CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team's quest for a perfect season continues this weekend, and you'll be able to catch all of the action on Channel 9.
The Bearcats, who are ranked 5th in the BCS and 4th in the AP Top 25, host the Connecticut Huskies Saturday night in one of three games featured on ABC. Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game.
Before the teams kick off at 8 p.m., Channel 9 will broadcast a live one-hour special called "Bearcat Fever: Climb to the Top." The one-hour special, which begins at 7 p.m., will feature in-depth analysis of the game, the excitement surrounding the team, and what the nationally televised game means to the university.
UC (8-0, 4-0 Big East) is off to its best start since starting 9-0 in 1951. The Huskies (4-4, 1-3 Big East) come into the game losers of two straight. All four of their losses have come by four or fewer points.
The Huskies are the most recent Big East team to defeat the Bearcats. It was last season when UConn beat UC 40-16. Since that loss, the Bearcats have gone 14-1.
Cincinnati is scoring an average of 39.1 points per game while only allowing 12.9 points so far this season. UConn on other hand is scoring 27.8 points per game while giving up 20.6 points per contest.
The Huskies will be playing in their third game since starting cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death hours after the team defeated the Louisville Cardinals on October 17. Since then, the Huskies have lost back-to-back games by scores of 28-24.
Despite losing starting quarterback Tony Pike to a broken left forearm last month, the Bearcats' offense has not missed a beat. Redshirt sophomore Zach Collaros has led the Bearcats to wins over Louisville and Syracuse, throwing for seven touchdowns during those contests. After Pike re-injured his arm at South Florida on October 15, Collaros led his team to three scoring drives that sealed the 34-17 win.
On Wednesday, Pike was scheduled to practice with a special splint instead of the bulky cast on his left forearm, but it did not arrive until after practice. Coach Brian Kelly has said he would prefer Pike be 100 percent before he puts him into a game but has not ruled out playing him in certain situations.
Kelly said Thursday night that Pike would dress for Saturday's game. Whether or not he will play remains to be seen.
The Huskies will also be without the services of one of their quarterbacks as well. Cody Endres suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last week at Rutgers. His replacement, Zach Frazier, began the season as the Huskies' starting quarterback but suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss five games. Frazer replaced Endres last week and threw for 333 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
On Wednesday, UC announced this Saturday's game, along with the final two home games against West Virginia and Illinois, have sold out.
You can also submit questions you have about the Bearcats to former UC quarterback Deonte Kenner. He will answer some of the questions live on air during the Bearcat special from 7 to 8 p.m. Submit your questions below in our comment section.
