And, as if on cue, the latter team has already taken care business.
Behind a school-record six touchdowns passes from Tony Pike, the Bearcats rolled to a 49-36 win over Illinois that wasn't nearly as close as the final score would indicate.
The senior quarterback was making his first start since suffering an injury to his left forearm against South Florida on Oct. 15, and showed no ill effects from the extended layoff. Pike, who was a Heisman trophy contender until he went down with the injury, threw for 399 yards on 32-of-46 passing in leading the Bearcats to their 17th-straight regular season win.
Given an Alabama loss -- yes, 'Bama fans, I understand it's still very early, but please play along with the hypothetical -- coupled with a win over No. 9 Pittsburgh next weekend in what is a de facto Big East championship game, Cincinnati could conceivably -- emphasis on the word "could" -- leapfrog Texas and find themselves in the national title game.
In other words, Cincinnati has suddenly become the biggest Auburn fans in the nation.
UC = OVERRATED. Top 15 team sure, Top 5 team NO WAY
And which teams do you rank ahead of them, please? Pitt? LOL