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For more on this game, see the Postgame Stats

One day after learning it would be playing in a BCS bowl game for the first time, Cincinnati meets a Syracuse team Saturday looking to send off lame-duck coach Greg Robinson with back-to-back road upsets.

The 16th-ranked Bearcats (9-2, 5-1) earned their first Big East title when Pittsburgh beat West Virginia 19-15 on Friday, likely sending Cincinnati to the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Cincinnati went nearly 50 years without a bowl appearance until 1997, and the program's recent postseasons included trips to the Papajohns.com Bowl, the International Bowl and the Fort Worth Bowl.

In their fourth season in the conference, the Bearcats have made a surprising run through the Big East. They're coming off a 28-21 win over then-No. 20 Pittsburgh last Saturday in which quarterback Tony Pike threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

Pike, who continues to play with a broken forearm on his non-throwing (left) arm, took over for starter Dustin Grutza, who broke his leg in a loss at Oklahoma on Sept. 6, and has won six of his seven starts, throwing 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions in those games.

Against Pitt, he completed more than 80 percent of his passes (26-of-32) as both Mardy Gilyard and Dominick Goodman topped 100 yards receiving and caught touchdowns. The 6-foot-6 Pike also had 33 rushing yards.

"We could not make a play on that quarterback," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "He was incredible. I give him credit. We couldn't get him down, and not just running. He made some great throws."

One of Cincinnati's top players on the other side of the ball, however, will not be available. Senior cornerback Mike Mickens will sit out this game and next week against Hawaii following knee surgery Monday, but could return for a bowl game.

The Bearcats have been especially good at home, winning all five of their games at Nippert Stadium and 16 of 18 dating back to 2006. They've averaged 30.0 points at home this season, while holding three of their five opponents to 10 or fewer.

Syracuse (3-8, 1-5) hadn't won a road game until last Saturday, coming from behind to stun Notre Dame 24-23 in South Bend. Cameron Dantley hit Donte Davis with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left to put the Orange ahead, and a 53-yard field goal attempt by the Irish as time expired fell short.

"It really isn't necessarily a surprise at all to our football team," Robinson said. "They knew that somewhere along the line this team was going to do something special."

Before Saturday, the school had already given up on Robinson, announcing his firing - as of the end of the season - on Nov. 16. The Orange have gone 10-36 in four seasons under Robinson, including 3-24 in Big East play.

But they showed signs of progress at Notre Dame, especially from freshman Antwon Bailey. Coming in with just 66 total rushing yards, Bailey carried 16 times for 126 yards and a touchdown while also completing a 25-yard pass.

Still, Robinson is hoping his team can put aside the win over the Irish in time for his final game.

"This is a real challenge for our football team," Robinson said. "You come off of a very emotional win and the hardest thing we'll have to deal with is that, outside of the people in our little room right here, everyone will want to talk about the Notre Dame game. We have to focus in on what's important now."

Syracuse won four of five against the Bearcats before Cincinnati joined the Big East, but the Orange are 0-3 in the series both under Robinson and in conference play.

Bearcats sophomore wide receiver Marcus Barnett, who has been quiet this season after catching 13 touchdowns as a freshman, totaled 127 receiving yards and three TDs in Cincinnati's 52-31 win at the Carrier Dome last Nov. 24. The Bearcats rolled up 544 yards of total offense in that game.