The No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0 AAC) face the South Florida Bulls (2-7, 1-4 AAC) on Friday at 6 p.m. EST on ESPN2. Despite their perfect record, Cincinnati has struggled to decisively beat weaker opponents in recent weeks.

Game Details:

• Spread: Cincinnati -23.5 (-112)
• Over/Under: 57 points (-110)
• Both teams are 5-4 against the spread this season
• USF has covered twice as 23+ point underdogs

Key Statistics:

• Cincinnati averages 14 more points per game than USF
• Bearcats allow 300 yards/game vs Bulls' 500 yards/game
• Cincinnati ranks 12th in scoring, 2nd in red zone defense
• USF ranks 59th in rushing yards, 38th in opponent pass play percentage

Impact Players: Cincinnati:

• QB Desmond Ridder: 2,121 yards, 20 TD, 5 INT
• LB Joel Dublanko: 84 total tackles

South Florida:

• RB Jaren Mangham: 4.4 YPC, 13 TD
• WR Xavier Weaver: 18 yards per reception
• LB Antonio Grier: 58 tackles, 3 sacks

Analysis: While Cincinnati should win this matchup, their recent performances suggest they may struggle to cover the large spread. The Bearcats need a dominant showing to strengthen their College Football Playoff case after moving up to No. 5 in the rankings.

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