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Saturday is Pitt’s first visit to Nippert Stadium in a dozen years. The Panthers are now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the Cincinnati Bearcats are in the Big 12.
From 2005-2012, both were part of the Big East. Pitt leads the series 8-5 having gone 5-3 in the Steel City and 3-2 in Cincinnati. However, UC has won the last three contests, including last year’s 27-21 at Acrisure Stadium. They also won the last meeting at Nippert when the Butch Jones-coached Bearcats began the year with a 34-10 victory.
Brian Kelly won a pair of Big East championships in 2008 and 2009, and Jones took two in 2011 and 2012. Both teams were 3-9 last year, with the Bearcats going 1-9 after winning in Pittsburgh for a 2-0 start. UC has been a slight favorite all week.
Here are 5 things to watch as Cincinnati Bearcats football faces Pitt’s Panthers
UC nose tackle Dontay Corleone is out of the yellow jersey and scheduled to suit up for the Bearcats Saturday vs. Pitt at Nippert Stadium.
1. Will Dontay Corleone have an impact on UC’s defensive line?
“The Godfather” returned to practice Tuesday as a full participant. Since being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in mid-June, he was treated and quickly returned to weightlifting and conditioning with the team. He’s practiced every day but has been held out of team hitting drills. Now, he returns to a defensive line that had two of the team’s three sacks in the opening victory over Towson, but the UC defense still allowed 438 yards of total offense.
Head coach Scott Satterfield thinks Corleone will step in and be ready and said he’s been able to do everything in practice thus far. The strategy will be to give him the occasional breather. Last week redshirt junior Rob Jackson and redshirt freshman Kamari Burns made their first starts alongside veteran Eric Phillips. Many linemen…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-cincinnati-bearcats-133857600.html
Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer
Publish date : 2024-09-06 13:38:57
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