Welcome to a wintry Runway, where a wet snow is beginning to blanket the turf a fine shade of white. Forecasts call for 2-5 inches of snow tonight, with temps in the upper 20s. Advantage, UConn?

There are no bowl representatives here tonight, which doesn't bode very well for the winner's chances of getting to the Papajohns.com Bowl. Not that it won't happen, but certainly the folks in Birmingham are hoping Pittsburgh falls down in the pecking order.

It's hard to believe that if Rutgers manages to pull of the Meineke Car Care Bowl bid that the International Bowl would pass up Pittsburgh to take South Florida, especially if the Bulls lose here tonight. Consider the logistics. Rutgers or Pitt would be ideal because of their proximity to Canada (or, as Homer Simpson called it, America Junior). UConn would be attractive if it wasn't there last season. So why would Toronto pass on Rutgers or Pitt for USF, the only other choice? It's hard to imagine that scenario to be anything but a difficult sell to South Florida fans. Leaving sunny Tampa for a long flight to Canada in January doesn't seem all that appealing -- although we New Englanders may think differently.

I understand USF doesn't want to return to the St. Pete Bowl for a second straight season, and you can't blame them. They don't want to be the safety net there, and it isn't fair to the program. But you have to think the bowl wants the Bulls. It comes down to money first, and USF vs. Central Florida is an ideal matchup.

I have to think that no matter who Charlotte chooses between Pitt and Rutgers, the other will go to Toronto. And the winner of tonight's game will be in Birmingham, with the loser to St. Pete.

One more note, Andre Dixon and Lindsey Witten were selected to play ib the East-West Shrine Game. Marcus Easley and Robert Vaughn will play in the Texas vs. the Nation Bowl.

Catch you later tonight.