ESPN College Football

PITTSBURGH -- If there was any doubt how big this game is, referee Gerald McGinn let everybody know during the coin toss.

Before the flip, McGinn greeted captains from both teams at midfield and said, "Gentlemen, welcome to the Big East championship game."

So I guess we can officially call it that now, huh?

PITTSBURGH -- The snow has really picked up here at Heinz Field, but again, it's not accumulating on the field. It shouldn't have too much of an effect on the game.

Pitt corner Aaron Berry looks fine in warm-ups. He missed the West Virginia game with a shoulder injury and is vitally important to the Panthers' chances of slowing down the Cincinnati passing attack. Expect to see a lot of Elijah Fields in the nickel package as well.

There's a palpable buzz in the stadium, which isn't always the case here, especially for noon games. Should be a great atmosphere appropriate for this game.

Some other notes to consider, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

• Since Brian Kelly became head coach, Cincinnati is 32-0 when leading going into the fourth quarter.

• Seemingly no third down is too long for Cincinnati to convert. The Bearcats lead the nation by averaging 8.25 yards per play on third downs this season.

• Pitt has been one of the most productive teams on first downs this season, averaging over seven yards per play.

• In Pitt's last two games, over 80 percent of Bill Stull's downfield throws were thrown in Jonathan Baldwin's direction.

PITTSBURGH -- Cincinnati doesn't need much extra motivation today, not with a 12-0 record, Big East championship and possible BCS title game appearance on the line.

But to hear tight end Ben Guidugli talk this week, it sounds like the Bearcats have a little something else driving them against Pitt today. The Panthers, and not the defending champion Bearcats, were picked to win the league in the preseason.

"Pitt gets a lot of hype every year, I feel like," Guidugli said. "A lot of people always pick them to win the conference. They're never going to pick us. It's always going to be Pitt or West Virginia.

"We just like to prove we've got players on this team, too, whether they've got all the higher-ranked recruits or whatever. We just want to go play."

That's one thing to remember about this Cincinnati team. Yes, the players have had several distractions this week, including the Brian Kelly/Notre Dame rumors. But this is also a team full of hungry players, many of whom weren't heavily recruited and many who've waited until their senior year to get significant playing time. They still play with a chip on their shoulders.

Saw a lot of Bearcats fans in and around town last night and this morning. Pitt fans are fired up, too, though. The tailgating was in full force by 9 a.m., even with the cold temperatures, and the students were lined up to rush into their seats as soon as possible.

Less than an hour away from kickoff now.

PITTSBURGH -- We've got real football weather for this enormous Big East game.

It's 29 degrees in Pittsburgh and a light snow is falling. Should look great on high-def TV, and perhaps make things a bit more difficult in the passing game. But the field, which sometimes can be dicey here, is in great shape and the snow shouldn't accumulate.

I'm happy to be here -- and very glad to be inside.

For Cincinnati, safety Drew Frey (concussion) is expected to play, as is running back Jacob Ramsey (foot).

Representatives from the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls are here, as is the Meineke Car Care Bowl. No Gator Bowl, though, which further proves that the loser of this game is going to Charlotte, at best.

Much more to come.