas Tech

"You get teams that have unbelievable big wins, emotional wins, and then the next week you have the letdown effect and so, again, we're just going to continue to preach that every game is a championship game because it's hard to win. There's parity. You don't know what other teams' motivations are. When teams are playing ranked teams, they're going to bring it. They're going to be more excited. Whatever that is. We just have to be us. We've got to do it week after week after week, day after day after day and this is the only game that matters."

Predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Utah Utes

Arizona Central – Utah 31-24

Picks and Parlays – Utah 28-24.

Sporting News – Utah 31-24

Enquirer prediction for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Utah Utes

This would be the highest-ranked team UC has beaten at Nippert if they're able to replicate the previous week's effort against Texas Tech. In my original prognostications, this was a 26- 14 loss, as I saw what the Utes did to them last year in Salt Lake City. The Utes return the Dampier, Ficklin, Parker trio in addition to some burly men up front that allow them to run video-game plays.

But Utah didn't overwhelm Colorado in Boulder on Oct. 17 and they had their hands full with Houston in a game that ended around 2 a.m. here. The Bearcats are loaded with confidence after beating the Red Raiders and if the players and fans can replicate that Homecoming game, maybe the Bearcats can make history.

So after misses at West Virginia and vs. Texas Tech, we'll go out on a limb and call for something crazy. UC wins 26-21 as 'Cats howl at the Halloween moon.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bold predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. No. 6 Utah