Fenway Bowl: Louisville vs Cincinnati 12/17/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Louisville Cardinals and Cincinnati Bearcats do battle Saturday afternoon in the college football Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park. The Cincinnati Bearcats look to win double-digit games for the ninth time in school history. The Louisville Cardinals look for at least 8 wins for the eighth time in the last 11 years.

The Cincinnati Bearcats have won 4 of their last 5 non-home games. Ben Bryant is completing 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,732 yards, 21 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Tyler Scott and Tre Tucker have combined for 1,571 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, while Jadon Thompson has 27 receptions. The Cincinnati Bearcats ground game is averaging 136.8 yards per contest, and Charles McClelland leads the way with 834 yards and 7 touchdowns. Defensively, Cincinnati is allowing 20.3 points and 328.5 yards per game. Ivan Pace Jr. leads the Cincinnati Bearcats with 119 tackles, Jabari Taylor has 3.5 sacks and Ja’von Hicks has 2 interceptions.

The Louisville Cardinals have lost 4 of their last 6 non-home games. Malik Cunningham is completing 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,568 yards, 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Tyler Hudson and Marshon Ford have combined for 1,455 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while Ahmari Huggins-Bruce has 30 receptions. The Louisville Cardinals ground game is averaging 193.8 yards per contest, and Jawhar Jordan leads the way with 700 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Louisville is allowing 20.2 points and 347.6 yards per game. Momo Sanogo leads the Louisville Cardinals with 86 tackles, Yasir Abdullah has 8 sacks and Quincy Riley has 3 interceptions.

The Bearcats are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games and 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Cardinals are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The under is 6-2 in Bearcats last 8 games overall. The under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games overall. The road team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

The Louisville Cardinals are getting a little too much respect here, as you can argue the Cincinnati Bearcats have been the better team against the better competition. Also, that solid Cincinnati defense should have success against a below average Louisville offense that struggles to throw the ball. I just feel Cincinnati is the tougher, more balanced team. I’ll take the points in a game Cincinnati could easily win outright.