By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

If the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-6) win their final two games, they will be Conference USA co-champions and go to their third straight bowl game. If they lose one, they will be going nowhere.

"We don't lack for motivation this Saturday (against Alabama-Birmingham)," said UC coach Rick Minter. "There are five (C-USA) bowl slots, and if we fall out of the eligibility standard, UAB moves in. I've never been in this situation where if you do X-Y-Z, you could be league champion, and if you don't do it, you aren't going anywhere.... We're do or die. Our kids understand that."

C-USA's five bowl slots are: New Orleans, GMAC in Mobile, Ala., Hawaii, Houston and Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

Even though the Liberty is the most prestigious of those five C-USA affiliated bowls, the C-USA champion isn't guaranteed that spot. Liberty Bowl officials choose whichever C-USA co-champion they want, and might prefer what could be 9-2 Texas Christian, even though UC beat TCU earlier this season.

It's the tightest race in C-USA history. Six teams remain in contention for a share of the title. They are (with their C-USA records): TCU and Louisville at 5-2 (both of whom UC has beaten), UC and East Carolina at 4-2, and Southern Miss and UAB at 4-3.

The other thing that hurts the Bearcats in the bowl picture is that their season ends so late - Dec.6 at East Carolina. Bowl officials like to know as soon as possible who their teams are so they can begin promoting the game and making preparations.

"Bowl-selection Saturday primarily occurs on the 30th (of November), with a few pieces to be put into place later," Minter said. "You hope (bowl officials) are patient with us if we are indeed in that position of having a shot at the big one, and not - because of our playing date - have to settle for something down in the pecking order."