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FACTS & STATS: Site: Carrier Dome (49,262) -- Syracuse, New York. Television: Big East Network. Home Record: Cincinnati 4-1, Syracuse 4-2. Away Record: Cincinnati 3-2, Syracuse 1-3. Neutral Record: Cincinnati 0-0, Syracuse 0-0. Conference Record: Cincinnati 3-2, Syracuse 1-4. Series Record: Cincinnati leads, 6-5.

GAME NOTES: The opportunity for a postseason appearance is slowly disappearing for the Syracuse Orange so it is now that the team needs to step up and assert itself as it closes out the home portion of the schedule with a meeting against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse, which is coming off a second bye week this season, was the surprise team in the Big East Conference early in the season, the team posting five wins in seven opportunities and along the way taking down a power like West Virginia rather convincingly. However, before taking a break in the action the Orange bowed to USF at home in an ugly 37-17 final which means the program is now trying to break out of a three-game funk that has them dangerously close to being shut out of the postseason.

As for the Bearcats, they were expected to have their way in the conference this season, but after winning seven of the first eight games the team now finds itself in a five-way tie for third place in the conference standings. Last week Cincinnati scored a season-low three points in a 20-3 setback versus Rutgers on the road. Certainly having someone other than the injured Zach Collaros in at quarterback is a major factor, but the Bearcats had better get used to life without him because he's on the sidelines with a broken right ankle.

As far as the all-time series is concerned, the Bearcats have taken six of the previous 11 matchups, although the Orange won last year's meeting at Nippert Stadium by a score of 31-7. For the third year in a row Cincinnati will be fielding a backup quarterback when they step into the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon.

Munchie Legaux made his first college start for the Bearcats last week against Rutgers, throwing for 155 yards, but he was clearly overwhelmed and not up to the task of college football at live speed. Legaux completed 12-of-31 passes and was intercepted once as the Bearcats offense stalled time and time again. The team managed just 67 yards rushing and less than four yards per offensive snap. Even before Legaux stepped in for Collaros, this is an offense that leaned more heavily on the run than it did the pass. After 10 games the Bearcats are ranked second in the conference and 38th nationally with 180.9 ypg on the ground, with Isaiah Pead leading the way with 962 yards and 10 touchdowns. Collaros (242 yards) was also clutch near the goal line for the group with his eight scores.

The Scarlet Knights were far from a dominating force against Cincinnati on Saturday, in fact the Bearcats only allowed a pair of touchdowns and then halted other drives that were supported with successful field goals. The visitors were able to come up with three sacks to try and slow down the Knights, but Rutgers did just enough to get by. Overall this season, Cincinnati is second in the conference and seventh in the country in stopping the run, permitting just 93.6 ypg. However, as great as that effort in the trenches may be, the fact remains that the pass defense has been much more flexible and exploited, the program allowing 277.2 ypg through the air which is eighth in the Big East and 110th in the country at the moment. With that in mind, Syracuse would be smart to keep the ball in the hands of quarterback Ryan Nassib as much as possible.

The Syracuse offense started out quietly enough against USF the last time out, and then managed to pick up a little speed before finding out it was all for naught in the 20-point setback. Nassib connected on 23-of-46 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns as he set the school record for completions in a season with 217, breaking his own mark of 202 set just last year. Alec Lemon reaped the benefits of Nassib's success as the wideout caught 10 balls for 179 yards and a couple of TDs. It was his second straight game with at least 150 yards through the air and set a personal high for the receiver even in defeat. Lemon is now averaging 12.5 yards per grab and has landed in the end zone six times for the Orange which is tied with Nick Provo for the top mark, Nassib's 62.9 percent accuracy has earned him 225.7 ypg through the air and a total of 20 TDs which has been a long time coming for a Syracuse quarterback.

The Syracuse defense had its hands full with the Bulls, specifically B.J. Daniels who threw for 254 yards and ran for another 117 and a touchdown on 21 carries. Seeing Daniels pick apart the Orange should not have been that big of a surprise seeing as how he ranks second in the conference and 16th in the nation in total offense with close to 300 yards per outing. There were several drives that Syracuse prevented from reaching the end zone, but the Bulls had an answer for that as they booted three field goals on the night. Stopping the pass hasn't been the easiest task for the Orange this year, the team, giving up 266.1 ypg which is sixth in the conference and 103rd in the country right now. Although, having someone like Phillip Thomas (82 tackles) roaming around and picking off six passes this season is certainly a positive attribute.

If Collaros were available for this game the Bearcats would absolutely be the favorite, but after the display the Cincinnati offense put on the last time out, picking Nassib and the Orange is the better option.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Syracuse 27, Cincinnati 13