Cincinnati vs BYU Odds, Spread & Picks (Friday, Sept. 29)

• Cincinnati vs BYU goes down Friday night night in College Football Week 5
• The Bearcats are 1-point favorites over the Cougars
• Read below for Cincinnati vs BYU odds, spread and predictions for CFB Week 5

Friday night college football features a matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats (2-2) and BYU Cougars (3-1) at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, UT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 7:30 PM EST.

The latest Cincinnati vs BYU betting odds now favor the Bearcats by 1 point, and the over/under for the contest is set at 50.5 points. This will be the third all-time meeting between the two opponents.

Let’s analyze the Cincinnati vs BYU odds and offer our prediction for this Friday night college football game.

Cincinnati vs BYU Odds

In the Cincinnati vs BYU odds, the Bearcats are -115 moneyline favorites, giving them a 53.5% implied win probability. The Cougars come back as -105 underdogs, giving them a 51.2% implied win probability.

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Odds as of September 29, 2023, at Caesars Sportsbook. Claim the Caesars promo code to bet on Cincinnati vs BYU.

Cincinnati vs BYU History & Trends

The BYU Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats have faced each other twice in their history. Both games were played during the independence era of BYU football, with the Cougars winning both matchups.

The first game took place in 2015, with BYU winning 38-24 behind a strong performance from quarterback Tanner Mangum. The second game occurred in 2016, with BYU winning 20-3.

When it comes to head-to-head ATS trends, the Cougars have covered the spread in both prior matchups. The Cougars were four-point favorites in the 2015 showdown and heavier eight-point favorites the following year.

Bearcats Betting Analysis

Cincinnati enters this Friday night college football game sporting a 2-2 record following a 20-6 loss to Oklahoma in Week 4. Cincinnati’s defense performed well, holding the Sooners to just 425 total yards of offense. However, the Bearcats struggled on offense, converting only 4 out of 19 third and fourth downs.

Oklahoma's defense suffocated Cincinnati anytime they neared the red zone on Saturday.

Four Cincy drives reached OU's 25-yard line. A look at every snap inside the 25-yard line:

~ 14 plays
~ 14 yards
~ 1.0 yards per play
~ 3 points allowed
~ 1 missed field goal

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) September 26, 2023

The Bearcats are led on offense by former Florida quarterback Emory Jones, who has shown versatility as both a passer and rusher this season. Jones has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for three more. RB Corey Kiner has also been a key contributor in the Bearcats’ ground game, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, Cincinnati’s defense has been impressive this season, holding opponents to an average of 21 points per game. Their run defense has been particularly strong, allowing just 3.4 yards per carry. The Bearcats have gone 2-2 ATS thus far.

Cougars Betting Analysis

BYU enters this Week 5 CFB matchup with a 3-1 record, coming off a 38-27 loss to Kansas in their Big 12 opener. Despite the loss, BYU’s quarterback Kedon Slovis had an impressive performance, throwing for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

Tight end Isaac has emerged as a top target for Slovis, leading the team in receiving yards with 260 yards and one touchdown. While the passing game is clicking, the Cougars’ running game has struggled to gain traction, ranking near the bottom nationally in rushing yards per game.

Defensively, BYU has shown improvement this season, allowing an average of 21.3 points per game. Much like their Week 5 opponent, they’ve also been effective against the run, limiting opponents to just 4 yards per carry. BYU is 1-3 against the spread so far.

Cincinnati vs BYU Prediction

Both teams are coming off losses in their respective conference openers and will be eager to secure their first Big 12 win. Cincinnati’s defense has been solid throughout the season, while BYU’s offense has shown potential with quarterback Kedon Slovis leading the way.

The key matchup to watch will be Cincinnati’s defense against BYU’s passing attack. If Cincinnati can limit Slovis’ production and force turnovers, they will have a good chance of winning this game. On the other hand, if BYU can establish a balanced offensive attack and exploit Cincinnati’s weaknesses on defense, they will be in a strong position to secure the victory.

For our Cincinnati vs BYU prediction, we’re targeting the game total of 50.5 points. The Bearcats’ defense recently did a great job limiting an excellent pass-first quarterback in Dillon Gabriel, and we project them to have similar success against a BYU offense struggling to run the ball.

Three of UC’s first four games have gone under the posted total, and there were only 23 total points scored when these two teams last played. Bet on a lower-scoring affair for Friday night football.

• Cincinnati vs BYU Pick: Under 50.5 Points (-110)