Connecticut @ Cincinnati Preview

Any time that two ranked teams face off it is considered a marquee game, but this game has another interesting storyline to follow and that is if Cincinnati can keep up its win streak against its latest ranked opponent.

Cincinnati has one of the longest win streaks in the NCAA. Not to mention, as a consequence of winning so many games, they have risen in the  AP Poll all the way to number seven, the highest they have been ranked in a decade.

Number 22 ranked Connecticut will be standing in their way.  The  Huskies will be looking to be the first ACC team to had the Bearcats a loss and in doing so, snapping a big win streaks. 

Connecticut will also be desperately looking to avoid a loss.  For a month they dropped off the AP Top 25 before clawing their way back onto the poll last week. A loss could further damage their ranking, while a win against the seventh-ranked team will undoubtedly see them rise in the poll. 

The Bearcats are unbeaten in the ACC and have 15 straight victories.  UConn has only lost one game in its last eight. Both these teams are hot, but only one will walk away from this game with their hot-streak intact.

Cincinnati took the seventh spot in the rankings thanks to a big 5o-45 win against South Florida this past Sunday.   The Bearcats have the nation’s sixth longest winning run. It is also important to note since they will be hosting, they have won 17 consecutive home games by an average of around 18 points dating back to last season.  Homecourt advantage could be a huge deciding factor in this one.      

The Huskies are playing like a team on a mission. Offensively, they are scoring over 80 points per game on their last six. However, Cincinnati has only allowed an impressive 56.7 points per game, a league-low.

Something has got to give, however, when these two teams clash tonight.  

Cincinnati is the favorite to win this one with a -5.5 point spread over at Bovada. The game starts at 7 p.m. ET. You can watch it on ESPN.