No. 18: Cincinnati Bearcats
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 8:37AM 
By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
The sad thing about Cincinnati's 2009 season is that it will be remembered far more for how it ended than how it started.
In the December flurries in Pittsburgh, the Bearcats finished off their first-ever 12-0 regular season and claimed their second straight Big East championship in the most exciting game of the 2009 college football season.
EXTRA: Images Of 2009 Cincinnati-Pittsburgh Game
Then coach Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame and UC had its pants pulled down on national television in a blowout loss to Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
And with the departures of offensive stars Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard, it would be easy to write off the Bearcats as a non-factor in 2010.
But new coach Butch Jones has Zack Collaros back, as well as running back Isaiah Peade (806 yards in 2010) and wideouts Armon Binns (61 receptions, 888 yards) and D.J. Woods (51, 640). USC transfer Vidal Hazelton, who caught 50 passes for the Trojans in 2007, makes his Cincinnati debut and will get plenty of looks. Lastly, three returning starters on the offensive line should help keep that scoring machine running soundly this season.
Sometimes there's worry about a lack of starters returning on defense, but maybe that's actually a good thing in Clifton this fall. The Bearcats allowed 39.4 points per game in their last five games of 2010.
Jones is transitioning Cincinnati's 3-4 defense into a 4-3 set, which means linebacker Walter Stewart will move to defensive end. Fellow junior John Hughes, an end last year, will play more of an interior role in 2010. Shuffling appears to be the norm as Jones figures out who fits best where. Fortunately for the Bearcats, they play five non-league games to get it right before Big East action starts on Oct. 15 at Louisville.
Who's back? QB Zack Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, WR Armon Binns, WR D.J. Woods
Who's gone? QB Tony Pike, WR Mardy Gilyard, LB Andre Revels, S Aaron Webster
Why they'll win: Many key contributors to one of the nation's finest offenses are back and points will again be scored in bunches.
Why they'll lose: The Bearcats have a solid one-deep roster, but if injuries pile up, UC could be staring at a .500 season.
Get your tickets: vs. Oklahoma (Sept. 25), at West Virginia (Nov. 13), vs. Pittsburgh (Dec. 4)
Prediction: 8-4 (5-2, third place Big East)
Reader Comments (2)
the nasti sucks it hard
Are you talking about the team that beat Miami of Ohio 37-13 last year?