Big East Preview, Week 8

This week’s picks are dedicated to Eric LeGrand of Rutgers, who was paralyzed from the neck down against Army last week. We wish Eric the best of luck in this new battle in hislife. Just another reminder about how life can really suck.

Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 34-9

Bye Week: none

South Florida at Cincinnati: The Bearcats needed all of 60 minutes to beat Louisville last week, but it was a win. The offense is running on all cylinders, while the defense could still use some work. However, this is a good match-up for a defense looking for some confidence. South Florida’s offense is a disaster, and BJ Daniels continues to be the conductor. This is an offense that also has no true playmakers, so it’s hard to put it all on Daniels. The Bulls’ defense has kept them in a lot of these games, but will struggle to slow Zach Collaros and the Cincy offense down. The Bearcats are back, and will win their 15th conference game in a row. Time to remember this team was one of the favorites at the beginning of the year.

Prediction: 34-20 Cincinnati

Connecticut at Louisville: The Huskies continue to deal with adversity through what can only be described as a “frustrating” year. Now Connecticut deals with the indefinite suspension of starting quarterback, Cody Endres. Endres has started for two of the three wins for the Huskies this year. They now go back to relying on Zach Frazer, who basically did nothing earlier this season. It will be no surprise that Connecticut will rely on the running game against the Cardinals this weekend. This isn’t a terrible plan considering Louisville struggles stopping the run. Look for Jordan Todman to have a solid day. However, the unbalanced offense could limit the scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, look for Louisville to have a balanced attack against a shaky Husky defense. Connecticut hasn’t lived up to expectations defensively either, allowing over 21 points in each of the last four games. Look for another statement to be made by the Cardinals, lead by Adam Froman and Bilel Powell.

Prediction: 31-21 Louisville

Syracuse at (20) West Virginia: What once looked like a solid match-up lost some luster. The Orange were absolutely plastered by Pitt last weekend, and now come to Morgantown looking for consistency. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers continue to be lead by a stifling defense, and a sophomore QB who is the model of efficiency. Geno Smith continues to be smart with the football, and is going through reads like an upperclassman. The Mountaineers will look to get the ground game going again as well. They have lost some of their balance over the past few weeks. However, this team is truly led by the defense. WVU has been one of the best teams on third down this year, and look for them to put a lot of pressure of Ryan Nassib. It will be key for the Orange to try to get Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey going. It will be a tough task against this defense, but it will be the only way to alleviate the Mountaineer pressure. Look for Syracuse to hang around in this game, due to their defense, and a lack of creativity for WVU on offense. But, at the end of the day, too many solid plays for the Mountaineer defense will key the victory.

Prediction: 28-13 West Virginia

Game of the Week: Rutgers at Pittsburgh: There’s no telling which direction Rutgers may go in following the devastating injury to Eric LeGrand. Are they extra-motivated? Or, will they struggle to get things going? If they struggle to come out you can’t blame them. To try to play at full speed after watching one of their brothers getting paralyzed on the field has to be incredibly difficult. However, I fully expect the Knights to come out balling. They take on a Pittsburgh team that seems to have the mojo back. The Panthers ran and threw all over Syracuse last week, and now look to bring a balanced attack against one of the best defenses in the country. However, this defense really struggled against the run last week, though it was the Army option. Look for the Knights to stack the box and make Tin Sunseri have to beat them. Sunseri had a decent game against Syracuse, but still needs to prove he is legit. This will be a great test for him. Look for Pittsburgh to break the Rutgers’ defense down with quick passes and screens. This should also open up the ground attack. Pitt’s defense should be able to create mismatches as well, and disturb Chas Dodd. This will be a big win either way, but Pitt seems to be the safer pick, as the Panthers try to make everyone remember they were once the conference favorite. Too many breakdowns for that Rutgers defense will make things tough for the young offense to keep up.

Prediction: 33-17 Pitt

Big East Preview, Week 6

It’s finally time for some conference games. Some good match-ups to kick things off. This is an opportunity for Syracuse and Connecticut to have early success on the road, and jump up the standings. It’s also a week for Pitt to have a possible shock win. Can it happen? To the picks!!!

Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 27-6

Bye week: None

Miami (OH) at Cincinnati: The Bearcats seemed to find an identity last time out. Granted, it was a loss, but it was a respectable loss to Oklahoma. They actually should have won. Mistakes do continue to haunt them. Cincinnati now hosts a Miami team best known for a near win over Florida in week one. The Bearcats should have plenty of offensive success, especially with more balance. The run game has come back, and look for Zach Collaros to start putting up big rush and pass numbers. Cincy also has an opportunity to work on the defense. The RedHawks are not very scary, and make even more mistakes than the Bearcats. Butch Jones will get his boys on track early in this one.

Prediction: 36-13 Cincinnati

UNLV at West Virginia: This should be a comfortable win with or without Noel Devine. The senior tailback may be out due to an injury he picked up against LSU. However, the Rebels are pretty terrible. They are allowing over 30 points a game, so look for the Mountaineers to attack early and often. Geno Smith will look to regain his early season form, and will have plenty of opportunities if Noel sits. The Mountaineer defense should continue to improve. Look for the pass rush to haunt UNLV all day. The Rebels rarely go east, and when they do it’s usually pretty ugly. Mountaineers roll.

Prediction: 41-14 West Virginia

Memphis at Louisville: The Cardinals have an opportunity to win two games in a row. That may not sound that impressive, but this would be a huge step for Charlie Strong’s team. Louisville will look to build on a solid offensive performance from last week. Adam Froman and Bilal Powell combined for over 450 yards, and will lead the attack against a dreadful Memphis defense. The Tigers statistically have one of the worst defenses in the land and will surely slip early. If Memphis can’t keep it close, then Louisville will cruise. However, the Cardinals need to play better defensively. Last week Louisville nearly gave away a 24-point lead. It may not matter against the dregs of society, but conference teams will bite them. Look for the Cardinals to dominate early, and really force Memphis take too many chances. This game should be over by the 3rd quarter.

Prediction: 38-20 Louisville

UConn at Rutgers: Talk about two teams going in very different directions. On one hand you have the Huskies. This is a team that has been soaring with Cody Endres running the offense. The ground game continues to shine, and now pas or two may actually be completed. The defense is playing better, and it seems that normalcy may be back in Storrs. Then you have Rutgers. Here’s a team with one of the best defenses in the nation, but couldn’t find the endzone even if it was on the Jersey Shore. The Knights offense is abysmal, with no help in sight. Look for UConn to stack the box, and send pressure all game long. It’s what everyone else is doing and it seems to work. Offensively, the Huskies will try to control the clock as much as possible. Don’t expect a ton of success against this stingy Rutgers’ defense. The problem for the Knights though is that a few successful drives will probably be enough for the Huskies to prevail.

Prediction: 21-13 Connecticut

Syracuse at South Florida: It’s been some time since Syracuse faced an FBS opponent, but credit them for easily handling the FCS opposition. Now the Orange head down to Tampa to face a stingy defense, but an offense that’s missing its wings. South Florida has been winning games, but it hasn’t been impressive. The Bulls will have to go to the air to beat Syracuse. The Orange defense will certainly be stacking the box. South Florida should have some luck based on sheer athleticism, but don’t expect them to run away with it, especially if they continue to turn the ball over. The Orange will look to maintain its balance on offense. Delone Carter has run well, and Ryan Nassib has been a pleasant surprise. The issue wasn’t the arm of Nassib, but the decision-making. Nassib has been very impressive with the football, and will have to be against this defense. This should be a close game throughout. Look for USF to escape relying on their defense, and the loud crowd. The Orange seem to be improving, but may not be ready to win this type of game.

Prediction: 23-20 USF

Game of the Week: Pittsburgh at Notre Dame: This doesn’t seem to be a great match-up for Pittsburgh. The Panthers are soft in the secondary and the Irish love to throw the football. Pitt can’t throw the ball and Notre Dame can stop the run. So, why is this the game of the week? Because it’ Notre Dame, and they tend to always play close games…and this should be no different. Look for the Panthers’ defense to play aggressively and try to force Dayne Crist into low percentage passes. Crist is liable to make a mistake or two. And look for Tino Sunseri to potentially have a decent day. The good thing for Sunseri is that receivers will be open. The Irish secondary resembles the New England Patriots. This may open up the rushing attack for Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. If all of these things happen then Pitt can win. Sadly for them it probably won’t. Brian Kelly knows this Pitt defense and will look to exploit it just as he did last year. Also look for the Irish to mix up their pass rush to confuse Sunseri, which shouldn’t be too difficult. Pitt probably keeps it close, but won’t keep up all night.

Prediction: 31-21 Notre Dame

Big East Rankings V. 4,0

1. West Virginia (3-1): Let down by the coaching staff once again, with another game on the line. Next Step…Bye Week

2. Syracuse (3-1): No offense to Syracuse, but they shouldn’t be number two in the Big East. Not yet. This league is down! Next Step…Bye Week

3. Cincinnati (1-3): They outplayed Oklahoma, but were let down by mistakes. The Bearcats could be back. Next Step…Bye Week

4. South Florida (2-1): Still under-performing under the Skip Holtz regime. Next Step…Hosting Florida Atlantic.

5. Rutgers (3-1): The defense continues to play well…the offense continues to struggle. Next Step…Hosting Tulane.

6. Connecticut (2-2): Cody Endres taking over at quarterback could be the boost the Huskies need to get back at it. Next Step…Hosting Vanderbilt.

7. Pittsburgh (1-2): Can the Panthers really be this bad? Can they stop getting arrested? Next Step…Hosting Florida International.

8. Louisville (1-2): The Cardinals are looking to build off their good performance at Oregon State. Next Step…A must win on the road at Arkansas State.

Big East Preview, Week 4

Potentially an explosive week for the Big East. Major match ups for the conference’s top teams. This is one of the last opportunities for this conference to step up to the plat and prove something. Or it could be another dismal weekend. On to the Picks!

Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 17-4

Bye: Louisville


Colgate at Syracuse: It’s not every year you have an FBS team face two-straight FCS squads. Well, Syracuse has pulled it off. In all reality Syracuse was forced to make a quick scheduling change due to a team dropping out. The change has brought Colgate to the Dome for a good beating. Expect Ryan Nassib to continue his solid QB play, and the Orange defense to continue to gain confidence.

Prediction: 45-7 Syracuse

Buffalo at Connecticut: The Huskies need to figure out how to pass the ball…and they need to figure it out quickly. Zach Fraiser may be in danger of losing his job if he comes out slow again; especially against a team he should deal with rather easily. The Bulls have had some good defensive success, but haven’t faced a tailback like Jordan Todman. The passing game should open up with Buffalo stacking the box. The Husky defense will handle Buffalo, so it’s completely up to the UConn offense to get the job done. Expect it to happen.

Prediction: 27-10 Connecticut

Western Kentucky at South Florida: The Bulls probably spent the bye week trying to figure out if there are actually receivers somewhere on campus. BJ Daniels desperately needs targets for this offense to balance out. South Florida has the running game, they seem to have the defense…the big question is the passing attack. This team can’t afford to be too one-dimensional. The good news for the Bulls is that this could be the week to open that passing game up. The Hilltoppers are allowing 50 points per-game, and will be in for a long game. The Bulls win this one easily.

Prediction: 35-13 South Florida

North Carolina at Rutgers: This is a huge game for Rutgers. The Knights get to face an opponent that has faced suspensions and two heart-breaking losses. However, it will be a great test, because the Tarheels have plenty of talent. UNC will still be missing key members due to Agent-Foolery. The defense hasn’t gelled, but the offense has exceeded expectations. Rutgers has to be ready for a balanced attacked. But most importantly, the Knights need to find an offense. Having the 113th best passing attack in the country won’t get it done. This is a true statement game for Rutgers. If they can’t score against this train-wreck of a defense then they won’t score on anyone. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, and throw a little love the way of the Big East. The Knight’s defense gets it done, and the offense wakes up a little bit.

Prediction: 24-21 Rutgers

(8) Oklahoma at Cincinnati: Well…this looked like a good match-up a few weeks back…and then the season started. The Bearcats have been miserable in virtually every aspect of the game. The defense is brutal. The offensive line is garbage. The running game is non-existence. The coaching has been terrible. Having said all of that, do they have a chance to beat Oklahoma? Hell no. Landry Jones will throw for as many touchdowns as he wants. Butch Jones will not enjoy his Saturday.

Prediction: 42-21 Oklahoma

(19) Miami at Pittsburgh: The Panthers are looking for a spark. From injuries to ineffectiveness, and worst of all numerous arrests, this isn’t the start that Pittsburgh was looking for. However, it’s still a team that has plenty of talent. The defense will be tested by shear athleticism tonight as the Hurricanes come to play. The Hurricanes have spent the bye week trying to regroup following a dismal offensive performance at Ohio State. The Hurricanes should do well moving the ball. Pitt’s pass defense won’t be as solid without Greg Romeus, and this will exploit the young secondary. Dion Lewis should finally get things rolling. He’s too good to stay in the doldrums. But it won’t be enough. Just too much offensive speed for Miami in this contest.

Prediction: 31-27 Miami

Game of the Week: (22) West Virginia at (15) LSU: This is a winnable for the Mountaineers. Geno Smith and the West Virginia offense are incredibly tough to defend. You can shut down one receiver, but three others can burn you. You can shut down Noel Devine, but Ryan Clarke can run you over. It’s well balanced, and extremely athletic. However, the offensive line, while playing better last week, is still not up to par. The good thing for WVU is that LSU’s offense is completely imbalanced. Jordan Jefferson hasn’t gotten the passing game going, which is good for WVU. The weakest link right now for the Mountaineers is the secondary. It seems like a good match up for WVU. While they won’t put up a huge number due to the LSU defense, they should be able to do enough to stay in the game. Let’s be honest though, the biggest factor will be the crowd. LSU simply doesn’t lose at home on Saturday nights. A mistake late by the Mountaineers could be the difference. If this game was at a neutral field I would take the West Virginia.

Prediction: 28-24 LSU

Big East Preview, Week 3

Another dismal week for the Big East, with no statement wins. Once again, we have some opportunities for the conference to step up to the plate. Will we see a few hits? Or just more strikeouts? To the Picks!!!

Last Week: 8-0
Overall: 14-2

Bye Week: Rutgers, Pittsburgh, South Florida

Maine at Syracuse: The Orange are coming off a frustrating game at Washington. It seemed to be a winnable game early, that straight got away from them. Syracuse now looks to rebound against a University of Maine team that is still looking for consistency. This should be a good match up for Syracuse. Maine is an FCS team, which has historically played FBS teams tough, and even had the lead against the Orange last year. However, it’s a team that Syracuse should handle easily. Look for Delone Carter to get on track. Last year, he tore the Black Bears up all night long. Ryan Nassib should also have plenty of success through the air, as long as the offensive line stands tall. Maine had to use plenty of trickeration last year to hang tough, expect Syracuse to be ready for it.

Prediction: 38-10 Syracuse

Louisville at (25) Oregon State: This will be a hard, road test for a Louisville team that just isn’t that competitive. The Beavers are faster, stronger, and simply much better. The Cardinals best hope is for Oregon State to be looking ahead to next week’s match up against Boise State. Louisville has run the ball well with Bilel Powell, but overall offensively still one-dimensional. This will be an issue against the Beavers, especially when they load the box. Jaquizz Rodgers will be the man for OSU. Louisville will struggle all night trying to slow one of college football’s most explosive players. The long, first year for Charlie Strong continues this weekend.

Prediction: 41-17 Oregon State

UConn at Temple: The Huskies travel to Philadelphia to take on the team they replaced in the Big East. This is also a battle of two great tailbacks. Jordan Todman got off and running for the Huskies last week after a slow start. Temple’s Bernard Pierce is still looking for a bust out game, which could happen this week. Connecticut has struggled against the run, but Temple isn’t as explosive as Michigan. The Huskies should be able to have success against this inconsistent Temple team. Meanwhile, UConn’s defense has a chance to make a bit of a statement. We have all expected more from the Huskies this year; this is a chance to prove it to us. Expect a close game, but too much Husky experience on both sides of the ball will be the difference.

Prediction: 24-14 UConn

Maryland at (21) West Virginia: Well, West Virginia is all over the place. The Mountaineers are lucky to have escaped Marshall with a win. Now coming to town is a new and improved Maryland team that is off to a 2-0 start. The Mountaineers should match up well. Look for WVU to stack the box and force Maryland to put the ball in the air. This is something the Terps have struggled with, even using two quarterbacks. Maryland needs to be balanced or WVU will eat up the offensive line. Meanwhile, the Mountaineer offense may have finally come out of their malaise late last game. However, this is still an offensive line that struggles. This should help Maryland stay in this game. Look for WVU to run many quick screens to open things up. Tavon Austin and Jock Sanders need many more touches, and the screen game is the way to go. At the end of the day, Maryland’s offensive game is not creative enough to win this game.

Prediction: 23-17 West Virginia

Game of the Week: Cincinnati at NC State: Tonight’s match up will give some bragging rights to the conference that wins. Bragging rights that are badly needed for two conferences mired in turmoil. The Bearcats finally woke up last week with a big second half. The Wolfpack has been inconsistent, but are 2-0. This is a battle of QB’s. Simply put, the QB who plays better will lead his team to victory. This means the pressure will certainly be put on NC State’s Russell Wilson. Why? The game is in Raleigh. This means Cincy needs to go all out. Expect an aggressive pass rush, and an open offensive playbook. If the Bearcats play not to win, they won’t. I still don’t believe we have seen Cincy’s best, which leads me to think it could be tonight. Look for the Bearcats to take advantage of Wilson and the Wolfpack’s mistakes. I’ll take the upset.

Prediction: 31-30 Cincinnati

Big East Preview, Week 2

Well, last week was ugly. Not the best start for a conference that badly needs a statement or two. This week will give the Big East a few opportunities, but it would take some upsets. As for the rest of the games, a mix of FCS teams and “must” wins. To the Picks!!!

Last Week: 6-2
Overall: 6-2

Bye: None

Indiana State @ Cincinnati: It wasn’t a good week for the Bearcats. Not only did they derail against Fresno State, but number one receiver, Vidal Hazelton was lost for the year after tearing his ACL. Look for Cincy to bounce back this weekend against Larry Bird’s Sycamores, whose one win came against Division 16, Saint Josephs of Indiana. The Bearcats should roll.

Prediction: 43-7 Cincinnati

Eastern Kentucky at Louisville: The Cardinals are simply not a good team. It will be a struggle all season long for Charlie Strong to find hope. Well, hope has a name this week…that name is Eastern Kentucky. EKU was blown out last week by another FCS program, which is certainly good news for the ‘Ville. Look for Bilel Powell to slice up the Colonel defense, and Adam Froman to light up the sky. This should be a nice confidence boost for Louisville moving forward.

Prediction: 31-9 Louisville

Texas Southern at Connecticut: The Huskies were the biggest disappointment in the conference last week. They were straight boat-raced out of Ann-Arbor. The Huskies come home licking their collective wounds, and look for some answers against Texas Southern. It will certainly be a win, but expect many questions surrounding this Connecticut team moving forward. It’s hard to answer a lot against a team that lost to Prairie View A+M.

Prediction: 38-10 Connecticut

UNH at Pittsburgh: Boy, we called that one last week. Hard luck loss for Pittsburgh that came down to inexperience at the quarterback position. However, Tino Sunseri did show a lot of promise at the position moving forward. Pitt now faces an FCS team known for beating FBS opponents, including Rutgers. Though UNH doesn’t have the firepower or defense to handle a team like the Panthers. Expect Dion Lewis to get on track, and the defense to gain confidence this weekend.

Prediction: 44-13 Pittsburgh

Rutgers at Florida International: The Knights were simply dreadful last week. Fortunately, Rutgers was facing a weak FCS opponent. They look to keep the winning going down south against FIU. The Panthers were off last week, so they have had all summer and fall to plan for this game. Will it matter? Doubtful. The Knights should be able to run all night long. FIU gave up more than 230 rushing yards a game against last year. Also look for the stingy defense to continue. The Panthers may believe this is a winnable game, but if Rutgers plays their game it won’t be a contest.

Prediction: 34-17 Rutgers

(23) West Virginia at Marshall: The ole rivalry game that isn’t much of a rivalry. Marshall is still looking for their first ever win against WVU…and it will be a tough task once again this season. The Mountaineers’ defense is already in midseason form, and Geno Smith guided the offense to some nice drives last week. Again, it was against an FCS team, but Smith looked confident and ready to be a starter. The Herd was handled easily by Ohio State, but always play WVU tight. Let’s also not forget that Marshall’s new coach, Doc Holliday was coaching in Morgantown last year. For the Herd to have a chance they need to run the football. The last thing Holliday wants are 3rd and longs against a defense that is far superior to Marshall’s offense. Expect WVU to score early and control the game from there. Too many mistakes will bury the Herd.

Prediction: 38-13 West Virginia

Syracuse at Washington: The Orange hammered Akron on the road last week. The prize? Go even further west to face Jake Locker and the Huskies. This is a winnable game for Syracuse, which makes this the biggest game for the Orange under Doug Marrone so far. Overall, the Orange defense is better and deeper than Washington’s. Syracuse is also better rushing the football. The big difference will be at quarterback. Jake Locker is a Heisman candidate, and played well in a loss at BYU in week one. Ryan Nassib is young, and playing with confidence for the Cuse, but he’s nowhere close to Locker. So, what does this mean? It’s Lockers game to win or lose. If he plays well, the Huskies will handle Syracuse. If I had any stones I would take Syracuse here with the upset, but the long trip out west and Locker steer me towards a UW win.

Prediction: 28-17 Washington

Game of the Week: South Florida at Florida: Too bad this game wasn’t last week...you know when Florida looked like garbage. USF may now have to deal with a team looking to start the dismantling of the schedule. The Bulls weren’t exactly stellar to start the year either, struggling early with an FCS school. Though a win is a win, and now it’s time to face a potentially explosive Gator squad. John Brantley should be nice and comfortable, and should be able to move the ball with the short passing game. The Bulls’ defense isn’t ready to be relied upon, so look for them to play aggressively and try to force turnovers. BJ Daniels will need to play the game of his life as well. If USF doesn’t score early, and relatively often, they have no chance. This will be a closer game then some may expect, but too much time of possession for the Gators, as they control the game from the start.

Prediction: 27-17 Florida

Big East Power Rankings, V 1.0

West Virginia (1-0, 0-0 in conference): Solid showing against an FCS opponent keeps WVU in the national rankings. Next Step…Trip down south to face Marshall.

Pittsburgh (0-1, 0-0): Tough loss to Utah in OT for the conference favorite. Next Step…Bounce back game versus UNH.

Cincinnati (0-1, 0-0): Pathetic performance at Fresno State puts some early pressure on new coach, Butch Jones. Next Step…At home against Indiana State.

South Florida (1-0): Good first win under new coach Skip Holtz over an FCS squad. Next Step…Huge game at Florida

Syracuse (1-0, 0-0): Great start to the season with a win at Akron. Next Step…Looking for a statement win at Washington.

Rutgers (1-0, 0-0): Lackluster win over an inferior FCS team. Next Step…On the road at FIU.

Connecticut (0-1, 0-0): Straight embarrassed by Michigan in the big house. Next Step…Restarting the season against Texas Southern.

Louisville (0-1, 0-0): Dismal effort in loss to rival Kentucky. Next Step…a must win against FCS team Eastern Kentucky.

Big East Power Rankings, Week 3

1. Cincinnati (2-0, 1-0): The class of the conference continues to roll early. Next Step…A statement game at Oregon State

2. Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0): A textbook weekend win over Buffalo was unfortunately overshadowed by injuries. Next Step…Stopping the Navy rushing attack.

3. West Virginia (2-0, 0-0): Sweet revenge against ECU has the Mountaineers flying high. Next Step…Not letting Auburn gain sweet revenge this weekend.

4. South Florida (2-0, 0-0): The easy, early schedule has been no problem for the Bulls. Next Step…another laugher, this time against Charleston Southern.

5. UConn (1-1, 0-0): Terrible weekend for the Huskies, losing on a safety, and losing the starting QB. Next Step…On the road against a tough Baylor team.

6. Rutgers (1-1, 0-0): A nice bounce-back weekend for the dark horse of the conference. Next Step…hosting FIU

7. Syracuse (0-2, 0-0): This team is ready to start winning some football games. Next Step…a winnable game against Northwestern

8. Louisville (1-0, 0-0): They may have a better record than Syracuse, but haven’t impressed yet. Next Step…a tough rivalry game against Kentucky

Big East Preview, Week 2

The season is off and running with few surprises so far. The Big East is finally represented in the top 25 with Cincinnati, and others may join the Bearcats soon. This week is highlighted by an important ACC/ Big East showdown. He are the picks.

Last Week: 6-1

Overall: 6-1

Bye: Louisville

Howard at Rutgers: Well, the Knights are not exactly off to the best start. However, this should be a bounce-back weekend against mighty Howard. Rutgers has plenty of issues to work on, and expect four quarters of work, while never worrying about actually losing. Domenic Natale was downright brutal, and makes one wonder if Tom Savage is now the starting quarterback for the Knights. But Rutgers also needs to find some intensity, a consistent defense, an offensive line that doesn't resemble Swiss cheese...like I said a lot of issues. Too bad the Bison didn't start the season in Jersey...they may have beaten that Rutgers team. That will not be the case this weekend.

Prediction: 34-10 Rutgers

Southeast Missouri State at (23) Cincinnati: Both teams come in off of major blowouts. However, only one of them was a blowout against an FBS opponent. Actually...only one of them was against an NCAA opponent. Newly ranked Cincinnati sent a message Monday by hammering Rutgers in Jersey. The Bearcats already look to have the most dynamic offense in the conference…and defensively, so far so good. The ‘Cats managed to keep Rutgers under 300 yards of total offense, and ended up with three interceptions. Are we talking trap game this week with the monster win over Rutgers, and a feeble opponent coming in? Um...no. The Redhawks did win 72-3 last week...however it was against NAIA foe Quincy. Expect a thrashing.

Prediction: 56-10 Cincinnati

South Florida at Western Kentucky: The Bulls were pretty solid in week one. WKU was hideous. The Hilltoppers managed just 83 total yards against Tennessee. Not good considering South Florida brings a solid defense to the table. The Bulls shutdown Wofford in week one...limiting the Terriers to just 211 total yards. Matt Grothe will once again lead the Bulls offense through the air and on the ground...especially with the suspension to starting tailback Mike Ford. Grothe should have quite a bit of success doing both against a very shaky WKU defense. This game should be over early.

Prediction: 42-9 South Florida

Pittsburgh at Buffalo: When first looking at this matchup one would think it's one-sided. However, looking at how Buffalo has been playing over the last year (as well of the fact that Pitt nearly lost to the Bulls at home last year) this could be a solid football game. Buffalo had a decent road win at UTEP to kick off the year. Meanwhile, Pitt knocked the dust off with a drubbing of Youngstown State. Panther frosh tailback, Dion Lewis was electric in his debut...going for over 120 yards with three total touchdowns. The Bulls will have to slow Lewis down to stay in the game. Expect Pitt's defense to overpower the Buffalo line, and put tons of pressure on Zach Maynard. This game may be close early, but the Panthers will be too balanced for Buffalo to keep up.

Prediction: 29-14 Pitt

Syracuse at (7) Penn State: The Gophers were who Cuse thought they were...and they let them off the hook (slams table and leaves...) Greg Paulus and company had them. They were decent enough on both sides of the ball to bring it home...and also make me look like a genius for picking it...but it was mistakes in the end that killed them. However, a mistake is much better than an ineffective ball club, and the Orange were not ineffective. They will be this week though. Penn State will kill them.

Prediction: 45-10 Penn State

East Carolina at West Virginia: This is a revenge game for the Mountaineers after getting embarrassed by the Pirates last year. Patrick Pinkney and ECU owned West Virginia last year, and look to do it again with an experienced and balanced attack. However, the Pirates have to remember that a college football game is 60 mins, not 30...after nearly blowing a large lead against FCS opponent and noted FBS killer Appalachian State. Too many mistakes nearly led to a monster upset. The Mountaineers slept walk through a win against Liberty. Nothing was too impressive throughout the entire game, with the exception of new kicker Tyler Bitancurt, who was 4-4 for field goals. Field goals aren't enough against ECU, who will have some success against the inconsistent West Virginia defense. Expect more intensity out of WVU this weekend, as they look for sweet revenge. The Mountaineers should take control in the second to remain undefeated in the young season.

Prediction: 31-21 West Virginia

Game of the Week: (19) North Carolina at UConn: This is a very important game for the conference. The Huskies have an opportunity to take down a pretty good ACC team. If UConn wins, expect Carolina to drop from the polls…which could get another Big East team in. It should be a good battle, with both teams looking to establish the ground game early. North Carolina’s Shaun Draughn and UConn’s Jordan Toddman were the stars for their respective teams in week one. However, the Huskies were far from dominant against a weak opponent in Ohio. If UConn is looking to make a statement, it starts with Toddman and ends with a young defense stepping up. However, the experienced ‘Heel offense should have success. The Huskies will have a good team this year, just not good enough to deal with Carolina.

Prediction: 24-19 North Carolina

Big East Preview...Week 1

Here we go folks…another new season, which means another season of trying to earn national respect. It will be difficult this year, with no true powerhouse on paper. Of course that means a very exciting year though…with many potential conference champs. Week 1 is loaded with FCS opponents, and highlighted by a big in-conference showdown. Here are the picks…

Last Year: 48-21

This Year: N/A

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh: A nice opening opponent for the conference favorite. The Panthers need to break in a few new players, and Youngstown shouldn’t pose much of a threat. It will be the debut of frosh tailback Dion Lewis. He has big shoes to fill, but many think he may end up being very special. Bill Stull has won the starting quarterback position, but expect redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri to get some playing time as well. Youngstown shouldn’t pose much of a threat to the Panthers. Expect a blowout.

Prediction: 34-7 Pitt

Wofford at South Florida: The Bulls come in this year looking for better consistency. And any conversation will start with senior quarterback Matt Grothe. He has had an outstanding career, but a Big East championship continues to elude him. He won’t have great running back support to start the year, with starting back Mike Ford suspended for two games. It shouldn’t matter against Wofford though. The Terriers have been strong in the FCS, but not strong enough to slow down Grothe and the passing attack. And expect George Selvie and the defense to shut Wofford down fairly easily.

Prediction: 41-10 South Florida

Liberty at West Virginia: The post-Pat White era begins for the Mountaineers, as Jarrett Brown takes over. The senior is undefeated as a starter, has a very live arm and can also run the football. Seven starters also return to a defense that had a lot of success in 2008. The major question will be the offensive line, which is very green. Liberty was fantastic last year in the FCS, but did lose Rashad Jennings to graduation. The Flames may give WVU a push, but expect too much firepower from the Mountaineers in the end.

Prediction: 44-17 West Virginia

Indiana State at Louisville: It may be a very long season for the Louisville Cardinals, so to start out against a school best known for its basketball team from 1979 is probably a good idea. The Cards will be relying on Victor Anderson all year long. The sophomore tailback was one of the few bright spots last year for the ‘Ville. The Sycamores actually come into the game already having played a game...and losing that game to Div 2 opponent Quincy. Good luck Indy State.

Prediction: 40-10 Louisville

UConn at Ohio: Can somebody please tell the Huskies to stop playing MAC teams on the road. C’mon UConn…you’re better than that! Meanwhile, the Huskies could have a bit of a down year after losing so many key players…though the running game may not slip too much. The two-headed monster of Jordan Toddman and Andrea Dixon are ready to fill the void left from Donald Brown. The defense is going to have struggles this year, and it starts with trying to slow down Ohio’s Boo Jackson. Jackson accounted fro 21 touchdowns last year, but is susceptible to the turnover. This is a bit of a trap game for the Huskies, but if the ground game is on, it will be a Connecticut win.

Prediction: 31-23 UConn

Minnesota at Syracuse: Huge game for the ‘Cuse and first-year coach Doug Marrone to start the year. The point guard gets the start for Marrone’s Orange as Greg Paulus will line up behind center. Paulus is an interesting case study. Does he have anything left from his standout days in high school? Is he really the best QB in Syracuse? Is this a marketing ploy? Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure…we just don’t know what that is yet for Greg Paulus. Not an easy contest though, against a Minnesota team that continues to improve. Does the young Syracuse defense have enough? This is a huge game for the conference, as the Big East tries to gain some respect early on. Let us be optimistic

Prediction: 24-21 Syracuse

Game of the Week: Cincinnati at Rutgers: Huge conference game to start the year. The 2008 champ against the dark-horse pick to win the Big East. However, Cincinnati lost a ton to graduation and Rutgers hasn’t announced a starting quarterback yet! The Bearcats still have plenty of firepower though, with QB Tony Pike leading the way. Pike is coming off a breakout year, and has Mardy Gilyard back, as well as Juco wideout Jamar Howard. Rutgers will counter with a strong defense, though better against the rush than the pass. Expect a pretty tight first half, with Rutgers trying to control the clock…keeping Pike off the field. However, I don’t have the confidence if the Rutgers offense to score enough to take the Cats down.

Prediction: 27-20 Cincinnati

WEDNESDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

REIGNING AL MVP GETS THINGS GOING WITH A HR (COURTESY BOSTON.COM)

• Local colleges were in baseball action Tuesday as USM and SMCC are both winners.
• The Maine Black Bear Softball team is in action today with a double header against Boston University. Due to weather, the games have been moved up withe the 1st game starting at 2PM
• The Boston Red Sox opened the 2009 season with a blast...literally, beating the AL Champions, Tampa Bay Ray 5 - 3. Josh Beckett looked every bit an ace striking out 10 and allowing 2 hits over 7 innings. AL MVP Dustin Pedroia starting things off with a 1st inning solo HR of Rays starter James Shields. The Sox also got a HR from Jason Veritek and RBIs from JD Drew, Jason Bay and Mike Lowell
• The Boston Bruins dropped a 3 - 2 tilt against the Ottawa Senators.
• The UConn Woman's Basketball team completed its 3rd undefeated season under Geno Auriemma, capturing the NCAA Championship over Louisville 76 - 54

Sunday Links

Pirates Goalie Jhonas Enroth (courtesy Portland Pirates)

The Portland Pirates picked up a much-needed point, but lost the game to the Providence Bruins 3-2 in a shoot-out. They return to the Cx4 to play Springfield Sunday afternoon at 4 pm.

The Boston Bruins shutout the New York Rangers 1-0 and clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

The UConn Huskies lost to the Michigan State Spartans in Final Four action, and the Spartans will meet UNC in the Final on Monday.

The Red Sox sent Clay Buchholz to Pawtucket and they have one more move to make to get down to the 25 man roster limit before Monday's opener (by the way Matty and Jeff will be podcasting from Chicago Dogs in Scarborough Monday from 12-2 in advance of Red Sox Opening Day. We know you are not going to work anyways, you might as well, eat, drink, and hang out)

NCAA Tournament...Big East Elite Eight Preview

Well, the dream is over. Oklahoma did its best to make sure the Big East wouldn’t own the Final Four. However, there is still the possibility of three out of the four…which is pretty damn impressive. Can the conference continue to dominate? Let’s take a look at the picks.

Last Round: 3-2

Overall: 16-3

(3) Missouri vs. (1) UConn: The Huskies didn’t show signs of being distracted by the recruiting scandal. Jim Calhoun seems to have done a good job in putting a barrier between the allegations and his kids. UConn also continues to roll. Purdue just couldn’t match the physicality. Now it’s a battle of two high-scoring teams. Both squads are averaging over 90 points a game. This will be the toughest test so far for UConn. Expect the Huskies to get more from the perimeter, especially if the school can break the press. This will be a close one, but the Huskies will be too tough.

Prediction: 86-80 UConn

(3) Villanova vs. (1) Pittsburgh: Another game, another escape job by Pitt. However, a win is a win…especially this late in the season. Meanwhile, Nova comes in after destroying Duke (and the free world can once again rest easy). The Wildcats continue to run teams into the ground with straight athleticism. No team is more athletic defensively than Nova…which could be an issue for Pitt. The Panthers need more consistent scoring, which could be difficult against the Cats. DeJaun Blair needs to be a major factor. This means staying out of foul trouble, which could be tough. There is no doubt that Nova will drive at him all night. Pitt can’t afford to get out of the box slowly. If they do, this game will be over by halftime.

Prediction: 75-68 Villanova

(2) Michigan State vs. (1) Louisville: The Cardinals certainly looked like the number one overall seed last night. The Ville dismantled Arizona like a 16-seed. This team is just too deep, too athletic, and too well coached to not be a final four team. The Spartans are a good story. Tom Izzo has an experienced team playing well, at the right time. But MSU just won’t match the Ville’s intensity.

Prediction: 71-58 Louisville