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Notre Dame football: Cincinnati could spell trouble for the Irish

By Daniel Morrison

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the Cincinnati Bearcats taking the field ahead of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the Cincinnati Bearcats taking the field ahead of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 21: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates a touchdown against the Central Florida Knights with teammates Vincent McConnell #77 and Gerrid Doaks #23 at Bounce House-FBC Mortgage Field on November 21, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 21: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates a touchdown against the Central Florida Knights with teammates Vincent McConnell #77 and Gerrid Doaks #23 at Bounce House-FBC Mortgage Field on November 21, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football 2021 Opponent Preview: Cincinnati

Bottom Line on the Bearcats

Cincinnati should be the best team in the Group of Five. They’re tough, disciplined, and incredibly well-coached. The Bearcats offense is methodical, while their defense suffocates opponents. This is a game they need if they want to push for the College Football Playoff, and it should scare Notre Dame fans.

The biggest weakness on the Bearcats is their explosiveness on offense, but it’s hard to find much wrong with them beyond that.

Too Early Prediction

This game is much closer to a toss-up than most Notre Dame fans would like to admit. There is a good chance that Notre Dame struggles to put up points, and coming off a trip to Soldier Field and a game against Wisconsin, this is going to be a difficult backside to a tough two-week stretch.

If Desmond Ridder can connect on two deep balls in the first quarter, forcing Kyle Hamilton back off the line of scrimmage, then they’ll be able to run their RPO game properly. If not, then Cincinnati won’t move the ball at all on Notre Dame. I tend to think the Notre Dame corners falter against a good quarterback.

Prediction: Cincinnati 17 Notre Dame 14

Next. Notre Dame football: 3 bold predictions on offense in 2021. dark

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