The work is done. The University of Cincinnati football team is concentrating on fun and games.

        The game, of course, is the Motor City Bowl Saturday (12:06 p.m.) against Toledo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

        The fun is all the bowl functions the players get to attend. The Bearcats spent Thursday night at The Palace in Auburn Hills watching former UC star Kenyon Martin and the New Jersey Nets take on the Detroit Pistons.

        The Bearcats won't practice today. They'll have their bowl photo taken at the Silverdome — friends and family are welcome — and visit a hospital.

        “We're ready to go,” UC coach Rick Minter said. “We're enjoying the bowl activities and waiting for 12:06 Saturday.”

        Toledo, the Mid-American Conference champion, is 9-2 and ranked 25th.

        The Bearcats arrived in Detroit Tuesday night. They practiced Wednesday and Thursday.

        “We've had two good practices,” Minter said.

        This is UC's second straight trip to the Motor City Bowl. The Bearcats lost to Marshall 25-14 a year ago. (Marshall, the team Toledo beat for the MAC title, won the last three Motor City Bowls.)

        “The familiarity should give us a confidence boost,” Minter said. “We're in the same hotel. We're doing things the same as far as football and administration. The transition up to here went well, and 80 percent of our guys were in this bowl last year.”

        Just as important is the fact UC won its last two regular-season games.

        “We finished strong,” Minter said. “That always helps.”

        The Bearcats came out for bowl practice healthy. Everyone who played in the season finale against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec.1 is expected to be ready Saturday.

        Minter said quarterback Gino Guidugli has looked sharp. Guidugli missed the second half of the Nov.11 East Carolina game with an injured left shoulder.

        “We've seen no repercussions from that,” Minter said.

        Guidugli, the true freshman from Highlands, was the unanimous choice for Conference USA Freshman of the Year. He threw for 2,573 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Bearcats relaxed, ready to roll Motor City could be showcase for Guidugli Huggins turned Akron around

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