By Brett Martel
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - A 1-5 start didn't end North Texas' hopes of playing in its second straight New Orleans Bowl. After all, the Mean Green still had the Sun Belt Conference schedule left.

In a near repeat of last season, when North Texas started 0-5, the Mean Green dominated the Sun Belt to earn the fledgling conference's automatic berth to the New Orleans Bowl.

With its only nonconference victory coming against Division I-AA Nicholls State, North Texas (7-5) carries the credibility of the 2-year-old Sun Belt on its shoulders when it takes on Cincinnati (7-6) on Tuesday night in the first of 28 bowl games.

North Texas lost 45-20 to Colorado State in the last New Orleans Bowl.

"It's really big for us. We want to let them know that we can compete with other conferences," North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy said.

After starting 2-5, Cincinnati can appreciate the road North Texas took to New Orleans. The Bearcats won five of their last six games to not only become bowl eligible, but also to tie Texas Christian for first place in Conference USA.

And while neither team's record is impressive, the participants view the game as a meeting between two conference champions who got on a roll when they had to.

"I would think that elevates the status of our game - maybe in our own minds - but the fans who come to the game will know they're seeing two champions play," Cincinnati coach Rick Minter said.

Gino Guidugli, who passed for 3,319 yards, leads the Bearcats, and North Texas will counter with Kennedy, the Sun Belt player of the year. He drew rave reviews this season from Texas coach Mack Brown and recently departed Alabama coach Dennis Franchione.

Minter said keeping Kennedy from penetrating the backfield quickly has to be his offense's primary concern.

"You don't want to over-concern yourself with one player ... but it's obvious in this case," Minter said. "Kennedy's a great player - probably the best interior defensive lineman we've faced all year."

Guidugli isn't worried.

"Our offensive line's been playing great. I haven't really been hit the last couple games," Guidugli said. "So as long as we keep getting rid of the ball quick and our receivers keep running quick routes, we should be all right."

The Mean Green, who did face some tough nonconference opponents, including Texas and Alabama, allowed an average of 14.4 points - third-best in the country this season. Cincinnati scored an average of 30 points.

Kennedy said he hoped to get pressure on Guidugli early and rattle him.

"If you let him sit in the pocket, he'll throw for 500 yards," Kennedy said.

Minter predicted a defensive struggle, but North Texas coach Darrell Dickey said that would depend on how his defense handles Guidugli.

"Gino does a good job getting rid of the ball, he doesn't take a lot of sacks, and he has a great corps of receivers," Dickey said. "Most teams have a go-to guy; these guys have three or four, and that can cause a defense a bunch of problems."