BCS Bid On The Line Tonight At Rutgers
The BIG EAST’s Bowl Championship Series berth will be on the line tonight as the final week of the 2012 season is highlighted by a showdown on ESPN and the BIG EAST/IMG Sports Radio Network
between Rutgers and Louisville at High Point Solutions Stadium. Rutgers, at 5-1 in conference play, has clinched at least a share of its first BIG EAST championship, but the Scarlet Knights would claim the outright title and BCS bid with a win tonight. Louisville is a game behind Rutgers at 4-2 in the standings, but the Cardinals are ranked No. 23 in the USA Today coaches’ poll and No. 24 in the Harris Poll – two of the three components of the BCS. A win by the Cardinals would forge a tie atop the standings and all but officially give the BCS bid to Louisville.
Plenty Of Cardinal Fans In Cincinnati And Syracuse Tonight
Aside from the title implications involving Rutgers and Louisville, tonight’s game between those teams will affect Cincinnati’s and Syracuse’s hopes at gaining a share of the BIG EAST title. Not only would a Louisville win give the Cardinals a piece of the league championship, it would make Syracuse a BIG EAST champion as well. Further, it would allow Cincinnati the opportunity to create a four-way tie atop the standings if the Bearcats win at Connecticut Saturday. Syracuse was picked seventh in the 2012 BIG EAST preseason media poll and is assured of no worse than a second-place finish. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is looking for a share of a fourth BIG EAST title in five years.
Playing To Keep Playing
Two BIG EAST games are lined up for Saturday, and both have postseason implications for participating teams. Connecticut hosts Cincinnati at Rentschler Field (3:30 p.m., ABC), and the Huskies need a win against the Bearcats to become bowl eligible. Connecticut has won back-to-back games following a 23-20 victory in triple-overtime against Louisville last week and needs a third straight victory to get to 6-6. Pittsburgh visits USF for its regular-season finale (7 p.m., ESPN2) as the Panthers look to reach the postseason for the fifth consecutive season. A win against the Bulls would put the Panthers at 6-6 as well.
