The Cincinnati Bearcats jumped to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll after their huge win over UCF in Week 7. The Bearcats will look to cement their standing in the top 2 this Saturday when they travel to Annapolis to face the Navy Midshipmen. Here's our preview for a breakdown of this Cincinnati vs Navy Week 8 game.

Cincinnati Bearcats installed as -28 favorites

Momentum is with Cincinnati heading into Saturday's matchup against the Navy after the Bearcats crushed the UCF Knights, 56-21, in Week 7. It was an emphatic victory by the Bearcats, who improved their season record to a perfect 6-0. They had won their first six games by an average of 29.8 points.

Providing the impetus for Cincinnati's sizzling start is its incredible defense. They are third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 13.7 points per game this season. The Bearcats kept the Knights in check the entire game, holding UCF to just 296 total yards in the rout.

For the Bearcats to preserve their unbeaten slate against the Midshipmen, they will need Jerome Ford to continue his outstanding play. He rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns in the win against UCF, including a 79-yard score. Ford has been unstoppable of late on the ground, rushing for 338 yards and six touchdowns in Cincinnati's last two games.

Navy Midshipmen enter Week 8 as +28 underdogs

What in the world is happening to the Navy? The Midshipmen crashed to their second consecutive defeat on Saturday with an embarrassing 35-17 loss to the Memphis Tigers. The Rebels had no answer for Seth Henigan, who threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns. It was another disappointing display by the Midshipmen, who dropped to 1-5 this season.

Things are bound to get more challenging for them in Week 8 as they will next face a Cincinnati side that is sixth in the nation in scoring, averaging 43.5 points per game this campaign. The pressure then is on sophomore quarterback Tai Lavatai to deliver the goods in this pivotal clash. He passed for just 27 yards and rushed for a net of 28 yards in the loss to Memphis.

Expect the Navy to utilize its ground game against Cincinnati in this contest. The last time these two teams met in Annapolis, the Navy racked up 569 yards, the most ever surrendered by a Cincinnati defense. The Midshipmen have fared well against the Bearcats at home, winning their three previous meetings in Annapolis.

The Midshipmen have five players with at least 150 yards rushing this season, including Lavatai, senior fullbacks Isaac Ruoss and James Harris II, senior slotback Carlinos Acie, and sophomore quarterback Xavier Arline. The Navy will look to get these players going against Cincinnati in Week 8.

Writer's Prediction

Cincinnati wins and covers the spread.

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