The folks over at CBS Sports released their projections for each and every bowl game for the 2016 season and there’s good news: the Cincinnati Bearcats were included. The less great news is that the Bearcats are only being projected to play in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 20 against Central Michigan.
In June, SB Nation projected that UC would play Texas A&M in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29. In CBS’ projections, Temple, not UC, would play in that bowl against Sun Belt Conference member Troy.
Obviously the thought of playing an SEC member like the Aggies is more enticing than competing against the Mid-American Conference Chippewas, but, as with all preseason projections, these are far from set in stone. Its more like they were built of sand as the tide comes rolling in. Whether that tide is crimson or not, I will lead to your discretion.
UC, which has played in nine bowl games in the last 10 seasons, has never played in the Boca Raton Bowl, which is a new addition to bowl season. It was first played in 2014 when the Marshall Thundering Herd routed Northern Illinois, 52-23. The second rendition occurred last season when a 10-win Temple team was slain by a Toledo squad that finished 10-2.
If CBS nails this prediction, UC would face an opponent it has only played once previously. That lone meeting between CMU and UC was one Bearcat fans would like to forget, as it ended in a 34-0 victory for the Chippewas.