The FedEx Orange Bowl, what a strange name for a BCS Bowl Game don’t you think?

The battle for positioning is over in the 2008 NCAA college football season as Big East champions, Cincinnati Bearcats, are slotted to face the Virginia Tech Hokies for the Orange Bowl.

The 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl will be the 75th edition of South Florida’s showcase game. Cincinnati and Virginia Tech will meet on January 1 in Miami. The last time these two teams met, it was back in 2006 with Virginia Tech prevailing, 29-13.

The Virginia Tech Hokies have been to the Orange Bowl twice before, losing to Nebraska in 1996 and Kansas at the end of last season.

The Cincinnati Bearcats on the other hand, have been on a tear, winning 28 of its past 35 games since losing to the Hokies a little over two years ago. Over that span, only seven teams; Boise State, Oklahoma, BYU, Florida, Southern California, Hawaii and Ohio State, have won more games than the Bearcats.

The Virginia Tech Hokies finished the regular season ranked seventh nationally in total defense, allowing just 277 yards per game, while the Cincinnati Bearcats averaged 375 yards of offense all year.

Yes, it will be a good ol’ fashioned face-off between offense and defense. Virginia Tech probably hopes defense does really win championships although the fact remains that offense is the one that scores the points. (Whatever that means…)

It’s also going to be old school Big East going up against new school Big East since the Cincinnati Bearcats, the current power of the conference, will be meeting Virginia Tech, one of the three teams that left the original Big East for the ACC before the 2005 season.

I have a feeling the Hokies will be out to teach the Bearcats what being a powerhouse in the Big East is all about.

Which team will win the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl? Bet on SportsBetting.com now.

Cincinnati Bearcats -1.5

Virginia Tech Hokies +1.5

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Cincinnati Bearcats Virginia Tech Hokies