Cincinnati vs. Temple: Preview, Prediction, TV Schedule
By Taylor Sturm
The ranked Cincinnati Bearcats look to maintain momentum as they take on the Temple Owls on the road in a crucial American Athletic Conference match-up.
TV Schedule: Thursday, Jan. 4, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arena: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Cincinnati Bearcats are 12-2 as of right now with both of their losses coming to ranked opponents, the then No. 21 Xavier Musketeers and the then No. 5 Florida Gators. This happened in back to back games, and, since then, the Bearcats have won five straight games, including great wins over the UCLA Bruins and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Cincinnati knows that in order to challenge American Athletic Conference favorites the Wichita State Shockers, they will have to avoid bad losses even on the road. Next up for the Bearcats is a road trip to take on the Temple Owls in exactly the type of game the Bearcats have to prove they can win.
Temple sits at 7-6 and has lost three straight games. The good news is that two of those games came against teams with a shot at making the NCAA Tournament (the Georgia Bulldogs and the Houston Cougars). The bad news is that the other was the Tulane Green Wave at home – something that does not bode well for the Owls’ season.
Cincinnati is the far superior team and should win this game fairly easily. Yes, because it is on the road in the AAC, this game will be difficult. However, the Bearcats are a legitimate contender to win the conference and make a deep run in March while Temple is, well, hoping they don’t finish in the bottom four of the American Athletic Conference.
Prediction: Cincinnati 76, Temple 60