It's hard enough to lose the Victory Bell, but when it happens on your own field, the loss is especially bitter. Cincinnati and Miami each know the feeling.

AT A GLANCE

Bearcats ring the Victory Bell last year.

• Kickoff: 2 p.m., Nippert Stadium (35,000).   • Records: Cincinnati 3-4; Miami 4-3.   • TV: Channel 19.   • Radio: WLW-AM (700).   • Series: Miami leads 55-42-7 (last meeting: 1999, UC 52-42).   • Line: UC by 5.   • What to watch: How much will UC be able to run on Miami? How much will Miami be able to pass on UC?

        The RedHawks lost the prize, awarded annually to the winner of their game with the Bearcats, at home last year, and UC did the same in 1998.

        Today's game between the two area rivals is UC's homecoming (2 p.m., Ch. 19), which would add shame to such a loss. Even more important, a UC loss would damage the Bearcats' bowl hopes. UC (3-4) needs to win today's game and the next three to finish 7-4 and gain one of Conference USA's four bowl bids.

        “This is going to be a really big game — there's a lot riding on it,” said UC offensive lineman Josh Gardner, a Moeller graduate.

        “We know if we take care of business with our schedule, we can salvage a very good year and still have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” UC coach Rick Minter said.

        Miami (4-3) is in a similar situation. The RedHawks could get back in the Mid-American Conference race but need to prove they can play a good game against a respectable opponent, something they haven't done in six weeks, since beating Vanderbilt Sept.2.

        “This is a chance for us to turn around our season,” Miami guard Joe Costello said.

        This game figures to be wide open, with a lot of throwing by the two senior quarterbacks, Miami's Mike Bath and UC's Deontey Kenner.

        “Mike's been very good for them, and he has a great receiver in Sly Johnson,” Minter said.

        “If there's ever going to be a time that you're going to change some things, you do it during the open week. It's not very often that two (opposing) teams' bye weeks coincide (before) such a fierce rival game (as happened this year). Both staffs will be on the lookout for whether the other guys have installed anything new.”

        The two teams are in similar situations.

        “If you asked me and asked (Miami coach) Terry Hoeppner, we'd both say we're underachieving a little bit,” Minter said. “They got started in grand style, winning at Vanderbilt ... and we started 2-0, including (the win over) Syracuse.”

        Hoeppner said there's similarity in style as well.

        “They're just very versatile,” Hoeppner said, “similar to us. They run two backs, four wide receivers, three wides with a tight end. I think they have one of the best offensive line coaches in all of college football. They have very good players. They've been productive.”

        Minter thinks Miami could be “licking its chops” this year, given that UC's offense hasn't been as productive as it was last year.

        “Last year, we'd just come off the Southern Miss game (in which) we'd moved the ball up and down the field (530 yards) on a really good defense,” Minter said. “And yet Miami went out there early in the game and stopped us. This year we haven't had even one really good offensive game.”

        Defensively, Miami doesn't give up many easy plays. “They don't beat themselves,” Minter said.

        UC received a boost this week when it learned Kenner is healthy. Two weeks ago gainst Louisville, he reinjured a stomach muscle he had torn previously and thought had healed, and he didn't play the second half.

        John Fay contributed to this story.

        Would real Miami please stand up?

UC, Miami playing for similar stakes Happy homecoming for Martin UC-St. Louis game rescheduled

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