What do we need to be watching for during Thursday night’s Houston vs Cincinnati matchup and when does it start?
Houston has shot up the rankings already this year. Starting the season No. 15 in the AP Poll, the Cougars defeated No. 3 Oklahoma in the season opener to move up to No. 6 and that’s where they stand in Week 3. The Cougars are one of those under-the-radar title contenders everyone seems to be rooting for.
Cincinnati has also begun the season 2-0, but the Bearcats have been lightly-tested, to say the least. Beating Tennessee-Martin and Purdue aren’t exactly solid program-builders, but it’s still a perfect start to the year. Taking down sixth-ranked Houston would make that 2016 start even more impressive.
Here are three things to know for Friday night’s game.
1. Greg Ward Jr. is expected to play
After missing Week 2 with a nagging shoulder injury, Heisman-hopeful dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. is expected to take the field Thursday. In order for Houston to avoid a massive upset, he will need to be on his ‘A’ game for this one.
2. Cincinnati nearly pulled off the upset in 2015
Houston and Cincinnati played in a classic AAC contest last season as the then-No. 25 Cougars came out on top, 33-30, at home. The Bearcats pose one of the toughest tests for the Cougars this year and No. 6 Houston might be in for an upset special. Just how close will this contest be?
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3. Tom Herman is 6-1 away from home
This record includes neutral site locations, but the fact of the matter is this: Tom Herman’s teams are calm, cool and collected away from TDECU Stadium in Houston. He has beaten programs such as Florida State and Oklahoma at neutral sites and his only loss came against Connecticut last year. Nippert Stadium is a tough place to play, though. Will this sparkling record hold up?
Here’s how you can watch Thursday’s Houston vs Cincinnati game online:
Date: Thursday, September 15
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Venue: Nippert Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Houston will look to march into Nippert and steal a big road victory in Week 3 while the Bearcats are sniffing out an upset. Could this game be on upset alert?