AAC Week 10 picks: Houston vs. Cincinnati & 3 more

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

November 4th, 2020

American Athletic Conference football rolls along into the first weekend of November. Unlike most other Novembers, the AAC has a College Football Playoff contender — for now.

Houston vs. #6 Cincinnati

The Bearcats are rolling in the Queen City.

Once known simply for their dominant defense, quarterback Desmond Ridder has the offense humming. Cincinnati has scored more than 40 points in each of their last two games against two of the AAC’s best teams, Memphis and SMU.

Billed as the Bearcats’ most difficult challenges, they handily won the two games by a combined 68 points and gained just shy of 1,000 yards of offense. Ridder’s ability to make plays with his legs and through the air has put too much stress on opposing defenses.

The Cincinnati defense is also as good as it's ever been. The only team to score more than 13 points against Cincinnati this year was Austin Peay in the season opener. Cincinnati ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense and rushing defense.

Even though the Bearcats will give up yards to the high-flying AAC aerial attacks, they make up for it with interceptions. Their eight interceptions this season tops the conference. This week ,Cincy will get to prey on a Houston team that averages at least one interception per game.

Plagued by postponements at the beginning of the season, Dana Holgorsen’s offense has never hummed against quality opponents. Losses to BYU and Central Florida practically mirror each other. The Cougars scored early in the second half, then struggled to do much of anything down the stretch.

TV UPDATE | Saturday's game at Cincinnati will now be televised on ABC. Kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT.#GoCoogs x #hoUSton https://t.co/Qp9LRHUacw
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) November 3, 2020

Houston quarterback Clayton Tune has been efficient, with a 61% completion rate and an average of 8.7 yards per attempt.

But the offense will not be the problem for Houston on Saturday. The defense will cost them a chance at one of the biggest upsets of the season. Houston is giving up 34.8 points per game. Ridder will chew up the Cougs and spit them out to complete the most difficult stretch of the season undefeated.

Hop on the Bearcats’ train for at least one more week, as a potential trap game looms.

Pick: Cincinnati -13.5

#18 SMU vs. Temple

The "Temple tough" mantra is not entirely living up to its hype this year.

The Owls defense is giving up almost 40 points per game, however, they it hasn't been picked apart through the air and ranks second in the AAC in pass defense.

SMU has big guns but not big enough to cover this humongous number.

Pick: Temple +18.5

Tulsa vs. Navy

The football gods are frowning on the Golden Hurricane.

Tulsa had absolutely no business winning or covering a week ago against East Carolina. Officials essentially handed them the victory three times, in one of the worst beats you’ll ever see.