Yes, Cincinnati. Thankfully, these guys aren’t as bad as their professional counterparts.

The Cincinnati Bearcats have cracked the Top 25 for the first time this 2008 NCAA college football season, thanks to back-to-back victories over ranked opponents, including a thrilling overtime win last weekend.

The Cincinnati Bearcats, now ranked No.22 in the nation, look to protect their ranking and continue their push for their first Big East title when they visit the Louisville Cardinals on Friday night, hoping to snap a five-game losing streak to the high-flying Cards.’

The Bearcats (7-2, 3-1) gave up the final 23 points in its 40-16 loss to Connecticut in its second conference game of the season last Oct. 25, a finish that didn’t seem to bode well for the Bearcats as they entered the toughest stretch of their schedule. Thankfully, Cincinnati responded with consecutive wins over ranked Big East rivals, defeating then No.24 South Florida 24-10 on Oct.30 before edging then No.20 West Virginia 26-23 in overtime last Saturday.

The Bearcats are definitely contenders, having pulled into a three-way tie for first place in the conference with West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Cincinnati will be challenged by the Louisville Cardinals (5-4, 1-3), a team that has struggled in recent weeks but has been dominant in their series with Cincinnati lately.

Louisville has won nine of the last 10 meetings between the former Conference USA rivals, including five straight, the longest win streak in the series for either team since Cincinnati won the first 12 meetings from 1929-1969.

The Cardinals have won their last two games against the Bearcats by a combined 10 points. To beat a ranked Cincinnati Bearcats team for the second consecutive season, the Cardinals will likely need to improve on their performances from the last two weeks.

After defeating then No.14 South Florida on Oct.25, Louisville fell to a rebuilding Syracuse team on Nov.1 before an ugly 41-7 loss to then No.25 Pittsburgh last Saturday.

Who will win the 2009 BCS national championship? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

LSU Tigers 13.00

Ohio State Buckeyes 7.00

Oklahoma Sooners 7.00

USC Trojans 4.00

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2008 NCAA College Football BCS Rankings