Q: Assuming that the "Pillow" Fighting Irish lose to USC, do you see the Sun or Gator as possible bowl destinations for the Panthers?

Mark Schilajew, Huntingdon

ZEISE: The Sun Bowl thing seems to be very confusing for everyone involved in the process -- the Big East, the bowl chairman -- there have been so many conflicting statements and remarks and reports it is hard to follow. Here is what the consensus seems to be. If USC beats Notre Dame (and thus the Irish finish 6-6) and Rutgers beats Louisville (and thus Rutgers finishes 7-5) there is no way the Sun Bowl can take Notre Dame based on the NCAA rules regarding 6-6 teams and bowls. In fact the Big East issued a statement yesterday clarifying this issue with the Sun/Gator Bowl.

Also, understand this -- the bowl selection process after the BCS representative is determined (let's assume it is Cincinnati) is NOT based on the Big East standings, who beat who or anything like that -- it is based on the bowls picking who they want among the bowl eligible teams and the Big East's only rule is a "two-win" rule with regards to the pecking order. That means a 7-5 team can be picked over a 9-3 team but a 6-6 team cannot. And if you look at the standings all of the Big East's bowl eligible teams will be between 9-3 and 7-5. So now it becomes which bowls want which teams.

One other thing -- barring the Irish beating USC -- and getting to seven wins -- the Gator Bowl is going to take a Big 12 team, likely either Nebraska or Missouri, meaning the Sun Bowl will get the Big East team. And I'd say for Pitt, the Panthers could perhaps land in the Sun Bowl if they win these two games and get to 9-3 because at that point they'd be very attractive as an opponent for a Pac-10 team given the television market, the traditional brand name and all that. Anything less than that, and I just don't think Pitt's reputation for traveling and whatnot is going to do it any favors.

If I were a betting man, though, based on many conversations I've had -- barring upsets -- I'd say WVU is headed to the Sun, Pitt and Rutgers will battle for the Tire Bowl (with the one who doesn't get selected for Charlotte headed to Birmingham), USF is going to the St. Petersburg bowl and Connecticut will head to the International Bowl.

A lot could change, and frankly Pitt might be the one team in the Big East rooting for Notre Dame to win so that the Panthers get sent to some other conference's bowl (like Las Vegas, Hawaii or the Emerald Bowl or one of those bowls which won't be filled) as opposed to that dreaded thing in Birmingham.

Q: That tall wide receiver, Jonathan Baldwin, I think he is just tall, and I don't see any thing that close to Larry Fitzgerald, or even to Antonio Bryant. Is he overrated?

Bruce Y., Pittsburgh

ZEISE: I don't think he is overrated at all. I do think he didn't play well against Cincinnati and mostly because he needs to develop into a more consistent and physical player. The Bearcats bodied him up a little bit and he didn't responded well -- that's just a matter of maturity, both physical and mental. He is still just a freshman so you'd expect some growing pains and there were a couple of plays he needs to make that he didn't but he'll be fine. He just needs to continue to improve each week and get physically bigger and stronger.

Q: I may be way off base here, but do you think there is any possibility that Cincinnati was somehow picking up Pitt's defensive play calling throughout the game?

Jim Murphy, Pittsburgh

ZEISE: No, they were good at picking up Pitt's blitzes but they were also able to make some plays because the quarterback, Tony Pike, made some great plays with his feet to get out of harm's way and keep the plays alive. The kid was spectacular, you just have to tip your cap to him. And a big reason the guys were so wide open all over the field was because Pitt's defensive backs were either out of position, falling on the ground or missing their assignments. I don't think anyone had to steal signals that night, I just think Pitt's defense played poorly and didn't execute the blitz packages very well.