Thanks for the loyalty, Butch! ...Butch?...Hello?

The Bearcats outlived the Boilers...

Then the Buffaloes...

All was clear and happy yesterday, Butch belonged to Cincinnati for good.

And with one swift, unexpected twist this morning, he's gone, moving to the SEC to coach the Tennessee Volunteers. 

Jones took this reporter by surprise, as I thought the dust had settled and UC marked up a victory amid the hit of ACC rejection.

I was wrong. Butch is gone. 

Wow.

No three-peat for UC coaching exits

As the holiday season approaches, I bring you tidings of great joy, Cincinnati: Butch Jones is still a Bearcat.

A story that dragged on for days, UC's football coach withdrew his name from consideration for the Colorado job today, after the Denver Post reported Wednesday that he he had accepted the position.

After the Post's announcement, Jones denied the claims, reportedly turning down $13.5 million over five years with the Buffaloes.

According to Cincinnati.com, if Jones had decided to leave, he would have been the third coach in a row to leave UC after three years (Mark Dantonio to Michigan State after 2006 season, then Brian Kelly to Notre Dame after 2009 season).

UC is 23-14 under Jones after three years and is scheduled to play Duke in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte.

The UC athletic department is currently in talks with Jones about redoing his contract. Last season, they extended his existing contract through 2017 after he reportedly turned down offers from Illinois, North Carolina, and UCLA, according to Cincinnati.com.

Butch, Bearcats, Boilers, and Buffaloes

Amid the conference-realignment issues for UC, a bright spot for the football program and the university appeared in the Twitter realm today.

This if from Tom Dienhart, @BTNTomDienhart, of Big Ten Network:

Tom Dienhart ‏@BTNTomDienhart

A source close to Butch Jones just told me that the Cincinnati coach is NOT going to #Purdue. Jones also has an offer from Colorado.

Cincinnati, for now, doesn't have to relive the Brian Kelly departure of 2010, accepting the Notre Dame head coaching job after posting a perfect regular season with the Bearcats and earning a BCS bowl bid against Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

However, don't think Jones isn't packing his bags just yet: rumors also are circulating about an offer from Colorado. 

Yahoo! Sports reported today that Jones arrived in Colorado for lengthy talks about becoming the Buffaloes new head coach. Reportedly, Jones received an offer for a five-year, $2.5 million contract with yearly incentives.

Fortunately for the Bearcats, Colorado is not exactly an attractive option for coaches. The school gives relatively little support to athletics, and is quick to pull the plug on a coach if exceptional results are not yielded immediately. This is hardly the climate for a coach to come in and rebuild a program, especially when so beloved in Cincinnati. Also, Jones is a Midwest coach without any known recruiting ties to the Texas/Colorado areas where the Buffaloes draw most of their players. Entering the Pac-12 would be an entirely new challenge as well, raising the question as to why Colorado is so interested in Jones as a serious candidate in the first place.

Jones is expected to announce his decision today. Jones is currently (1 p.m.) participating in a press conference discussing the Belk Bowl matchup against Duke, but Cincinnati.com reports he will not be revealing his final decision in his talk.

Champs all around

UC Bearcats

UC 34, UConn 17

With the win, Cincinnati (9-3) earns a piece of the four-way split league title, along with Louisville, Rutgers, and Syracuse, all which ended the season with 5-2 Big East records. Because the Bearcats' two conference losses came against the Cardinals and Scarlet Knights, they did not earn a BCS berth and today accepted a bid to play Dec. 27 in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. They will face an ACC opponent to be named later. The bigger concerns for UC fans, however, should be the conference-realignment situation that has left UC in the dark, and the courting of coach Butch Jones by Purdue.

Archbishop Moeller Crusaders

Moeller 20, Toledo Whitmer 12

Big Moe won its eighth state championship in school history, returning the Division I title to Cincinnati.  The game was played a the National Football Hall of Fame's Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Moeller (12-3) lost three games in a five game stretch during the season, but rebounded to end the year with a six-game winning streak. Whitmer (14-1) entered the game averaging 43.9 points per game and had outscored its previous four postseason opponents 178-78, according to Cincinnati.com

Newport Central Catholic

NewCath 30, Caldwell County 26

Across the river, Newport Central Catholic hoisted the Class 2A Kentucky State Championship trophy after a last second touchdown lifted them to victory.  NewCath threw a 54-yard pass to gain the necessary field position, then senior quarterback Josh Cain connected with junior receiver Tyler Lyon for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 26 seconds remaining in the game.

Bearcats: ACC or bust?

In the tumultuous landscape that is conference realignment, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats are now in the hunt for a new home.

UC, in an effort to beat fellow Big East members Louisville and UConn, lobbied yesterday for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  The ACC, however, announced that Louisville will replace Maryland in 2014, not Cincinnati.

According to Cincinnati.com, UC athletic director Whit Babcock tried to sell the Bearcats' appeal to the ACC over the Cardinals, pitching the larger television market and the nearly $400 million in research the university attracts every year. Louisville won out, however, with newer facilities like Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for football, the KFC Yum Center for basketball, and the national stage set by Rick Patino and the Cardinals' basketball team.

In the immediate future, the Bearcats are the losers and the Cards then winners. Joining the ACC would  more than triple UC's television revenue in the Big East of about $6.7 million per year, according to Cincinnati.com.

The Cardinals fit the traditional ACC mold--good at basketball, bad at football--but members of their new conference are already finding new homes, such as Maryland. Some critics believe Louisville is leaving a dead conference for a dying one, with the future uncertain for many schools.

The ACC will add a total of four schools in 2013, including Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Notre Dame in all sports except football, fencing, and ice hockey.

For UC, the need to get out of the Big East is obvious. The announcement that Tulane will become a Big East member in 2014 seemed to spell the funeral for the conference's relevancy, along with newly admitted Houston, SMU, Memphis, UCF, and Temple. The Big East also adds the football teams of Boise State, San Diego State, East Carolina, and Navy. Teams that have already begun the exodus from the Big East include Notre Dame, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse to the ACC, and Rutgers to the Big Ten. UConn, too, is trying to escape the sinking ship of a progressively mid-major conference.

For the UC football team to remain successful, the basketball team to remain relevant, and the university's athletic infrastructure to remain afloat, a move must be made and made quickly before more spots are filled, with the Cardinals' win a prime example. Where UC athletics will find its next home, however, remains a mystery. The ACC would seem the best fit for the school, but an invitation may not come soon or easily. The Big Ten would be a stretch, as Cincinnati does not necessarily fit the mold of many Big Ten powerhouses, such as Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio State--but, then again, neither does Maryland or Rutgers. Wherever the Bearcats move, it is in the best interest of the school not to settle for a mid-major conference like the Atlantic 10, as the revenue levels there are not sufficient enough to allow such a large school to remain competitive nationally.

Thankful for Cincinnati sports

As we gather around with friends and family this Thanksgiving, football isn't the only sport in Cincinnati to be excited about. Plenty of college basketball games tip off in the Tri-State, with enough holiday cheer to go around.

Miami RedHawks -- Basketball

11/21 @ William & Mary, 7:00 p.m.
11/24 vs. James Madison, 12:00 p.m.

Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

11/22 vs. Pacific, 11:00 a.m. PT, in Anaheim, Cal. (DirectTV Classic)

UC Bearcats -- Basketball

11/23 vs. Iowa State, 6:30 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nev. (Global Sports Invitational)

11/24 vs. Oregon or UNLV, TBA in Las Vegas, Nev. (Global Sports Invitational)

UC Bearcats -- Football

11/23 vs. South Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Miami RedHawks -- Football

11/23 vs. Ball State, 1:00 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals

11/25 vs. Oakland Raiders, 1:00 p.m.

Weekend preview: 11/16-11/18

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UC Bearcats -- Football

Kickoff: 11/17, noon

UC: 7-2 (3-1 Big East), on a two-game winning streak

Rutgers: 8-1 (4-0 Big East), lost first game three weeks ago against Kent State

Game notes: With three Big East games left, Rutgers sits atop the conference and could be dethroned with a Cincinnati upset. The Bearcats currently sit in third place in the Big East behind 4-1 Louisville, who are on bye this week.

Robert Morris Colonials @ Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/17, 2 p.m.

Xavier: 2-0

Robert Morris: 1-2, big losses to the Rider Broncos on 11/9 and the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Nov. 12, but defeated Fordham (an Atlantic 10 team, same conference as Xavier) 74-58 on 11/13.

Game notes: After handing it to Butler on Tuesday, most Muskie fans are probably overlooking this game. The Colonials got off to a rocky start, but a win against an A-10 team, even a basement A-10 team, tells Coach Chris Mack and Xavier that Robert Morris is quite capable of the upset.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs

Kickoff: 11/18, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati: 4-5 (1-3 in AFC North, 3rd place)

Kansas City: 1-8 (0-6 in AFC West, last place)

Game notes: If ever there was a should, must, have-to-for-the-sake-of-our-dignity win for Cincinnati, it's against the Chiefs this weekend. Don't get too cocky, though, as the Chiefs almost pulled off the upset against the Steelers at Heinz Field last week, showing they're a team desperate for a win. The Chiefs turn the ball over like crazy, so look for the Bengals' defense to make some big plays with Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel under center.

North Carolina A&T Aggies @ #24 UC Bearcats -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/18, 2 p.m.

UC: 2-0

North Carolina A&T: 1-1, plays Wright State on 11/16, lost 64-55 to Utah Valley on 11/12

Game notes: Another "tune-up game" for the Bearcats, UC shouldn't struggle much against a team who lost by nine to the mighty Wolverines--the Utah Valley Wolverines, that is.

Miami RedHawks @ #2 Louisville Cardinals -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/18, 4 p.m.

Miami: 1-1, lost to #6 North Carolina State on 11/9, then defeated Grambling State 80-54 on 11/13.

Game notes: Should be a blowout in the 'Ville, but you never know. May just be worth a watch.

Two-minute drill

Ah, November. College basketball began this week, and football is well under way. Here is the two-minute recap of sports action in the Queen City this weekend.

UC Bearcats -- Football

Cincinnati 34, Temple 10

The Bearcats travelled to Philadelphia and destroy the Owls, with red-shirt senior quarterback Brandon Kay making his first career start. Kay went 13-21 passing with 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Miami RedHawks -- Football

Kent State 48, Miami 32

Oxford experienced its first home loss of the season, but experienced Zach Dysert's 455-performance moved him to 26th on the NCAA all-time passing yards list.

Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

Xavier 117, Farleigh Dickinson 75

The Musketeers hosted the Knights in their season opener, with sophomore guard Dee Davis setting career highs in points (22) and assists (15). Seven Xavier players finished with double-digit points.

Miami RedHawks -- Basketball

N.C. State 97, Miami 59

Traveling to Raleigh for the first game of the John Cooper era, the RedHawks fell to #6 N.C. State. Junior guard Allen Roberts led Miami in scoring with 16. 

UC Bearcats -- Basketball

Cincinnati 80, Tennessee-Martin 57

Senior guard Cashmere Wright led the Bearcats in the season opener with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati 31, New York Giants 13

In quite possibly the biggest shock of the Sunday, the Bengals took down the world champion Giants a week after Pittsburgh did the same. Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes with 199 yards, while Eli Manning threw for no touchdowns and 215 yards. The Bengals are now 4-5 and remain in third place in the AFC North.

Previews in the paint: UC Bearcats

Ladies and gentlemen, we are just 10 days away from the silver lining of a Cincinnati winter: college basketball. The Musketeers tip off against Farleigh Dickinson at home on Nov. 9, with Coach Chris Mack attempts to rebuild a program riddled with transfers. The larger hope for the Queen City, for a change, lies with the Bearcats, as UC takes the floor against Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 11 in Fifth-Third Arena.

With a slough of Midwestern teams rounding out the national polls (Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan filling the top five spots in both the AP and the USA Today rankings), it's easy to be excited for the region. Even closer to home, though, the Bearcats have made their national claim in the AP Top 25 with a No. 24 ranking.

ESPN also places UC in the No. 24 slot, likely with recognition of UC's postseason surprise in 2012, a Sweet Sixteen run that ended to with a loss to a fellow Buckeye public school, Ohio State. The Bearcats return three starters from that squad, a trio of guards that can rival almost any D-I program's backcourt. Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright, and JaQuon Parker all are extremely talented ball-handers who can shoot the lights out (all three averaged over 10 points per game last season--well, 9.4 for Parker, but close enough).

The largest concern for the Bearcats will be the absence of Yancy Gates, who controlled the post extremely well (and dropped Xavier's Kenny Frease in one punch, but that's not necessarily a stat Coach Mick Cronin is trying to replace). Gates averaged 8.9 rebounds and 12.2 points per game last season, a big hole to fill, but Cronin has the option to deploy Cheikh Mbodj, Justin Jackson, and David Nyarsuk in his place. Mbodj and Jackson each had significant playing time last year, while the junior transfer Nyarsuk, from Mountain State, is a "dunking machine," according to ESPN.

Cincinnati should walk over teams their first four games (Tennessee-Martin, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina A&T, and Campbell) until meeting Iowa State and then #18 UNLV or Oregon in the Global Sports Invitational.

The Bearcats were selected in the Big East preseason coaches' poll to finish fourth (1. Louisville, 2. Syracuse, 3. Notre Dame), Cincinnati's highest preseason conference ranking ever. Many feel the Bearcats are severely underestimated, though, and see them as the dark horse who could spoil it all.

Is it November yet?

0-for-October in Cincinnati is finally over. 

The Reds couldn't advance.

Then Bengals failed to win a game, going 0-3 over the month.

The Bearcats had a shot to beat a ranked team on Friday night, but fell a field goal short in overtime against Louisville. And that came a week after spoiling a perfect record to the Toledo Rockets, no less.

For Cincy, October has been rough.

Today, though there will be no despair. The Queen City Sport Report guarantees to you, the reader, the fan, that a loss will not be had. 

The Bengals, we promise, will not disappoint today.

Marvin Lewis, Andy Dalton, and the talented A.J. Green will not lose. Not again.

The Bengals are on bye today.

Enjoy a Sunday outside the loss column, Cincinnati.

Building supply brawls

With the Bengals on bye this week, the Queen City will turn to the collegiate landscape to get its football fix. A pair of rivalry games should make things interesting.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ #16 Louisville Cardinals

In the 52nd Battle of the Keg of Nails (although I'm not sure why anyone would want a keg of nails), the Big East standings could finally get some clarification. The Cardinals (2-0 in Big East play) are currently in second place behind #15 Rutgers (4-0 Big East record), while Cincinnati (1-0 Big East record) rounds out the third spot. UC leads the all-time series between the schools 29-21-1, with the Bearcats winning the last four meetings. Cincinnati also holds a 13-9-1 advantage in games played at Louisville and has a two-game winning streak at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

At times, the Cincinnati offense has been of quality caliber, with running back George Winn averaging 101 yards per game, and quarterback Munchie Leguax averaging 283 total offensive yards. The defense has allowed only 16.8 points per game, along with racking up the tackles for loss. The front of their schedule is loaded with cupcake teams (Delaware State, Fordham), and their only big win has been on opening night against Pittsburgh. To be fair, though, the 'Cats showed up when their Big East record was on the line.

The Cardinals have stumbled over an easy non-conference schedule, looking much more unimpressive than their ranking and 7-0 overall record would suggest. Quarterback Terry Bridgewater has lived up to expectations with a 73 percent completion rate and 11 touchdowns, but the rest of the team has been average to above average at everything. That's what happens when you beat UNC, South Florida, Florida International, and Southern Mississippi by a combined 18 points.

As you can see, both teams are largely untested in big games, and the winner of this matchup will likely contest Rutgers for the conference title.

#24 Ohio Bobcats @ Miami RedHawks

The Battle of the Bricks (seriously, what's up with fighting over construction supplies?) finds itself in Oxford on Saturday as the Bobcats travel to Yager Stadium.

Ohio hit the national spotlight in Week 1 with a win over Penn State, but haven't faced any real competition since that game. Their 3-0 conference record puts them at second in the MAC-East division, but those three wins came against UMass, Akron and Buffalo--arguably the three worst MAC teams. The RedHawks, too, have posted wins against UMass and Akron, but fell to Bowling Green and third place in the MAC-East standings. Miami (2-1 MAC record) could lock a spot in the conference championship game by winning their five remaining MAC games.

The biggest statistical story to watch during this game is that of RedHawk quarterback Zac Dysert, a member of the NCAA's exclusive 10.00 yard club. Dysert currently is in 61st place with 10,444 career passing yards. A 17th career passing effort could move Dysert past Boston College's Dough Flutie (1,579), USC's Matt Leinart (10,693) and Marshall's Chad Pennington (10,698).

Hypothetical reality: the BCS and UC

Today, we're going to speak in hypothetical terms. IF Romney beats Obama next month, IF Bronson Arroyo cuts his hair, IF the Ohio River floods again...then what? All big, hypothetical "if"s, but today we are going to tackle such an enigma that some of America's greatest sports minds cannot even explain its processes: the BCS selection committee.

The hypothetical question? What IF the University of Cincinnati Bearcats finish the 2012 football season undefeated?

Then what?

First, let's look at recent history. In 2009, the Bearcats accomplished this goal, running the table 12-0 and winning the Big East automatic bid outright. Cincy finished the regular season ranked third in the BCS standings and fourth in the AP Top 25. Alabama and Texas finished at No. 1 and 2, both undefeated as well and having won their conference championship games, a game not hosted in the Big East at the time.

UC literally did everything in their power in 2009 to reach a BCS championship. They beat every team, some games close, but most pretty handily. No championship shot, though. The Sugar Bowl is in fact a big deal, of course, but it wasn't for it all. Tim Tebow instituted his final farewell with a 54-21 victory over the Bearcats, but many were still upset that perfect was not good enough.

Obviously, the BCS isn't going to be fixed this year. The four-team playoff bracket would have likely lent Cincinnati at least the opportunity to reach the championship game, but this new provision won't take place until 2014. 

In 2009, UC defeated three ranked BCS teams: No. 21 South Florida, No. 25 West Virginia, and No. 15 Pittsburgh. This season, with seven weeks remaining, no ranked teams have been faced and only No. 16 Louisville and No. 15 Rutgers lie ahead. 

Alabama defeated five ranked teams in 2009: No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 22 South Carolina, No. 9 LSU, and No. 1 Florida. This season, the Crimson Tide have already defeated No. 8 Michigan and have No. 12 Mississippi State, No. 6 LSU, and No. 18 Texas A&M in upcoming weeks. If they can successfully drop all these teams, they will again reign No. 1. 

IF Cincinnati were to go 12-0, then yes, they would be guaranteed a spot in one of the five BCS Bowl games. But the championship? For all the marbles? The grand-daddy of them all? Forget about it.

What am I saying? Cincinnati is perfect five games in and is only No. 21 in the BCS rankings. Nine undefeated teams are ahead of them, while 10 with a single loss and even Stanford with a pair of "L"s also find themselves above the Bearcats.

Fair?

Considering strength of schedule, conference, maybe. But only just maybe. 

What is it to strive to perfection if such an achievement is not rewarded? What if perfect is not good enough? 

The sad truth is, under the current format, UC will likely never see a shot of the championship, no matter how many seasons they remain undefeated. Look at Boise State and its struggles, now joining the Big East in 2013 to fight for the chance at it all. 

Good luck, Broncos. The Bearcats have been playing that same tune for seasons now.

This is all hypothetical, of course. One loss on the UC schedule, and the black mark will keep them playing in some Car-Parts-Chips-Insurance-Sporting-Apparel Bowl with the stadium half full.

That, is not hypothetical. That is reality. The BCS reality. And without a true Division-I playoff system, it will remain the sad truth for those in select few in the red and black that achieve perfection.

Wake me up when September ends

Cincinnati Reds (93-62)

9/28 @ Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m., CIN Homer Bailey (12-10) vs. PIT A.J. Burnett (16-8)
9/29 @ Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m., CIN Mike Leake (8-9) vs. PIT Kyle McPherson (0-2)
9/30 @ Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m., CIN Johnny Cueto (19-9) vs. PIT Wandy Rodriguez (12-13)

With today's final matchup against the Brewers, the Redlegs close out the regular season home schedule at Great American Ballpark. Then it's off to Pittsburgh, the city of midseason hopes, to face the team that many predicted would win the division. The Pirates, of course, faded away about a month ago, the stellar pitching staff becoming average at best. For the Reds, it may seem like an opportunity to coast out with a division title, but there are greater things at stake here. Prior to today's game against Milwaukee, Cincinnati is just a game back of Washington for the best record in baseball, and with it, the top seed in the playoffs. By topping the Nationals, the Reds could potentially avoid meeting the hot San Francisco Giants until further down the road, and face a wild-card team whose ace likely will have been used up in the one-game playoff. It's not the end of the season by any means if the Reds can't dominate the Bucs, but gaining momentum going into the playoffs could certainly benefit Cincy.

UC Bearcats (2-0)

9/29 Home vs. Virginia Tech (3-1) (Ranked 25th in USA Today Poll), 3:30 p.m.

Possibly the premier matchup of the week for the Queen City, as both teams are on the verge of cracking into the top ranks. In Cincinnati's opening game, they routed Pittsburgh 34-10. Two weeks ago, the Hokies traveled to Heinz Field only to be defeated 35-17 by the Panthers. Does this tip the scales in favor of the Big East team? Likely close, but Nippert Stadium is definitely going to be crazy come Saturday afternoon.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

9/30 @ Jacksonville (1-2) , 4:05 p.m., CIN

Andy Dalton could have a decent day against a sub-par Jacksonville secondary, but look for running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis to be the hero for the Bengals in Florida. The Jaguars have the 31st ranked rush defense in the league three weeks in, and aren't showing signs of improvement. It's safe to say that the Bengals will likely score big in this one. On the defensive side of the ball,  Blaine Gabbert hasn't proven to be a threatening NFL quarterback yet, posting only 260, 53, and 155 yards the first three games. The true threat to Cincinnati lies in the the Jacksonville backfield with RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew has, without question, been a top-five running back this season. There aren't many aerial weapons to take pressure off him, but MJD gets it done, and the Bengals rush defense has given up 99+ yards every game so far to much lesser backs.

W's all around! Weekend wrap-up

With today's results, each of the Cincinnati teams put one in the win column this weekend. Here's some quick hits from around the Queen City of how things stacked-up.

UC Bearcats

9/15 Bearcats 23, Delaware State 7

Senior RB George Winn -- 147 yards

Senior WR Damon Julian -- 62 yards, 1 touchdown

Junior QB Munchie Leguax -- 20 of 27 passing, 207 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 fumbles, 2 interceptions

The Bearcats did what was expected by dominating Delaware State. Turnovers were a major problem, though, and could cause problems if carelessness with the ball continues into Big East play.

Cincinnati Reds

9/14 Marlins 4, Reds 0 -- WP Jacob Turner, LP Bronson Arroyo, CIN 3B Todd Frazier 1 for 2

9/15 Marlins 6, Reds 4 -- WP Mark Buehrle, LP Johnny Cueto, CIN SS Wilson Valdez 2 for 4

9/16 Reds 5, Marlins 4 -- WP Logan Ondrusek, LP Carlos Zambrano, CIN SS Didi Gregorius 3 for 5

The Reds had disappointing outings from both Arroyo and Cueto, and have seemed to have lost any steam they had going into the postseason. The current lapse in pitching quality that has carried the team all year has severely exposed the offensive lack that the team suffers from. Regardless, a win today against Miami brings the magic number to clinch to five, with an off day tomorrow.

Cincinnati Bengals

9/16 Bengals 34, Browns 27

QB Andy Dalton -- 24 for 31 passing, 318 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interceptions

RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis -- 75 rushing yards, 0 touchdowns

WR Brandon Tate -- 3 recetpions, 71 yards, 1 touchdown

Cincinnati showed that a young core of receivers can produce great results, with Brandon Tate, A.J. Green, and Andrew Hawkins all hauling in a touchdown pass from Dalton. More concerning, though, is the fact that rookie Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden was able to put up 322 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati after producing just 118 yards and four picks against Philadelphia in Week 1.

September 6 -- Weekend Preview

Huge weekend for Cincinnati sports, and a long weekend at that. Let's take a look ahead, shall we.

Pittsburgh Panthers @ Cincinnati Bearcats, tonight 8 p.m. ESPN

An annual Big East premier match-up, Nippert Stadium is sure to be rockin' for the University of Cincinnati's season opener. The Bearcats squeezed a win out of this one last year by a mere three points, but the Panthers come to town 0-1 after a loss to, dare I say it, Youngstown State. Pittsburgh finished 6-7 overall last season, well behind Cincy's 10-3 mark. The Bearcats recorded better numbers in interceptions, passing touchdowns, rush yards per attempt, rushing yards per game, and sacks last year, but games are always close between these two teams. Cincinnati has won the the Paddlewheel Trophy the past three of four years, but historically the Panthers have dominated this match-up (8-3 in the River City Rivalry game). Pittsburgh also brings much more offensive experience in senior quarterback Tino Sunseri and running back Ray Graham, while Cincy quarterback Munchie Legaux makes his inaugural first-string start tonight.

UC Players to watch:

Munchie Legaux, #4 QB, Junior -- (2011) 749 pass yards on 116 attempts, 5 TD, 4 INT

George Winn, #32 RB, Senior -- (2011) 219 rush yards on 40 attempts, 2 TD

Anthony McClung, #6 WR, Junior -- (2011) 49 receptions for 683 yards, 6 TD

PITT Players to watch:

Tino Sunseri, #12 QB, Senior -- (2011) 2,616 total passing yards and a 124.1 QB rating 

Ray Graham, #1 RB, Senior -- (2011) 958 total rushing yards, 9 TD

Devin Street, #15 WR, Junior -- (2011) 53 receptions for 754 yards, 2 TD

Cincinnati Reds @ Houston Astros, 9/7, 9/8 7:10 p.m. FSN, 9/9 1:10 p.m. FSN

The Reds host Houston this weekend with an eight and a half game lead in the National League Central, hoping to inflate that gap. The Astros have the worst record in baseball and a interim manager at the helm. Head-to-head this season, the Reds are 9-3 against the Astros. Joey Votto will be truly game-tested if he plays in this entire series after going 2-3 in his return from knee surgery last night against the Phillies. Also, keep an eye on Todd Frazier's playing time; recently the NL Rookie of the Month, it will be interesting to see how Reds' manager Dusty Baker uses his young gun with Votto back in the lineup.

Probable pitchers:

9/7 HOU Lucas Harrell, RHP (10-9, 3.81 ERA) vs. CIN Homer Bailey RHP (10.9, 4.09 ERA)

9/8 HOU Bud Norris, RHP (5-11, 4.80 ERA) vs. CIN Bronson Arroyo RHP (11-7, 3.76 ERA)

9/9 HOU Edgar Gonzalez, RHP (1-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. CIN Johnny Cueto, RHP (17-7 2.58 ERA)