By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEW ORLEANS - University of Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Gino Guidugli and his talented corps of receivers challenge North Texas in today's New Orleans Bowl (7 p.m., ESPN2) at the Louisiana Superdome.

"Everybody in Denton, Texas, knows who Gino is," said Mean Green coach Darrell Dickey. "I think every (college football fan) across the country knows who Gino is."

The game kicks off the three-week, 28-game bowl season that climaxes with Ohio State against Miami for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.

Nationally syndicated radio sports talk-show host Tony Kornheiser said last week that OSU would have a better chance against Miami's vulnerable pass defense if Guidugli were at the Buckeyes' helm.

The reason "everybody knows who Gino is," is that no quarterback came closer this season to upsetting OSU.

Guidugli's 324 passing yards against the Buckeyes came in front of a national TV audience and a Paul Brown Stadium full of incredulous OSU fans, whose combined exhale at the end of the Buckeyes' 23-19 victory could have powered the Delta Queen from Cincinnati to New Orleans without having to engage its paddlewheel.

And that is the reason why more than just the fans of UC and North Texas will tune in for tonight's game.

For all of Bearcats coach Rick Minter's love of the running game, it's Guidugli's arm (239-for-438, 3,319 yards, 21 TDs) that has UC on the map.

Given the fact that Bearcats wide receivers Tye Keith, LaDaris Vann and Jon Olinger are all playing their final college football games tonight, UC might be able to pick up a wide-receiver recruit or two if Minter unshackles his wide-open passing game.

The question, though, is this: Can Guidugli pick apart the Mean Green defense while running for his life?

North Texas allows only 167.3 passing yards and 14 points per game. Nose tackle Brandon Kennedy has made 24 tackles for losses, second in the nation, with nine sacks. Defensive end Adrian Awasom has eight sacks.

The Mean Green sacked Texas quarterback Chris Simms eight times in the season opener.

But North Texas (7-5), which played well against and lost to Texas, Alabama, Arizona and Texas Christian, faces its most diversified offensive attack of its season tonight, said Dickey.

"This is probably the best big-play team we will have faced all year," he said. "They are going to cause us some problems we haven't really faced."

Cornerback Don McGee said the Mean Green defense will be ready.

"We've played some of the best receivers in the country," he said. "We don't really go out trying to double any one receiver. We just play our game plan and focus on us rather than the opposition."

Will the Bearcats be able to run the ball?

Doubtful. North Texas' rush defense (122 yards per game) is 29th in the country.

So UC might have to adjust.

"If we aren't able to run it off handoffs, our coaches do a good job of calling plays for guys coming out of the backfield," said Bearcats senior running back DeMarco McCleskey (29 catches, two TDs).

UC's other concern is that North Texas probably will be able to run the ball (182 yards per game). Many rush-dominant teams were able to pound the ball on the Bearcats this year.

"There's no denying it - we've got to stop their run," Minter said. "If we have to put more guys in the box, we'll do it."

But, beware: North Texas is adept at run-action passing - as indicated by its 13.5 yards per catch, which is only a half-yard shy of big-play happy UC's 14.0.

E-mail jerardi@enquirer.com

North Texas (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (7-6)

Time/TV: 7 ET/ESPN2.

Turf: Artificial.

Line: Cincinnati by 7 1/2.

Sagarin ratings: Cincinnati 73.32, North Texas 70.04.

Payout per team: $750,000.

Series record: North Texas leads 8-7-1 (Cincinnati won last meeting 52-3 in 1973).

Between the lines: Though their records aren't stellar, these teams that kick off the bowl season are conference champions. Sun Belt winner North Texas makes a return trip to New Orleans hoping for a better result. The Mean Green lost QB Scott Hall (shoulder) in the season opener against Texas. The offense has struggled at times with freshman Andrew Smith at the controls, but RB Kevin Galbreath is a steady performer. UNT's strength is defense, third nationally in points allowed (14.4 a game). DL Brandon Kennedy and CB Don McGee anchor a unit that will try to make life difficult for Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli. The Bearcats, who shared first place in Conference USA with TCU, hope to snap a two-game postseason losing streak. Big-play WR LaDaris Vann and workhorse RB DeMarco McCleskey are key weapons in a multi-dimensional attack. UC's best defensive disrupter is DE Antwaan Peek.

Extra point: All previous meetings between these schools were in consecutive seasons between 1958-73. The first 12 were as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

UC	Team stats	UNT
404.3	Offense avg.	281.8
140.8	Avg. by rush	181.7
263.5	Avg. by pass	100.1
318.1	Defense avg.	289.1
134	Avg. by rush	121.8
184.1	Avg. by pass	167.3
30.0	Avg. points for	18.8
23.5	Avg. pts. vs.	14.4