NO. 20 CINCINNATI (9-3) VS. SO. MISS (7-5)
Time: 11 a.m. Saturday at Birmingham, Ala., ESPN2
Series record: Tied 7-7
Last meeting: 2004, Cincinnati 52-24
Facts and figures: Cincinnati is 5-4 all time in postseason games. This will be the Bearcats’ sixth bowl appearance in eight seasons. Cincinnati is 5-3 at Legion Field, the site of the game. Cincinnati is second in the Big East in passing offense (282.2 yards per game), first in rushing defense (105.7 yards per game) and third in the nation in turnover margin (1.42 per game). This game marks the final game of Jeff Bower as coach of Southern Miss. Bower, who resigned Nov. 26, started his career at the 1990 All-American Bowl against N.C. State at Legion Field. Southern Miss has won two of the past three meetings with the Bearcats. Southern Miss has won three straight bowl games and five of their past seven. The Golden Eagles are first in Conference USA in scoring defense (23.6 points per game), passing defense (223.6 yards per game), total defense (363.2 yards per game) and red zone defense (73.9 percent).
