PapaJohns.com Bowl Southern Mississippi vs. No. 22 Cincinnati

Cincinnati is 5-4 in bowl games and has won two straight.

Southern Mississippi defeated Ohio 28-7 in last year's GMAC Bowl. The Golden Eagles have won three straight bowl games and have an 8-9 bowl record.

This will be the 15th time Southern Mississippi (7-5) and Cincinnati (9-3) have played each other. The series is tied 7-7.

USM's offense is powered by running back Damion Fletcher. Fletcher (1,431 yards, 15 touchdowns) will face a stiff challenge against Cincinnati's defense. A tougher challenge for Southern Mississippi might be getting over the firing of head coach Jeff Bower.

Cincinnati should win this game on both sides of the ball. Ben Mauk (2,787 yards, 27 TDs) has a great command of the offense. Mauk has faith in his talented receivers Dominick Goodman and Marcus Barnett. Goodman and Barnett have combined for 1,619 yards and 19 touchdowns.

If the Bearcats' 15th-ranked defense can stop the run Southern Mississippi will lose.

Cincinnati 30, Southern Miss. 20

The Players
QB
USM- Jermey Young 1,342 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT, 53.1%
UC- Ben Mauk 2,787 yards, 27 TD, 6 INT, 61.4 %

RB
USM- Damion Fletcher 1,431 yards, 5.4, 15 TD
UC- Butler Benton 499 yards, 5.0, 2 TD

WR
USM- Torris Magee 42 rec, 617 yards, 14.7, 3 TD

UC- Dominick Goodman 61 rec, 774 yards, 12.7, 6 TD
UC- Marcus Barnett 60 rec, 845 yards, 14.1, 13 TD

Defense
USM- Gerald McRath 131 tackles, 9.5 TFL
UC- Haruki Makamura 86 tackles