College football upset alert, Week 12: Ohio State, USC among 5 teams in danger of losing

College football upset alert No. 2: Cincinnati Bearcats

Rank: 7 | Opponent: at UCF Knights | Time: Saturday, Nov. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET

Every time that I’ve put the Cincinnati Bearcats on upset alert this year, they’ve done nothing but make me look quite silly for doing so. Luke Fickell’s team led by Heisman Trophy dark-horse quarterback Desmond Ridder has not only been up to the task for every test they’ve been asked to take but they’ve passed with an A+ each time out.

While that may be the case, this is college football and upsets happen because the expected outcome is in the hands of young players who are 22 years old or younger. Subsequently, nothing is ever certain and, as such, the recipe for Cincinnati to potentially suffer a loss remains the same. If the Bearcats let down on defense for one game and get into an offensive battle, they may not have the arsenal to keep up in the race.

UCF is the exact type of team that wants to force Cincinnati into that style of a game. Dillon Gabriel and the Knights are a disappointing (by UCF standards) 5-2 on the season but they have still done nothing but put up big numbers on the scoreboard. Even against the Bearcats defense, you have to believe that the Knights have avenues ready to do the same this week.

The only question is whether or not the Knights can do so enough to where the Bearcats aren’t controlling the game early and leaving Ridder in his comfort zone. That will be the determining factor but, if UCF can force Ridder to throw more than he likes by jumping out to an early lead, the upset potential is there for this matchup.