Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
It's all about Rutgers this week. If the Scarlet Knights beat Louisville, the Big East bowl picture becomes relatively clear, with just a little jostling over who goes to the Sun and Meineke Car Care bowls (Nebraska looks like a lock for the Gator Bowl at this point). If Rutgers loses, Notre Dame will go to the Sun and the league will have to scramble to find spots for the 6-6 Scarlet Knights and the 6-6 Cardinals.
With that in mind, here are the latest postseason possibilities and predictions for each potentially eligible Big East team (listed alphabetically):
Cincinnati
The Bearcats have won the Big East title and will be going to the BCS, most likely the Orange Bowl.
- Possibilities: BCS game
- Prediction: Orange Bowl
Connecticut
The Huskies can finish 8-4 with a win over Pitt, but they have no realistic shot at the Sun Bowl and aren't attractive to the Meineke Car Care Bowl since they went there last year. Toronto still makes the most sense.
- Possibilities: Gator/Sun bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, International Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Prediction: International Bowl
Louisville
The Cardinals aren't guaranteed a bowl even if they beat Rutgers, but they'd sure like to have the chance.
- Possibilities: At-large bowl berth.
- Prediction: No bowl
Pittsburgh
The Panthers improved their chances of making the Sun Bowl by beating West Virginia. Pittsburgh fans don't have a good reputation for traveling, but that's not a concern for Sun officials because locals buy up a huge chunk of the game's seats.
- Possibilities: Gator/Sun bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, International Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Prediction: Sun Bowl
Rutgers
If they get to 7-5, the Scarlet Knights would be strongly considered for the Meineke game because of their strong fan base and media market. The Sun looks like a long shot, at best.
- Possibilities: Gator/Sun bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, International Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Prediction: Papajohns.com Bowl
South Florida
No matter what happens this week against West Virginia, the Bulls are almost certainly making the short trip to the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Possibilities: Gator/Sun bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, International Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Prediction: St. Petersburg Bowl
West Virginia
The Mountaineers could still earn a Sun Bowl berth by winning this week. If not, Meineke officials would like to bring West Virginia to Charlotte because of its nearby fan base and the marketability of Pat White.
- Possibilities: Gator/Sun bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, International Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Prediction: Meineke Car Care Bowl
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
