PapaJohns.com Bowl
Southern Miss Offense vs. Cincinnati Defense
The Golden Eagles' offense has seen its ups and downs this season due in large part to injuries. That said, one thing is clear; Southern Miss is at its best when it's able to establish the line of scrimmage and get RB Damion Fletcher in a groove. Fletcher is a tough in between-the-tackles runner who is averaging 119.3 rushing yards per game and has 15 rushing touchdowns. Only problem is it should be tough sledding for Fletcher as the Bearcats have been stingy against the run all year, allowing more than a 100 yards rushing in just three games. The Bearcat run defense is anchored up front by DT Terrill Byrd and DE Anthony Hoke, who have combined for 29? tackles for losses. Behind them LB Corey Smith and DS Haruki Nakamura have also been big contributors. This does not bode well for the Eagles' as they have had not had success this year when forced to turn to their pass game.
QB Jeremy Young has been hot and cold since sustaining an ankle injury in the beginning of the year. When Young is on, the Eagle offense is difficult to defend but when Young is off, the Southern Miss offense struggles tremendously. It doesn't help that Young's go-to receiver Chris Johnson is out for the year because of a knee injury he suffered late in season either. Though junior TE Shawn Nelson has shown flashes of promise, he will be going up against an experienced and opportunistic secondary. Cincinnati is tied for the nation's lead in interceptions with 23 and CB Mike Mickens has six of them. And if the Eagles are unable to establish the ground game, it will allow Cincinnati's defensive front to focus on rushing the passer, where the Bearcat pass rush has produced 38 sacks this year.
Cincinnati Offense vs. Southern Miss Defense Cincinnati's offense has had one of the best seasons in school history, breaking the school records for points scored and total touchdowns. The role QB Ben Mauk has played in the Bearcat's success can't be overstated, as he has thrown 27 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions this year. Of course Mauk couldn't do it without his receiving corps, which is led by redshirt freshman Marcus Barnett who has 13 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, Barnett is quick off the ball and smooth getting out of his breaks, allowing him to create good separation. Look for the Eagles to try to slow down Barnett by lining all-conference CB Brandon Sumrall up over him. Sumrall needs to slow down Barnett without getting any help over the top because this would allow the Eagles' to bring the extra man in an effort to get to Mauk. Freeing up another defender is important because a Bearcat offensive line, anchored by LOT Digger Bujnoch, has done a solid job in pass protection.
Southern Miss ILB Gerald McRath was the Conference USA Coaches Defensive Player of the Year and the leader of the Eagles' defense. McRath, who has 131 tackles this year, has sideline-to-sideline range and is relentless in pursuit. As a result, the Bearcats need to get bodies on him because he has the ability to neutralize the ground game if left to roam free. That said, slowing down the Cincinnati running backs won't be easy. Greg Moore is averaging 5.2 yards and Butler Benton is averaging five yards per carry.
Special Teams
There is a real concern with Cincinnati's place kicking, as Jake Rogers has struggled with his accuracy connecting on just 10 of his 18 field goal attempts this year. On the other hand, Rogers clearly has excellent leg strength, as he has a long of 55 yards and is averaging 63.5 yards per kickoff. P Kevin Huber has been impressive, averaging 46.9 yards per punt with accuracy, placing 18 of his 53 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Bearcat cover units have been mediocre this season so Cincinnati is vulnerable to long returns.
Southern Miss PK Justin Estes has had his problems as well, connecting of just 15 of his 22 field goal attempts with a long of only 43 yards. Britt Barefoot handles the kickoff and punting duties and has done an adequate job in both categories. Barefoot is averaging 43 yards per punts and 63.9 yards per kickoff. The Bearcats' have used multiple kickoff return men and the most effective of them has been DeAngelo Smith. Smith averages 25 yards per kickoff return with a long of 52 yards. Haruki Nakamura handles the punt returns for the Bearcats' and he's averaging just 6.9 yards per return.
Scouts' Edge
The Eagles have relied on their defense to keep them in most of their games this year, but they face an explosive Bearcats' offense that they can only hope to contain and not shut down. That means the Eagles' offense will have to put points on the board to stay with the Bearcats. It won't happen. Look for Cincinnati's defense to control the line of scrimmage early and neutralize the Southern Miss ground game, putting the onus on Young to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. In the end, the Bearcat pass rush coupled with the inconsistency of the Southern Miss air attack will be too much for the Eagles to overcome so expect the Bearcats to cruise to victory.
Prediction: Bearcats 38, Golden Eagles 17
Southern Miss Offense vs. Cincinnati Defense
The Golden Eagles' offense has seen its ups and downs this season due in large part to injuries. That said, one thing is clear; Southern Miss is at its best when it's able to establish the line of scrimmage and get RB Damion Fletcher in a groove. Fletcher is a tough in between-the-tackles runner who is averaging 119.3 rushing yards per game and has 15 rushing touchdowns. Only problem is it should be tough sledding for Fletcher as the Bearcats have been stingy against the run all year, allowing more than a 100 yards rushing in just three games. The Bearcat run defense is anchored up front by DT Terrill Byrd and DE Anthony Hoke, who have combined for 29? tackles for losses. Behind them LB Corey Smith and DS Haruki Nakamura have also been big contributors. This does not bode well for the Eagles' as they have had not had success this year when forced to turn to their pass game.
QB Jeremy Young has been hot and cold since sustaining an ankle injury in the beginning of the year. When Young is on, the Eagle offense is difficult to defend but when Young is off, the Southern Miss offense struggles tremendously. It doesn't help that Young's go-to receiver Chris Johnson is out for the year because of a knee injury he suffered late in season either. Though junior TE Shawn Nelson has shown flashes of promise, he will be going up against an experienced and opportunistic secondary. Cincinnati is tied for the nation's lead in interceptions with 23 and CB Mike Mickens has six of them. And if the Eagles are unable to establish the ground game, it will allow Cincinnati's defensive front to focus on rushing the passer, where the Bearcat pass rush has produced 38 sacks this year.
Cincinnati Offense vs. Southern Miss Defense Cincinnati's offense has had one of the best seasons in school history, breaking the school records for points scored and total touchdowns. The role QB Ben Mauk has played in the Bearcat's success can't be overstated, as he has thrown 27 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions this year. Of course Mauk couldn't do it without his receiving corps, which is led by redshirt freshman Marcus Barnett who has 13 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, Barnett is quick off the ball and smooth getting out of his breaks, allowing him to create good separation. Look for the Eagles to try to slow down Barnett by lining all-conference CB Brandon Sumrall up over him. Sumrall needs to slow down Barnett without getting any help over the top because this would allow the Eagles' to bring the extra man in an effort to get to Mauk. Freeing up another defender is important because a Bearcat offensive line, anchored by LOT Digger Bujnoch, has done a solid job in pass protection.
Southern Miss ILB Gerald McRath was the Conference USA Coaches Defensive Player of the Year and the leader of the Eagles' defense. McRath, who has 131 tackles this year, has sideline-to-sideline range and is relentless in pursuit. As a result, the Bearcats need to get bodies on him because he has the ability to neutralize the ground game if left to roam free. That said, slowing down the Cincinnati running backs won't be easy. Greg Moore is averaging 5.2 yards and Butler Benton is averaging five yards per carry.
Special Teams
There is a real concern with Cincinnati's place kicking, as Jake Rogers has struggled with his accuracy connecting on just 10 of his 18 field goal attempts this year. On the other hand, Rogers clearly has excellent leg strength, as he has a long of 55 yards and is averaging 63.5 yards per kickoff. P Kevin Huber has been impressive, averaging 46.9 yards per punt with accuracy, placing 18 of his 53 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Bearcat cover units have been mediocre this season so Cincinnati is vulnerable to long returns.
Southern Miss PK Justin Estes has had his problems as well, connecting of just 15 of his 22 field goal attempts with a long of only 43 yards. Britt Barefoot handles the kickoff and punting duties and has done an adequate job in both categories. Barefoot is averaging 43 yards per punts and 63.9 yards per kickoff. The Bearcats' have used multiple kickoff return men and the most effective of them has been DeAngelo Smith. Smith averages 25 yards per kickoff return with a long of 52 yards. Haruki Nakamura handles the punt returns for the Bearcats' and he's averaging just 6.9 yards per return.
Scouts' Edge
The Eagles have relied on their defense to keep them in most of their games this year, but they face an explosive Bearcats' offense that they can only hope to contain and not shut down. That means the Eagles' offense will have to put points on the board to stay with the Bearcats. It won't happen. Look for Cincinnati's defense to control the line of scrimmage early and neutralize the Southern Miss ground game, putting the onus on Young to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. In the end, the Bearcat pass rush coupled with the inconsistency of the Southern Miss air attack will be too much for the Eagles to overcome so expect the Bearcats to cruise to victory.
Prediction: Bearcats 38, Golden Eagles 17
