This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.

No. 4 CINCINNATI

UC instant analysis: QB Ben Mauk should learn any day whether he will win his final NCAA appeal and receive a sixth season. If so, the Bearcats could finish even higher in the league standings. It’s probably not likely Mauk will get a sixth year, meaning senior Dustin Grutza, UC’s starter in 2005 and 2006, or Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones, the Irish’s opening day starter last season, will lead the offense. Even without Mauk, the Bearcats still have enough pieces – especially on defense – to guarantee a sixth bowl trip since 2001. The ‘Cats return six defensive starters, including senior DT Terrill Byrd and senior CBs Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith, from a unit that ranked No. 2 in the Big East against the run and was tied with USF for a national-best 42 takeaways. Smith tied for the national-lead with eight interceptions last year and the Bearcats are the league’s only team that returns three first-team All-Big East selections.

Fun with numbers: Last year, Cincinnati played before three home sellouts at Nippert Stadium. Or exactly two more sellouts than the Bearcats had in the previous 14 years since Nippert was expanded to 35,000 seats. Expect USF to be welcomed by another sold out crowd for their ESPN Thursday night game on Oct. 30.

If I could attend one UC game this season it would be: Cincinnati at Hawaii, Dec. 6. Do I really need an explanation to visit Hawaii? Actually, this could be fairly entertaining. The last time Cincinnati played at Hawaii in 2002 (a 20-19 UH win), a brawl broke out after the game between the teams that police had to break up. They even broke out the pepper spray on some fans. UC officials accused the Hawaii mascot of assaulting the Cincinnati mascot. And here’s what UH lineman Uriah Moenoa said after the 2002 game: “We got a chance to get a lot of licks in. They lost the game and they lost the fight.” Program your DVR for the rematch.

Why I picked UC No. 4? While Notre Dame is continually overrated nearly every year by the preseason mags, Cincinnati is vastly underrated. In 2006, the Bearcats were picked seventh in the Big East media poll and tied for fourth. Last year, they were picked fifth and tied for third. I know Mauk likely won’t win his appeal – and not discounting his value to the ‘Cats – but Grutza or Jones should be adequate replacements. And then there’s the return of Mickens and Smith – USF fans saw first-hand last year the value of two stud senior cornerbacks last year – and the nation’s best punter in Kevin Huber. Because Mauk is gone, I think the Big East media will pick Cincinnati sixth and, once again, the Bearcats will prove them wrong.

UC will finish better than 4th if: Mauk is able to return for a sixth season. The ‘Cats have a favorable Big East home schedule with four games. The toughest, USF, comes on a short week on an ESPN Thursday night contest. If the Bearcats go 4-0 at home, winning at UConn or Louisville won’t be that much of a stretch, giving Cincinnati at least five league wins and a top three finish.

UC will finish worse than 4th if: Mauk does not return and Grutza and Jones are total flops. Without a consistent running game last year, Mauk was able to create a lot on his own last year. If the running game doesn’t improve and the defense doesn’t force more than three takeaways a game like last year, the Bearcats could tumble down the standings. UC also will finish among the bottom half of the league if they stumble at home against Rutgers and/or USF.

This is how I voted in the Big East’s media poll.

4. Cincinnati
5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7. UConn
8. Syracuse

Coming Wednesday: No. 3