Here are my 2 cents:

1. Bearcats cannot finish higher than 3rd in the conference, as UCONN will only have 2 conference losses even if they lose next week at WVU. However, the Bearcats WILL finish 3rd in the conference with a win at Syracuse no matter what Rutgers and South Florida do because the Bearcats beat them both and will have the tiebreakers. This does not consider the possibility that Pitt beats both South Florida and then wins on the road at WVU to finish the season, as I might as well buy a Powerball ticket before considering that.

2. I really thought that the Car Care Bowl was where the Bearcats would end up, but if I am the Sun Bowl committee I am still strongly considering the Bearcats after last night. I did read where they generally wouldn't jump the #2 team (UCONN in this case) for the #3 team, but UCONN doesn't really bring anything much more in terms of fan support, if any, than the Bearcats IMO. And the simple fact is that the Bearcats with Mauk and Kelly's style are simply a much more exciting team to watch play for fans than the boring UCONN style. And the Bearcats pounded UCONN. I really wonder if UCONN gets its doors blown off by WVU next week and the Bearcats win at Syracuse whether the Sun Bowl could still be an option.

3. Anything less than the Car Care Bowl for a 9-3 Bearcat team would be a major slap in the face for this team, but I suppose anything is possible. I bet that this bowl would be hard pressed to pass up the chance to see Mauk who has been given a fair amount of national coverage play against Wake Forest.

4. Of course a screw up at Syracuse and the Bearcats will be playing somewhere "up north" as Kelly put it.

I agree that a minimum it should be The Car Car Bowl. UC I think will end up in the Sun Bowl. Anyone know what a team receives to play there?

I couldn't believe someone actually predicted the International Bowl. I would like to see them play a PAC 10 team in El Paso, Tx.

UCONN and USF will also likely finish 9-3, so someone has to go to Birmingham. If the bowls follow the actual standings we should end up in Charlottte. Hoard was talking last night about possibly going to the Sun Bowl on the postgame. I'm sure he is close to the situation, so it seems we must be in close contention for the bid. He also said UC would come home with about $1mil after expenses if we get the Sun Bowl, so its important from a dollar and cents standpoint. For me Charlotte is more appealing and is much easier to get to....Just hope we aren't the odd man out in Birmingham.

I heard from somewhere that the Car Care Bowl will make us an offer soon. They want UC vs. Wake for the Ben vs. former team story. So if that is true that is worst we can do and I am ok with that.

The Sun Bowl pays out almost $2 million per team. As always, it will be on CBS on New Years Eve day.

The Car Care Bowl is a $750,000 pay out and will be played on December 29th - an ESPN game.

The Sun Bowl, in El Paso Texas, is certainly more prestigous, and would have us play a PAC-10 team. The Car Care Bowl in Charlotte is much easier for travel.

Another note to remember is that the Sun Bowl sells out its game with locals, and does not need a huge travelling contingent from a participating school.

Thats just what Hoard was talking about....Anything less than the Sun and UC breaks even on expenses...If they get the SUN the athletic dept can make some cash

Charlotte is still my hope. Just checked airfare to El Paso. Best price out of Dayton (what a shock) is $369.

hammerbearcat1 Wrote:I agree that a minimum it should be The Car Car Bowl. UC I think will end up in the Sun Bowl. Anyone know what a team receives to play there?

I couldn't believe someone actually predicted the International Bowl. I would like to see them play a PAC 10 team in El Paso, Tx.

1.5 Million for the Sun Bowl. 750,000 for the Meinike.

Payouts don't matter for the individual universities. The 5 BE bowl payouts are all split among the 8 conference members. We won't make anymore money going to El Paso than we would if we went to Charlotte. Sun is a more prestigious game so we'd all rather be there but Charlotte is much more convenient for Cincinnati fans to travel to. Worst thing would be to lay an egg this week and end up back in Toronto.

Does anyone on here ever remember a time when we were bitching about what bowl we would go to? Man, this program has come a long way in a short time. I not sure what is the more important. The coaching staff or the conference?

El Paso in late December is way better than Charlotte anytime of year.

Sign me up for the Sun Bowl.

Otherwise, I'll be at home watching the Muffler Bowl.

The Big East shares bowl revenue, but not evenly. The school's that play in the more lucrative games earn a bigger chunk.

So from a bottom line standpoint, the Sun Bowl would be beneficial.

HR is correct. The first 3 Bowl participants get larger shares after all monies are pooled. Also, the Sun Bowl is not on New Year's Day, actually New Year's Eve at 2:00. As a CBS game, it gets a bigger TV audience than the ESPN games.

Right, Sun Bowl is bigger stage. Definitely. Especially, if the matchup turns out Arizona St vs UC or something. Oregon State not so appealing.

The payouts are tiered. Not sure what that is exactly based on. Placement in the conference, or which bowl you go to?

This article from USA Today expalins it:

The Big East pays schools that make a bowl game on a tiered basis, with a BCS game worth $2.4 million, the second bowl $1.6 million, the third $1.3 million and the fourth and fifth $1.1 million. "We just take all our bowl money, put it together, and we distribute it fairly," said associate commissioner Nick Carparelli, adding that the league wants to make sure schools can cover their expenses.