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Cincinnati looks for ninth win of season against Syracuse

Nov 24, 2007 - 11:34 AM No. 24 Cincinnati (8-3) at Syracuse (2-9) 7:15 pm EST

SYRACUSE, New York (Ticker) -- While Cincinnati was knocked out of the Big East Conference race last week, it has a chance to accomplish something it has not done in more than five decades.

The 24th-ranked Bearcats close out their regular season at Syracuse on Saturday, looking to reach nine wins for the first time in 54 years.

Cincinnati (8-3, 3-3 Big East) has not won nine games since 1953, when Sid Gillman led the Bearcats to a 9-1 record.

If Cincinnati beats Syracuse (2-9, 1-5 Big East), it will have a chance to win 10 games with a bowl victory for only the second time ever. The Bearcats' only 10-win season came in 1951 (10-1).

Cincinnati's Big East hopes ended last week with a 28-23 loss to West Virginia.

Quarterback Ben Mauk leads a Cincinnati offense that is averaging 35.4 points per game. The Bearcats have scored 389 points, the most in school history through 11 games.

Syracuse is finishing its third straight disappointing season under Greg Robinson, who has failed to make much progress. He is just 7-27 after taking over for Paul Pasqualoni in 2005.

The Orange are coming off a 30-7 loss to Connecticut. It was Syracuse's third straight defeat and sixth in the last seven games.