CINCINNATI ON OFFENSE
The Bearcats' glory is in their passing attack, a five-wide, no huddle affair. It's led by senior quarterback and hometown boy Tony Pike, who completes 71% of his passes and has eight touchdowns vs. just two interceptions.
Isaiah Pead is the Bearcats' lead running back with 30 carries, but he's averaging 4.6 yards. He's also a threat as a receiver. Biletnikoff candidate Mardy Gilyard snags the most catches and headlines, but D.J. Woods and Armon Binns have proven to be credible receiving threats as well. In fact, five players have five or more catches and average more than 11 yards a catch.
CINCINNATI ON DEFENSE
The Bearcats run a 3-4, which means the Bulldogs will face a different style of defense for the third week in a row (Wisconsin ran a 4-3, Boise State a 4-2-5). Does that mean they'll be able to confuse Bulldogs' first-year starting quarterback Ryan Colburn like Boise State did? The Bearcats returned one starter from last season, so experience is a little lacking. They've held opponents -- Rutgers ( 2-1), Southeast Missouri State (1-2), and Oregon State (2-1) -- to 12 points per game. But Boise State was humming the same tune when it showed up last week and the Bulldogs went for 34.
EXTRA POINTS
The Bearcats are 30th (out of 120 teams) in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 25 yards per attempt. On punt returns, they're 12th (19.5 yards). Gilyard has scored on a 53-yard punt return and Darrin Williams took a kickoff 100 yards for a score -- both against Southeast Missouri State. Kicker Jacob Rogers is 1 of 2 on field-goal attempts.
FRESNO STATE ON OFFENSE
The Bulldogs had a field day last week, racking up 507 yards -- 320 rushing -- and caught the attention of Bearcats coach Brian Kelly. The coach called it "Arguably the best offensive team we've seen in quite some time." The key again will be running back Ryan Mathews, who leads the nation in rushing yards per game (149, at 9.1 per carry), and quarterback Ryan Colburn stretching the defense with throws downfield. "They're not as much of a concept team as much as they are a vertical team," Kelly said. "That ball is going downfield. You know it. I know it."
FRESNO STATE ON DEFENSE
The Bulldogs lead the Western Athletic Conference in opponent's third-down percentage at 27.8% -- an encouraging statistic. Cincinnati's five-wide, no-huddle offense will challenge the secondary. In order to get the Bearcats out of rhythm, the cornerbacks will need to bump receivers at the line and reroute them, and the pass rushers must penetrate the backfield to disrupt. Led by defensive end Chris Carter, the Bulldogs' pass rush has been good and steady so far this season. Fresno State needs to force more turnovers. The Bulldogs' turnover margin is minus-5 right now. They've lost the ball seven times and gained it twice.
EXTRA POINTS
Coach Pat Hill called junior Devon Wylie the best special teams player the Bulldogs have. Wylie has blocked a punt, made several key tackles on special teams and leads the Bulldogs in punt returns. He's returned seven punts for 94 yards, a 13.4 average.
KEY MATCHUPS
Fresno State secondary vs. Cincinnati wide receivers
Press and reroute, that's what the Bulldogs' cornerbacks need to do. And then they need to do it again and again throughout the entire game. The Bearcats are known for their passing, and if the Bulldogs can disrupt it by pushing receivers off their routes, and laying strong hits after the catch, they will have won perhaps the game's most important battle. But the Bearcats aren't just going to allow themselves to be pushed around. They average nearly 360 yards passing per game (fifth in the country) for a reason.
Edge: Cincinnati
Fresno State's offensive line vs. Cincinnati's front seven
The Bearcats use a 3-4 scheme that allows for flexibility in coverage and pressure. The Fresno State line must be ready for the different pass and run blitzes this defense can bring. The Bearcats have 11 sacks, and 32 tackles for a loss this year. The Bulldogs have given up four sacks this season.
Edge: Push
The Bearcats' glory is in their passing attack, a five-wide, no huddle affair. It's led by senior quarterback and hometown boy Tony Pike, who completes 71% of his passes and has eight touchdowns vs. just two interceptions.
Isaiah Pead is the Bearcats' lead running back with 30 carries, but he's averaging 4.6 yards. He's also a threat as a receiver. Biletnikoff candidate Mardy Gilyard snags the most catches and headlines, but D.J. Woods and Armon Binns have proven to be credible receiving threats as well. In fact, five players have five or more catches and average more than 11 yards a catch.
CINCINNATI ON DEFENSE
The Bearcats run a 3-4, which means the Bulldogs will face a different style of defense for the third week in a row (Wisconsin ran a 4-3, Boise State a 4-2-5). Does that mean they'll be able to confuse Bulldogs' first-year starting quarterback Ryan Colburn like Boise State did? The Bearcats returned one starter from last season, so experience is a little lacking. They've held opponents -- Rutgers ( 2-1), Southeast Missouri State (1-2), and Oregon State (2-1) -- to 12 points per game. But Boise State was humming the same tune when it showed up last week and the Bulldogs went for 34.
EXTRA POINTS
The Bearcats are 30th (out of 120 teams) in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 25 yards per attempt. On punt returns, they're 12th (19.5 yards). Gilyard has scored on a 53-yard punt return and Darrin Williams took a kickoff 100 yards for a score -- both against Southeast Missouri State. Kicker Jacob Rogers is 1 of 2 on field-goal attempts.
FRESNO STATE ON OFFENSE
The Bulldogs had a field day last week, racking up 507 yards -- 320 rushing -- and caught the attention of Bearcats coach Brian Kelly. The coach called it "Arguably the best offensive team we've seen in quite some time." The key again will be running back Ryan Mathews, who leads the nation in rushing yards per game (149, at 9.1 per carry), and quarterback Ryan Colburn stretching the defense with throws downfield. "They're not as much of a concept team as much as they are a vertical team," Kelly said. "That ball is going downfield. You know it. I know it."
FRESNO STATE ON DEFENSE
The Bulldogs lead the Western Athletic Conference in opponent's third-down percentage at 27.8% -- an encouraging statistic. Cincinnati's five-wide, no-huddle offense will challenge the secondary. In order to get the Bearcats out of rhythm, the cornerbacks will need to bump receivers at the line and reroute them, and the pass rushers must penetrate the backfield to disrupt. Led by defensive end Chris Carter, the Bulldogs' pass rush has been good and steady so far this season. Fresno State needs to force more turnovers. The Bulldogs' turnover margin is minus-5 right now. They've lost the ball seven times and gained it twice.
EXTRA POINTS
Coach Pat Hill called junior Devon Wylie the best special teams player the Bulldogs have. Wylie has blocked a punt, made several key tackles on special teams and leads the Bulldogs in punt returns. He's returned seven punts for 94 yards, a 13.4 average.
KEY MATCHUPS
Fresno State secondary vs. Cincinnati wide receivers
Press and reroute, that's what the Bulldogs' cornerbacks need to do. And then they need to do it again and again throughout the entire game. The Bearcats are known for their passing, and if the Bulldogs can disrupt it by pushing receivers off their routes, and laying strong hits after the catch, they will have won perhaps the game's most important battle. But the Bearcats aren't just going to allow themselves to be pushed around. They average nearly 360 yards passing per game (fifth in the country) for a reason.
Edge: Cincinnati
Fresno State's offensive line vs. Cincinnati's front seven
The Bearcats use a 3-4 scheme that allows for flexibility in coverage and pressure. The Fresno State line must be ready for the different pass and run blitzes this defense can bring. The Bearcats have 11 sacks, and 32 tackles for a loss this year. The Bulldogs have given up four sacks this season.
Edge: Push
