Thursday, September 13, 2012

Preview: Delaware State Hornets at Cincinnati Bearcats











Delaware State (1-1, 0-0 MEAC) at Cincinnati (1-0, 1-0 Big East)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Spread: No line

Watchability: The Hornets were blown out last week by Delaware. Choose wisely.

Shining stars: Delaware State: QB Nick Elko. A redshirt senior, Elko is in line to hold almost every school passing record. He chucked it 50 times last week against Delaware. Cincinnati: DE Walter Stewart. The speed rusher off the edge had a big opener against Pittsburgh, and he will have plenty of chances to get after the quarterback Saturday. Chances are the Hornets will put it up around 50 times again, and they likely haven't seen a player the caliber of Stewart in a while.

Who could steal the show: Delaware State: WR Justin Wilson. With 17 catches in the Hornets' first two games, Wilson has emerged as Elko's favorite target. He entered last season as the preseason MEAC player of the year but missed three games with an ankle injury. Cincinnati: RB Ralph David Abernathy IV. Abernathy showed flashes of his dynamic talent last week against Pittsburgh, and he's certain to have plenty of chances Saturday. He's almost impossible to stop in the open field, and he will likely get several opportunities to show off his speed against Delaware State.

You going? Ranking the road trip: Night games are usually fun -- but probably not this one.

Magic number for Delaware State: 353. Even though the Hornets were smoked by in-state rival Delaware, they posted 353 yards of total offense.

Magic number for Cincinnati: 117. Quarterback Munchie Legaux had 117 yards rushing last week to supplement the 205 yards he accumulated through the air. For the Cincy offense to be successful, Legaux will have to be a true dual-threat QB.

This game comes down to: Talent. The Bearcats have more, and should win easily.

Prediction: Cincinnati 45, Delaware State 6

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