Cincinnati Bearcats vs Utah Utes Point Spread Picks

The defenses are getting short-shifted, judging by how high the total is in this Cincinnati-Utah Big 12 Conference matchup, especially considering there are a couple of key injuries to offensive stars on each team. The Bearcats are going to be without their best running back and leading rusher, Evan Pryor. He is out with an ankle injury. Pryor averages 7.2 yards per carry. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby has thrown for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns with only one interception, but the Bearcats' offense may be one-dimensional without Pryor. The Utes rank second in the Big 12 with 25 sacks in eight games, trailing only Texas Tech with 26. Utah's star dual-threat QB Devon Dampier missed last week's Colorado game because of an ankle injury. He is questionable. Freshman QB Byrd Ficklin made his first career start for Utah, filling in for Dampier. Ficklin accounted for three touchdowns against the overmatched Buffaloes. Cincinnati's defense is a significant step above  Colorado's. The Bearcats just held high-powered Baylor and its star QB Sawyer Robertson to a season-low in passing yards in a 41-20 victory. Cincinnati ranks 28th in scoring defense, allowing 19 points per game. Take the UNDER.