What better way to kill a few hours on a Saturday morning than trying to sort out the mess that is college football's bowl picture … and where UConn, should the Huskies become bowl eligible with a win over Syracuse today, fits into things.

So here we go …

Sixty-eight schools will play in bowl games this season.

As of this morning there are 71 bowl-eligible teams (teams that are guaranteed at least a .500 record).

Six schools can still become bowl eligible – UConn by winning either of its last two games (the Huskies also play South Florida on Dec. 5), Duke with a win over Wake Forest today, Kansas with a win over Missouri today, Alabama-Birmingham with a win over Central Florida today, Hawaii with wins over Navy (today) and Wisconsin (Dec. 5) and Army with a win over Navy on Dec. 12.

Barring upsets, five at-large spots will become available – two in the WAC, one in the ACC, one in the Big 12 and one in the Mountain West.

The WAC has only four bowl-eligible teams for five spots and since Boise State is headed for a BCS game, a second spot will open up.

The ACC has only seven bowl-eligible teams for eight spots (although Duke can grab the eighth with a win over Wake today).

The Big 12 has filled all nine of its bowl slots, but Texas is likely headed for the BCS Championship, leaving an extra spot.

The Mountain West has five bowl-eligible teams for its five spots, but since TCU is likely headed for a BCS game, an extra spot will open.

How does all of this pertain to UConn? Actually, it won't matter if Notre Dame loses at Stanford tonight. If that happens and UConn becomes bowl eligible, there will be six Big East teams eligible for the six Big East bowl games, guaranteeing the Huskies their third consecutive bowl trip. Should ND upset Stanford, however, the Irish could grab the Big East's spot in the Gator Bowl, meaning UConn would have to hope for an at-large bid to an bowl game outside the Big East.

Assuming Notre Dame loses, here's my prediction:

Cincinnati to a BCS game (either Orange of Sugar)

West Virginia to the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 (the Gator Bowl wants to fill its stadium and the Mountaineers travel better than anyone else in the Big East)

Rutgers to the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 26 in Charlotte (against an ACC opponent)

South Florida to the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 19 in Tampa (against a Conference USA opponent)

UConn to the PapaJohn's.com Bowl on Jan. 2 in Birmingham (against an SEC opponent)

Pittsburgh to the International Bowl on Jan. 2 in Toronto (against a MAC school).

The St. Petersburg Bowl probably isn't keen on having USF for the second straight year, but the two most likely replaces – UConn and Rutgers – have conflicts with final exams (although that doesn't mean they still can't be slotted in by the Big East).

The PapaJohn's.com Bowl had to be impressed by the fact that UConn brought nearly 4,000 fans to Notre Dame a week ago, plus the SEC representative (either Georgia, Auburn of South Florida) will draw well).

I would give Rutgers the nod over Pittsburgh in Charlotte because the Scarlet Knights would probably travel better than Pitt.

Hey, all of this is pure speculation, but that's part of the fun, so stay tuned (bowl bids go out on Dec. 6)