In this morning’s roundup, I included a link from the Orlando Sentinel pronouncing the Champs Sports Bowl deal done. The game will pit the Big East’s no. 2 team against the ACC’s no. 3 and Notre Dame can only take the Big East’s slot once in the four years of the deal.

This will take the place of the Gator Bowl for the Big East. Let’s do a quick comparison: Orlando’s a much better destination than Jacksonville. The Champs Sports payout last year was $4.25 million, fifth among non-BCS games. The Gator’s was $2.25 million. The Champs Sports is at 8 p.m. on Dec. 29, the Gator on New Year’s Day afternoon.

Just now, before the Gator could find itself pegged the loser in all this, bowl president Rick Catlett announced a nearly $0.5 million jump in payout. Catlett said the new Gator Bowl will have an SEC-Big 10 matchup and he took one more not-so-subtle shot at the ACC and the Big East, saying he expected this new configuration will draw higher attendance. Oh, and of course that the Gator Bowl is played on New Year’s Day didn’t go unmentioned.

Clearly, the Gator Bowl was not into the Big East. We saw that last year. But this is more than just a fine-you-don’t-want-us-we-don’t-want-you thing for the league. I have to think the Champs is indeed an upgrade for the league. Tickets to Orlando are less expensive than tickets to Jacksonville, families with young kids can make a whole vacation of Disney and there won’t be any of those convoluted contingencies the Gator insisted on. Or is a New Year’s Day bowl that much more prestigious? You tell me.