Cincinnati vs Arkansas Picks & Odds: Razorbacks Open Schedule as Home Favorite

The Cincinnati Bearcats look to extend their current straight-up win streak in regular-season play to 23 games when they visit the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday in Week 1 college football action. No. 19 Arkansas sits four spots ahead of the Bearcats on the season-Sportsbook AP Top 25 rankings. The Razorbacks are pegged as 6-point favorites as they aim to open their schedule with a home victory for the seventh time in eight years.

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Bearcats vs Razorbacks Sportsbook Odds

Both teams have plenty to prove heading into the 2022 college football campaign. The Razorbacks wrapped up 2021 on a steady 5-1 straight-up run, and opened as solid 7.5-point favorites, but have steadily faded in the days leading up to Saturday’s contest.

After compiling an unblemished 13-0 SU record in regular-season action, the Bearcats saw their hopes of claiming the College Football Playoff National Championship snuffed out by a crushing 27-6 loss to Alabama in last season’s Cotton Bowl.

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What’s Old Is New For The Bearcats

The Bearcats were among the top teams in the nation in scoring last season, averaging 42.5 points per game during their season-Sportsbook 13-0 run. However, with the departure of key personnel, including quarterback Desmond Ridder, top rusher Jerome Ford and top receiver Alec Pierce, the Cincinnati offense will have a new look this time around.

Ridder’s departure leaves big shoes to fill for his expected successor, Ben Bryant. The senior pivot transferred back to Cincinnati after spending last season under center at Eastern Michigan, where he connected for 3,121 passing yards and 14 touchdowns while racking up a respectable 68.4 percent completion rate. While Bryant will not enjoy the benefit of targeting Pierce, he should gain confidence from a Bearcats offensive line that remains largely intact.

The Bearcats defense surrendered the seventh-fewest yards in the nation last year, but also endured an exodus of key personnel over the offseason, including their top two tacklers. While the linebacker corps should be able to rebound due to impressive depth, the departure of cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant leaves a massive hole in the secondary. That could emerge as an issue against a Razorbacks receiving corps that ranked 11th in the nation in receiving yards per game last season.

Can Razorbacks Build Off Successful 2021 Campaign?

Overshadowed by their more flashy and successful rivals in the SEC, the Razorbacks quietly put together an impressive nine-win campaign in 2021, ending a stretch of four straight losing seasons. That included a trio of wins over nationally ranked opponents, and losses to Ole Miss and Alabama by just eight combined points.

Arkansas benefited from quarterback KJ Jefferson’s breakthrough campaign. Jefferson tallied 2,676 passing yards and 21 scoring tosses, but also emerged as a ball-carrying threat, rushing for a team-high 664 yards along with six scores. The squad said goodbye to receiver Treylon Burks, but should not miss a beat with the addition of Jadon Haselwood.

The big challenge facing the Razorbacks is overcoming a rash of departures from an already struggling defense that labored at times, particularly on the pass rush.

Bearcats: Keys To Win

Containing KJ Jefferson will be a top priority for the new-look Bearcats defense. The Cincinnati defense ranked second against the pass last season, limiting opposing pivots to just 168.3 passing yards per game. However, offseason changes have left the Bearcats defense facing a trial of fire against an experienced multi-tool quarterback who is equally adept as a rusher.

Razorbacks: Keys To Win

A fast start will be key to the Razorbacks to once again open their schedule on a winning note. Arkansas has sputtered out of the gate in each of its past three home openers, but still managed to rebound to tally wins in two of those contests, against overmatched opponents. They will enjoy no such luxury in this weekend’s clash with Cincinnati.

College Football Computer Pick: Cincinnati +6

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