COL FB: Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 10

Tony Pike threw two scoring passes Saturday when No. 16 Cincinnati beat Syracuse 30-10 to capture the Big East Conference title.

Pike completed 28-of-44 passes for 272 yards.

From a 13-3 halftime advantage, Cincinnati gradually pulled away in the second half to possibly be invited to the Orange Bowl after West Virginia's 19-15 loss to Pittsburgh on Friday guaranteed a BCS bowl berth.

John Goebel gained 67 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown, and Jacob Ramsey and Kazeem Alli caught touchdown passes for the Bearcats (10-2, 6-1 Big East), who took a 5-4 lead in the all-time series.

Syracuse, playing its last contest under fired Coach Greg Robinson, was led by Cam Dantley's 6-of-23 passing for 59 yards and a six-yard fourth quarter touchdown pass to Dan Sheeran.

Leading rusher Curtis Brinkley was held to 60 yards on 16 carries for the Orange (3-9, 1-6) who managed only 211 total yards and eight first downs.