Winning feels better than losing

I am one hungover Hokies on this cool South Florida evening. But now that I have Internet access again, I can share my thoughts on last night's win over Cincinnati.

[ahem]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!1!

By exercising their Orange Bowl demons, Tech sets itself up for a summer of optimism. Going into this year, the Hokies were coming off a tough bowl loss, faced a quarterback controversy and had to replace every skill position player other than QB.

Now, Tech and its fans can look forward to next season with little trepidation. The defense will take a hit with the loss of Macho Harris, but should be able to reload. The offense has just about everyone coming back. The coaching staff, for better or worse, is in tact. Next year's opener against Alabama will be the most anticipated VT game since the USC game in 2004.

I don't consider the Hokies to be a national championship contender like Orion Martin does. Look what happened to Clemson this year. I think the Tigers believed their own hype even though they had no offensive line and shortcomings on defense. The Hokies will be the favorite to win the ACC next season, so let's start with winning the league as our goal for 2009 and work from there.

The 2008 season was certainly a helluva ride and ended with one of the most satisfying wins I've attended. Now if only I could hibernate until August.

Orange Bowl Game Post

Happy New Year, Hokie fans! The Hokies are in the last game to kick off today, so you have plenty of time to get in the correct frame of mind before the Hokies go after their first BCS bowl win. While you're watching the New Years' bowl smorgasbord, don't forget that the Winter Classic is on NBC this afternoon as well. Yes, Ringer and Moreno will rock your face off today, but there aren't many things better than outdoor hockey. Especially when two Original Six teams are involved.

OK, enough hockey homerism. Go Hokies!

Post your thoughts on the game in the comments. Also, check out College Game Balls, who may or may not be live blogging during the game.

Oh, and before I go get hammered, here's some eye candy:



Hey Dawn, if you want to learn how to plug into the multbox or use Avid to even out your sound levels, I'm available (PS - I'll give bonus points to anyone out there who starts using "plug into the multbox" as a euphemism for sex).

Have fun, everybody!

CRuhland OB Desktop No. 3

Yes, that's the kicker. But regardless it's probably the sweetest desktop Clark has cooked up for us this year. Go download it and others at his site.

What to Watch in the Orange Bowl

The Team

The team took a different approach to this year's bowl game. More hitting, more film review, more time spent on the offensive and defensive scheme. However, all of that means nothing if the team comes out soft and listless again.

It's one thing to prepare like this game isn't just a reward. Acting like it's more than just a reward is completely different.

Offense

- Cincy cornerback Mike Mickens is expected to play in the Orange Bowl and I'm interested to see how he performs. With a healthy Mickens, the Bearcats are solid at stopping the pass. Without him, they are easier to exploit. Mickens injured his knee and missed Cincy's last three games.

- The Bearcats have a surprisingly good run defense and that combined with a new starter on the offensive line could make it difficult for the Hokies to get yards on the ground.

- However, the bigger concern with the retooled offensive line is pass blocking. It was weak to begin with, but now with one lineman changing his blocking patterns at a new position and a new starter, it could be a disaster. It will be up to Tyrod to buy himself time and pick up yards on the ground.

- I'd like to see the Hokies move the pocket with Tyrod to give him a better opportunity to find open receivers in passing situations. However, since we never do that, I doubt we'll see it now.

- The Bearcats have a solid and quick linebacking corps so I don't think we'll see a lot from the tight ends in the passing game.

- The guy, other than Darren Evans, who needs to have a big game for the Hokies is wide receiver Jarrett Boykin. The receivers finally started to come into their own late in the year and Tyrod can finally trust them to run the correct route on plays. Boykin's coming out party could be in the Orange Bowl.

- If the Hokies win the game, I think the MVP is going to have to be Tyrod.

Defense

- For the second consecutive Orange Bowl, the Hokies will be missing a starting linebacker. Last year, Vince Hall injured his knee while riding a wave runner prior to the game. This year, Brett Warren is out with a partially torn ACL. Warren is replaced by r-freshman Barquell Rivers, who will make his first career start and see his first significant time.

- Rivers is supposed to have a bright future and his specialty is stopping the run. Rivers will likely start at Warren's position next year as a sophomore, so this is good experience for him.

- Jason Worilds will miss the game due to his shoulder, which he hurt early in the year. Worilds has been the team's best pass rusher this year, but the drop off between Worilds and Nekos Brown is not nearly as steep as the one between Warren and Rivers. The problem will be if Brown or Orion Martin are injured during the game. The Hokies now have no depth at defensive end. Or at any position for that matter.

- The key for the Hokies on defense will be getting pressure on Tony Pike. Cincinnati is just like every other pass first spread offense. If you get pressure on the quarterback and disrupt the timing between him and the receivers, you will have no problem stopping them.

- Orion Martin hasn't been as noticeable to me the last few games of the season. I thought he wasn't having his best games at the beginning and end of 2008. He was outstanding the middle part of the schedule and the Hokies need him to return to that form and get to Pike. The less the Hokies have to blitz, the better against Cincy's spread formation.

- I expect this game to go similar to the first BC game when the Bearcats have the ball. Cincy will get theirs via big plays through the air. However, the Hokies will also get big plays on defense with sacks and turnovers. The team that wins will be the team that makes the most of its big plays.

- I expect a big game from Macho Harris. This is his last game and last chance to make a big impression on NFL scouts prior to the All Star games. Harris will do all he can on defense, offense and special teams to get this team a win.

Outcome

- I think Cincinnati will score about 20 points in this game. The key will be whether or not the Hokies can score 21. With Tech's kicking game, which is just as good as Cincy's in my opinion, and turnover-creating defense, I think they will.

Watch the Box Score For:

1. Cincinnati turnovers
2. Virginia Tech rushing yards
3. Tony Pike QB rating
4. VT 3rd down percentage

VT Players to Watch:

5 - Tyrod Taylor, So., QB
32 - Darren Evans, Fr., RB
1 - Macho Harris, Sr., CB
90 - Orion Martin, Sr., DE

UC Players to Watch:

15 - Tony Pike, Jr., QB
16 - Dominick Goodman, Sr., WR
5 - Connor Barwin, Sr., DE
49 - Torry Cornett, Sr., LB

Final Score: Virginia Tech 23, Cincinnati 20

How bad do we need to beat Cincy?

Heather Dinich is correct, we need this win in a bad way. However, she doesn't have a lot of space to write in her cover-it-all blog, so she's missed some reason why the Hokies have to beat the Bearcats.

Conference braggin' rights

Yes, a win would be big for the ACC. The conference's record in BCS bowls (one-and-a-lot) has been well publicized. A loss by the conference champ and Big East defector to the current Big East champ and CUSA defector would look undo any progress the ACC made during the regular season in the eyes of the public.

But winning this game for the conference probably really only matters to the coaches. I doubt the players feel any responsibility to the other teams in the conference to win this game.

Tech's own bowl blunders

To complete what Kyle Tucker said in his lede from his story earlier this week, it was Freud who defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well, by Freud's definition, I'm insane for going to this football game.

I said last year I wouldn't go to another Hokie bowl game. Not after experiencing the loss to that damn basketball school last year. Guess what? We're playing another basketball school with similar players, similar offense and similar season to the Jayhawks.

Beating Cincy would not only give Tech a win in a major bowl for the first time since 1995, it would make all fans believe in our coaching staff again. Coach Beamer has said several times (and so have the players) that we're treating this one differently. That this year's Orange Bowl isn't a reward. If we play against Cincy like we did against Kansas, it means it was all lip service.

Stinespring's job

It was announced after the ACCCG that Bryan Stinespring will be returning to Blacksburg next year. Bold move considering he still has one more shot to throw away all the progress the Hokies' offense made in the last five games.

Then again, they did the same thing last year before reverting to poor execution and poor play calling in the bowl game, giving fans eight months to complain about how bad the offense (and Stinespring) are. If the same thing happens again this year, it won't be pretty. If you thought Stiney got bad-mouthed leading up to this season, you have no idea the venom that will spew from Hokie fans over the next eight months.

Hope springs eternal

The outcome of the Orange Bowl will determine how these young Hokies will be viewed by the rest of the country and in the minds of Hokies fans leading into the 2009 season.

With a win, Tech could very will be considered for a spot in the Top 10 next season. If they lose to Cincy, I wouldn't consider them for any spot above No. 20 in next season's preseason poll.

Any way you slice it, this team needs to win this game in the worst way. That includes everyone: The conference, the coaches, the players, the fans. Win and the Hokies can hang their hats on another 10-win season. Lose, and it's just another long off-season.

Trading Schedules with Cincinnati

It was brought up on the TSL football board where the Hokies would have finished in the Big East and where Cincinnati would have finished in the ACC. I have a similar questions: How would the Hokies have fared against the Bearcats schedule and vice versa?

Hokies vs. Cincinnati's Schedule

Eastern Kentucky: W
@ Oklahoma: L
Miami U.: W
@ Akron: W
@ Marshall: W
Rutgers: W
@ UConn: L
South Florida: W
@ West Virginia: W
@ Louisville: W
Pittsburgh: W
Syracuse: W
@ Hawai'i: W

Record: 11-2, 6-1

Same record, same results for the Hokies against the Bearcats' schedule. The Hokies would have dropped the two toughest road games against OU and UConn. The other tough game would have been against Pitt and LeSean McCoy, but I would give Tech the edge in Lane Stadium. Yes, the Hokies would face a tough road test in the Mountaineers and the Hokies didn't play well on the road this year. But there's no way in hell I would ever say a Bill Stewart-coached team would beat a Frank Beamer-coached team. Now, what about Cincinnati against our schedule?

Bearcats vs. Virginia Tech's Schedule

vs. ECU: W
Furman: W
Georgia Tech: L
at North Carolina: L
at Nebraska: W
Western Kentucky: W
at Boston College: W
at Florida State: L
Maryland: W
at Miami: W
Duke: W
Virginia: W
vs. Boston College: W

Record: 10-3, 5-3

I think Cincinnati poses match up problems for the BC defense and beats them twice. Yes, BC can stop the run cold. But that really doesn't matter to a spread offense that passes first and asks questions later. Georgia Tech's ability to get pressure with its front four and UNC's gifted secondary get them victories against the Bearcats. The offensive talent and road environment in Tallahassee would be too much for the Bearcats to overcome.

So, there you have it. Both teams would still come through with conference titles and would still likely play each other in the Orange Bowl if they played the others' schedules.

Orange Bowl Game Guide

Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati

Time: 8 p.m.
Date: Thursday, Jan. 1, 2008
Place: Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: FOX

Last Meeting: The Hokies beat the Bearcats, 29-13 in Blacksburg in 2006. The Hokies trailed 10-5 at halftime and 13-12 after three quarters before out-scoring Cincy 17-0 in the fourth quarter. The game was sealed by a Macho Harris pick-six with two minutes to go in the game. Dustin Grutza was sacked twice and intercepted twice by the Tech defense. Branden Ore ran for 170 yards and a touchdown to pace the Hokies offensively.

Trends: This is the 16th consecutive season the Hokies have played in a bowl and the third consecutive season the Bearcats have appeared in a bowl...the Hokies have lost four of their last five bowl games while the Bearcats are on a three-game bowl win streak...Virginia Tech has won three in a row and four of its last five...Cincinnati is on a six-game win streak.

What to Expect: The two teams are polar opposites on offense. Tech will try to establish the run while Cincy will try to spread the field to open up its passing game.

The Hokies may have a tough time moving the ball on the ground against the Bearcats. Cincinnati was No. 2 in the Big East in rush defense, allowing 104 YPG. That was good enough for No. 13 in the country. However, the better running backs they faced did have success against them.

LeSean McCoy averaged 4.8 yards per carry and had two touchdowns when he faced the Bearcats. Pitt had to abandon the run when trying to make a late comeback against Cincy or McCoy would have had more than 82 yards on 17 carries. Donald Brown of UConn averaged 5.2 YPC on his way to 150 yards and two scores.

So while the Bearcats have a good run defense, it is possible for Tech to have success on the ground. It will come down to which offensive line shows up for the Hokies. With the shake-up on the interior of the line, yards could be hard to come by for Tech.

The Hokies will try to put as much pressure on Cincy QB Tony Pike as possible. Pike is a gritty performer, but can make mistakes when pressured. The key will be for the Hokies to take advantage of an offensive line that isn't one of the best we'll see this season. Jason Worilds won't be healthy, but if we can get the kind of performance he was able to give late in the season with a bad shoulder, we'll be alright.

I expect Cincy's offensive performance against us to be similar the one BC had in the game in Chestnut Hill. We will get pressure and force turnovers and sacks, but they will have two or three big plays on us.

Both teams have played a lot of close games this year and I don't expect this one to be any different.

Hokies win if: Darren Evans runs for 100 yards and the defense gets pressure on Tony Pike.

Bearcats win if: They convert big plays into points and force the Hokie O to make mistakes.

Dot-dot-dots: These two teams were scheduled to meet in the regular season in 2009, but the game was moved to 2012 so the Hokies could play in next year's Chick-fil-a College Kickoff...the two teams met in what was the first bowl game for both schools, the 1946 Sun Bowl...Cincy won that game, 18-6...the Hokies have never won in The Stadium Formerly Known as Joe Robbie, they've lost two Orange Bowls and one regular season match up with Miami there...this is Virginia Tech's first New Years Day bowl since the Gator Bowl in 2002...this is Cincinnati's first New Years Day bowl since the Sun Bowl in 1951.

Bearcat Blogs

Cincinnati Enquirer: Bill Koch
The News Record: Bo Jessee
1530 Homer: Lot D
GoBearcats.com: Josh Katzowitz

Looking for a Bearcat Blogger

Throughout the year, I've exchanged Q&As with a blogger from the opposing team prior to each game. There were only two games this year where I couldn't find an opposing blog (ECU and Furman) and a third where the guys I E-mailed about doing a Q&A never replied (Duke). Well, that first category may have company soon. After searching near and far, I can't find an independent Cincinnati Bearcats blogger.

Cincy isn't represented in the BlogPoll and no Google search with the combination of "cincinnati," "bearcat," and "blog" got me anywhere. So now, I'm forced to just come out and plead for someone not affiliated with the mainstream media who happens to blog about the Cincinnati Bearcats to come forward and represent the Big East champs in a friendly question-and-answer session prior to the game.

There has to be someone out there with the same irrational love I have for Hokie football who happens to direct their affection to Cincy sports. I mean, we can't have a BCS team get lumped into the same category as ECU and Furman, can we? The worst case scenario is that I'll approach one of those bloggers that actually gets paid for what they do to field questions. But hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Miami Checklist

Thanks to friends, friends of friends and random acquaintances I will be spending nine days in glorious South Florida for the Orange Bowl and BCSCG. I've been to Miami a couple of times and seen Cocaine Cowboys thrice, so I have a decent idea of what to expect from nine days in the land that taste forgot.

As with every other city I've been to multiple times, I developed a checklist of things that have to get done before I leave. It's like eating beignets at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, getting a burger at The Varisty in Atlanta ("What'll ya have?!") or getting pants-shittingly drunk at Top of the Stairs in Blacksburg. There are some things you just have to do when you go to a certain city on a football road trip.

Miami is no different. However, because Miami is like no city I've ever been to in the U.S. and Miami Beach feels more like the Mediterranean than South Florida, its checklists is vastly different than just "get hammered at (name of bar)". No, Miami is a state of mind as much as it is a city. For more, read Swindle's piece on his experiences with the city from earlier this season.

There will be football and plenty more during my nine days in Miami. Here's what's on tap so far. Yes, I know most of these are touristy bullshit. I'm from Oklahoma. Miami might as well be Mars. Don't worry, there will be plenty of photos posted on the blog from both games. In the words of Morris from Slap Shot, here's to all the gorgeous snatch in F-L-A.

Miami Checklist
- Joe's Stone Crab
- Margaritaville in Key West
- Go to a bar with a 24-hour liquor license
- Find a cigar that is from that one island we're not supposed to be able to get cigars from
- Drive down A-1-A even though traffic is always unrelenting

If you can think of anything else I should do, please chime in in the comments.

Marshman will miss Orange Bowl

Per Kyle Tucker's excellent blog. Beamer made a few announcements at bowl media day today, including that Nick Marshman is academically ineligible and will miss the Cincinnati game. There are also injuries to discuss.

Marshman is out, meaning the offensive line is going to have a new starter for the first time since the Nebraska game. The five offensive linemen (LG Marshman, C Ryan Shuman, RG Sergio Render, LT Ed Wang and RT Blake DeChristopher) had been on the field together for nearly every play the last nine games.

The only major time missed the last nine games was by Shuman, who was out half the game against Duke. Beamer said Jaymes Brooks will start at right guard and Render will move to left guard for the Orange Bowl. Brooks has played four plays this season (three vs. Furman and one vs. BC).

This really upsets the apple cart on an offensive line that struggled when it didn't have all five starters going. DeChristopher was injured four plays into the ECU game and the O-line struggled until he returned for three-quarters of the plays against North Carolina.

While I consider Marshman to be the fifth-best offensive lineman among the five starters, I don't like how this will affect the interior of the line. The three interior linemen and running back Darren Evans were especially effective together the last five games of the season. Now, you've got Render learning a new position (even if he is the best lineman we have IMO) and a redshirt freshman getting his first career start.

This could undo all the progress we've seen this season on the offensive line.

Beamer's quote, from Kyle Tucker's blog:

"... Marshman knew he needed to pass six hours. I mean, he’s already graduated. It’s one of those things, but he knew he needed to pass six hours and didn’t get it done.”

He sounds pretty disappointed/pissed Marshman didn't live up to his end of the bargain.

In other news, Jason Worilds and Brett Warren are questionable for the Orange Bowl. Like Tucker, I expect Worilds to play despite a shoulder that has popped out of place just about every game since Maryland. He's played and played exceptionally through the pain.

The loss of Warren is a big one. He's been a fantastic run stopper this year and if he can't go, it will be yet another redshirt freshman, Barquell Rivers, getting his first career start.

It would just be fitting for the Hokies to conclude this crazy, youngster-filled season by seeing two more redshirt freshman see their first significant action in a BCS bowl game.

Apparently, I'm a Better Fan than You

If you creep on the TSL football boards and rarely post, like I do, you've probably noticed the current pillow fight centers around whether or not some fans are "True Hokies."

A lot of the discussion is whether or not those who oppose Bryan Stinespring are true Hokies. Honestly, it's a moot point because he's going to be back next year. Another point of contention is how a lot of fans aren't going to the Orange Bowl. Apparently, those who are forsaking the Orange Bowl aren't true supporters of the team and therefore aren't True Hokies.

Well, since I'm going to the Orange Bowl, that must make me a True Hokie, right? Hell no. It just makes me a masochist.

Why anyone would trust Beamer's spiel that this year will be different is beyond me. I don't, but for some reason I'm going anyway. It's expensive, it's the same city I was in last year and it's probably the least-anticipated of the BCS bowls.

So am I going to the Orange Bowl out of loyalty to my team? No. Am I going because I support the employment of Bryan Stinespring? Not really. Am I going because I think we're going to win easily? Good heavens, no.

No, there are two simple reasons I'm going to Miami for the Orange Bowl.

1. As stated before, I'm a masochist. Those who know my dating history know this is true.
2. Joe's Stone Crab.

That's it. Those are the only two reasons I can think of that I'm going to this bowl game. I'm not a better fan or a True Hokie, I'm just a glutton for punishment who also happens to be a glutton for crab meat.

CRuhland OB Desktop No. 2

This week's Orange Bowl desktop from Clark features Darren Evans pwning BC in the ACCCG. I put in a request for an ACC Champions desktop. Clark is currently enjoying his Christmas vacation so hopefully he can find time to make one. If he does, I'll post it. Go here to download this and other desktops at Clark's site.

CRuhland OB Desktop No. 1

Clark is posting a new Orange Bowl desktop at his site every week leading up to the game. The first one is also our first cheerleader shot of the season. Jeez, Clark. It took you this long to finally give us some eye candy?

Click here to download this and other Hokie desktops at Clark's site.

Sony Suite is Big-Ticket Item at Orange Bowl

Every bowl gives its players gifts. But this year the Orange Bowl is offering participating players a chance at what is essentially a $300 Sony shopping spree. Sony will have a suite at the team hotel loaded with Sony products. Each player will be given a $300 spending limit and their choice of whatever they see.

“I don’t even need to know how many people will be coming through the doors,” Cooperstein said. “The NCAA allows each bowl to award up to $500 worth of gifts to 125 participants per school. Schools always bring more than that and pay for it on their dime. We’ll make up 500 folios and order forms for each school.”

Other items the Hokies will leave Miami with:

- Tourneau watch
- New Era hat
- Pair of Crocs
- Ogio backpack

Pike an Unlikely Hero for Cincinnati

Before the start of the 2008 season, Cincinnati's best option at quarterback was a guy that ended up not being on the team. Ben Mauk led the Bearcats to a 10-3 record and a win in the Papajohns.com Bowl over Southern Miss in 2007. Mauk's quest to gain eligibility for 2008 was denied.

Next up for the Bearcats at quarterback was Dustin Grutza, a senior who had served as Mauk's back-up in 2007 and had been Cincinnati's starter the previous two seasons. Grutza led Cincy to an easy win over Eastern Kentucky in the opener and then suffered broken leg late in the loss to Oklahoma the next week.

Pike replaced the effective Grutza and was less than spectacular in relief. He completed 3 of 11 passes for 21 yards and threw an interception. However, he was exceptional over the next two weeks against MAC foes Miami U. and Akron.

As a starter

He threw for 561 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games before breaking his non-throwing arm against the Zips. Pike had surgery and missed the next two games.

When he returned, he struggled on the road against UConn, completing 10 of 27 passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 40-16 loss to the Huskies. However, the game was close until UConn scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game.

Since then, Pike has managed the Bearcats' no-huddle spread attack effectively. Over the Bearcats next five games, he threw 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, and more importantly led Cincinnati to five wins and a Big East championship.

However, Pike had a bad game in his last outing at Hawaii, going 13-of-21 for 108 yards, a touchdown and two picks. Grutza came on in relief and led the Bearcats to a come-from-behind victory long after I had passed out on the couch in front of the TV.

Scouting Report

So how will Pike fare against the Hokie defense? The best pass defenses Pike has started against were UConn (No. 7), West Virginia (No. 38), Pittsburgh (No. 43) and South Florida (No. 44).

Obviously, Pike didn't play well against UConn, the best pass defense he faced. However, he had just returned from injury, so that was a factor. Pike didn't even play in the second half due to numbness in his left hand (on the arm he broke). He left the game with the Bearcats up, 13-10.

Here's the quote from Cincy WR Mardy Gilyard:

“He was hurting in the first quarter but he didn’t say nothing,” said UC wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. “He only mentioned it to me. In the second quarter, I could see him slowly getting up on some plays. He kind of shortchanged a couple of balls, not really trusting himself like he usually does so I knew something was going on.”

Against the other three defenses, he combined to complete 52 of 90 (57.8 percent) for 768 yards (256 per game), six touchdowns and an interception. Basically, he wasn't superb, but he didn't do anything to lose the game for Cincy.

Matchup with Virginia Tech

The Hokies, for all their struggles against the pass early in the season, ended up with the No. 15 pass defense in the country. In their final seven regular season games, only twice did the Hokies give up more than 200 yards passing in a game. They gave up 263 yards to BC in the ACCCG.

One thing about Pike that I like as a Hokie fan is he takes a lot of sacks. The Hokies have performed well against prototypical drop-back quarterbacks like Pike this year. They have been able to get pressure and force mistakes against drop-back quarterbacks.

Since the Bearcats don't have much of a run game, the defensive ends should be able to pin their ears back and go after Pike. The key to stopping a pass-first spread attack is to get pressure on the quarterback. That's why Oklahoma had so much success against Texas Tech.

The Hokies are definitely capable of stopping Cincinnati's potent passing attack. We have two great cornerbacks in Macho Harris and Stephan Virgil, who has made a name for himself this season. If we are able to get pressure on Pike rushing four, we will be fine.

Cincinnati's offense reminds me a lot of Kansas' from last year. The big difference is the Bearcats don't have a big, power running game like the Jayhawks did with Brandon McAnderson.

The Bearcats have already done to themselves what the Hokies go out to do every game on defense: Take away the run game and make them one-dimensional.

Cincinnati on YouTube

As part of your crash-course on the Hokies' opponent for the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl, here are select YouTube clips of Cincinnati's season.

2008 Stadium Entrance


Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 21


Cincinnati 26, West Virginia 23


Oklahoma 52, Cincinnati 26