Big East Preview, Week 7

The Midway point of the season has been reached, meaning the conference schedule starts to pick up. It’s put up or shut up for some teams, while others try to continue solid play. To the picks!

Last Week: 4-2
Overall: 31-8

Bye Week: Connecticut

Army at Rutgers: The Knights have new life offensively with true frosh, Chas Dodd at QB. Dodd led Rutgers to a huge win over UConn last week. He now faces Army, a team that beat Tulane last week. Let us not forget that this is the same Tulane team that upset Rutgers the week before. However, this is a different team with Dodd…a much more balanced team. The Knights will score, and should make it very difficult for Army to do the same. The 9th ranked defense in the nation will limit the Black Knights, and force them into passing situations. This isn’t good for Army, considering they are last in FBS in passing. Too many 3rd and longs with bury the Knights.

Prediction: 31-7 Rutgers

South Florida at (25) West Virginia: These two have played some doozies over the last few years. However, 2010 looks to be different. The Mountaineers are off and running. The offense has looked smooth. Even deep threat, Brad Starks is starting to get healthy and make an impact. Defensively, they remain solid, especially against the run. South Florida will probably have a long night. BJ Daniels continues to struggle. The passing game is non-existent. The rushing attack will probably struggle to get going. The Bulls will rely on the defense once again. USF should have some success slowing down the Mountaineer attack, but it won’t be enough.

Prediction: 28-13 WVU

Cincinnati at Louisville: This is a huge game for both teams. The Bearcats are looking to get back in the fight for the conference, while the Cardinals are looking for that first statement win under Charlie Strong. Louisville will certainly be tested. Zack Collaros seems to have grasped the Butch Jones’ offense. Plus, the rushing attack has been electric lately. The Bearcats’ defense has played better lately as well. Louisville will have to be at their best to win this game…and that still may not be enough. The Bearcats may just have too much, especially for the young Louisville defense. The Cards will need mistakes, but could gamble too much to try to get them.

Prediction: 34-24 Cincinnati

Game of the Week: Pittsburgh at Syracuse: No way anyone thought this would be the Game of the Week about a month ago. And, no way anyone would have thought that Syracuse would be the favorite. Bottom-line is Syracuse has been the better team. The offense is more balanced. The special teams have been stout. And the defense is one the better groups in the country. So, yes, right now the Orange are a better team. They also have tons of momentum heading into this weekend, as they are coming off their first road win in conference since the Carter administration. Pittsburgh continues to be stagnant on offense. The problem is at the quarterback position. Tino Sunseri isn’t very good, and the coaching staff doesn’t trust him. That’s a deadly combination. They will rely on the rushing attack of Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. Expect Pitt to win the time of possession. This should keep the Panthers close throughout the game. However, the Orange should be able to put enough drives together to win this game. Plus, the atmosphere in the dome will be the best in years, so look for that to be a factor as well.

Prediction: 23-17 Syracuse

Big East Power Rankings, V. 6.0

1. West Virginia (4-1): Took care of business early last week against UNLV. Next Step…first conference game, hosting USF.

2. Syracuse (4-1): Statement win in Tampa as the Orange continue their fine play. Next Step…Another potential statement game, hosting Pitt.

3. Rutgers (3-2): New life for the Knights, as they now rely on a freshman QB. Next Step…Hosting Army.

4. Cincinnati (2-3): The Bearcats are finally looking like they should. Next Step…On the road at upstart Louisville.

5. Louisville (3-2): The Cards continue to play like they belong. Next Step…Big test at home against Cincinnati.

6. South Florida (3-2): BJ Daniels continues to mesmerize with his poor play. Next Step…on the road to face WVU.

7. Connecticut (3-3): The Huskies have absolutely no consistency. Next Step…A much needed bye week.

8. Pittsburgh (2-3): Probably won’t end up being the worst team in this league, but right now tough to put them higher. Next Step…Roadie at Syracuse.

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 Preview, Week 5

The conference failed once again to make a statement last week. And may not have another chance until bowl season. It’s now time for the Big East to stop the bleeding. It should start this weekend with games that are very winnable. To the picks…

Last Week: 6-1
Overall: 23-5

Bye: WVU, Cincinnati, Syracuse

Florida International at Pittsburgh: The Panthers were flat-out embarrassed last week at home. Tino Sunseri continues to struggle, and it’s killing the running game. Dion Lewis has to deal with seven or eight players in the box consistently, because opposing teams don’t have to respect the pass. Pitt’s defense isn’t anything to write home about either. Between injuries, arrests, and inexperience, the Panthers are genuinely lost. This week is huge for Pitt to turn it around…and turn it around fast. FIU comes to town, and is very beatable. The Golden Panthers are only averaging 20 points per-game, and were blown out by a fairly weak Maryland team just last week. Expect Pitt to get back to the short pass game. This should open Lewis and the ground game up. This, in effect, should open up the potential of the big-play pass that Pitt has been missing. Jon Baldwin is too good of a receiver not use constantly. If the Panthers get back to basics they’ll win easily.

Prediction: 38-21 Pittsburgh

Florida Atlantic at South Florida: Well, the Bulls continue to turn the ball over at will, and can’t score. Fortunately, the Bulls have a stingy defense (this seems to be a theme in the Big East.) South Florida now welcomes the Owls into Tampa for what should be a victory for Skip Holtz’ team. FAU is one-dimensional on offense, and has no defense. If the Bulls force the Owls into many 3rd and long situations FAU won’t put much on the board. This is also another week for the USF offense to potentially wake the hell up. The rushing game is there, but the passing game is unacceptable. BJ Daniels needs to be more of a leader out on the field. It may begin this weekend.

Prediction: 31-10 USF

Tulane at Rutgers: Just like USF or Pitt or UConn, Rutgers can’t get their act together offensively. The Knights blew numerous opportunities last week. Turning the ball over in the redzone equals losses…just ask WVU. Good news for Rutgers is that starting QB Tom Savage should be okay. However, that could be bad news. Savage hasn’t been impressive at all, though the Knight’s QB depth chart isn’t exactly solid. With the offense struggling mightily look for Rutgers’ defense to pace the team. The Knight’s D is second in the nation in points scored, and will put a hurting on the Green Wave. And just like USF, Pitt, and UConn the offense should be able to wake up a bit this week, as they take on an inferior opponent.

Prediction: 29-7 Rutgers

Louisville at Arkansas State: The Cardinals should be licking their collective chops. Louisville has an opportunity to go on the road, put up a big number, and pick up their first away victory since 2008. All Louisville has to do is play like they did two weeks ago at Oregon State. This means playing with confidence, mistake-free, and smart. They shouldn’t struggle on offense. Arkansas State has one of the worst defenses in all of FBS. If Louisville can hold onto the ball, and limit ASU’s big plays then it will be a victory. If they go in there, and find themselves down big early, then it will be a long day. Have some faith in Louisville this weekend.

Prediction: 34-28 Louisville

Game of the Week: Vanderbilt at Connecticut: The Huskies may actually have some hope. The passing offense seems to be back with Cody Endres taking over. Endres threw the ball well last week, and helped UConn wake up. The Huskies now take on a beatable SEC opponent, which could end up being the best non-conference win for the Big East. Vandy comes in with mixed results. The defense has been respectable, but the offense needs a boost. The good thing for the Commodores is that UConn struggles against the run. Look for Warren Norman to try to establish the ground game early. Vanderbilt doesn’t have much of a passing game, so expect a lot of slow drives. UConn should have more success in stopping that ground attack, considering they will stack the box. Look for UConn to get back to what many expected this year: a stout defense. This should be a close game, but look for the UConn defense to give plenty of opportunities for Endres and Company to get the job done.

Prediction: 28-20 Connecticut

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 Power Rankings, Week 8

1. Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0 in conference): Pike or no Pike, the 'Cats continue to roll. Next Step...At Syracuse

2. Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0): A fantastic performance against South Florida, as the offense continues to roll. Next Step...Bye Week

3. West Virginia (6-1, 2-0): A dramatic, emotional win over UConn hid many of the problems WVU is still dealing with. Next Step...Friday night in Tampa.

4. South Florida (5-2, 1-2): The midseason collapse continues for the Bulls, after getting pounded by Pitt. Next Step...Huge home game against West Virginia

5. Connecticut (4-3, 1-2): Fantastic effort in a close loss to WVU. This team will not fold after the loss of Jasper Howard. Next Step...Crucial rivalry game at home against Rutgers.

6. Rutgers (5-2, 0-2): Only a win away from bowl eligibility, but can the Knight's beat a legitimate team? Next Step...Road game against a legitimate team in UConn.

7. Syracuse (3-4, 0-2): Got revenge over Akron without Mike Williams in the lineup. Next Step...Tough home game against Cincinnati

8. Louisville (2-5, 0-3): Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Next Step...Trying not to lose to Arkansas State.

Big East Preview, Week 8

Everybody is in action this week, as the Big East rolls into midseason. A few good matchups are sadly overshadowed by the unfortunate death of UConn corner Jasper Howard. We hear at the cmsb send our thoughts and prayers to his family and the Connecticut program. On to the picks.

Last Week: 3-1

Overall: 35-6

Bye: None

Rutgers at Army: Trap Game Alert, Trap Game Alert! The Knights travel to take on the…well Knights. Rutgers has to be careful not to get caught early by a much improved Army squad that is thinking bowl game. The West Pointers will look to control the game on the ground, with the 12^th ranked rushing attack in the nation. That is not good news for Rutgers. The Jersey Boys have really struggled against the run, including last week’s debacle against Pitt. Rutgers has to do a better a job in contain. Expect the Scarlet Knights to stack the box, and force Army to throw the football. This will probably be the Black Knight’s downfall. Army is dreadful in the passing game, and could be too one-dimension on Friday. Look for Rutgers to have an easy time moving the football, and success slowing down the Army rushing attack.

Prediction: 27-14 Rutgers

Akron at Syracuse: The Orange look for revenge from an embarrassing loss last year. The Zips are dreadful, averaging less than 20 points a game. Akron is still also looking for win number one against an FBS team. Meanwhile, Syracuse is coming off a bye week, and looking to get back on track after two-straight losses to conference opponents. A big question remains at quarterback, following Greg Paulus’ sub-par play. He is the starter, but you wonder for how much longer Ryan Nassib is ready to go if there is more failure.. Even if Paulus plays well, Nassib should get some time. Look for Syracuse to try to establish a running game that badly needs a solid performance. If the Orange can set up the play-action there’s no way Akron stays in this game.

Prediction: 30-10 Syracuse

Louisville at (5) Cincinnati: No word yet if Tony Pike will be starting for Cincinnati, but it won’t matter. The Bearcats can certainly win with backup Zach Collaros. Actually, the ‘Cats already have. Collaros was brilliant in the second half at South Florida, accounting for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. He is a dual threat, which can’t be good for Louisville. The Cardinals can’t stop anybody on the ground. Cincinnati’s swarming defense will also be a significant issue. Louisville enjoys turning the ball over, including four times on the road last week at UConn. The Cardinals have given fits to ‘Nati lately, but it just doesn’t add up this year. Nothing jumps out at this matchup and says upset…even with Tony Pike possibly not playing.

Prediction: 34-17 Cincinnati

Connecticut at (23) West Virginia: The Huskies come in with heavy hearts, following the murder of cornerback Jasper Howard last Sunday. As hard as this week has been, playing a game may be a welcome distraction. There’s no question UConn will be up for this game. Randy Edsell will make sure of that. West Virginia comes in with some significant storylines as well. Jarrett Brown is questionable for the weekend with a concussion, and two defensive players were arrested this week from separate incidents, affecting the depth chart. WVU will have to rely on the youngsters once again. QB Gino Smith was solid against Marshall, and the defense was even better. Look for a lot of Noel Devine to take some of the pressure off the passing game. UConn will stack the box to counter that. The Huskies should have some success on the ground, but look for the offense to try to exploit the inconsistent WVU secondary. This game may be closer than some expect. UConn should be motivated to play an exceptional game in Jasper’s honor. However, West Virginia just has too much offensively. WVU pulls ahead in the second and won’t look back.

Prediction: 31-21 West Virginia

Game of the Week: South Florida at (20) Pittsburgh: The Panthers are off and running…literally. Dion Lewis has been superb in replacing LeSean McCoy. The freshman is now a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. QB Bill Stull continues to play efficiently, and the defense has been good enough. Now the Panthers host South Florida that could be in dire straights. It’s about that time of the year where the Bulls shut it down, and coast. This has been the major criticism of Jim Leavitt. Keeping his team motivated after a loss is not his forte. The Bulls need a better defensive performance than last week, if USF wants to stay in the hunt. It will be tough test though, as Pitt brings a balanced attack. That type of attack should slow down the Bull blitz. From the Bulls to stay in the game B.J. Daniels will have to play mistake-free football. That is asking a lot from a freshman quarterback. This game just doesn’t seem to add up for the Bulls. Pitt is on very good form, and should remain undefeated in conference.

Prediction: 24-13 Pitt

Big East Power Rankings, Week 7

1. Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0 in conference): The Bearcats remain at the top, following a fantastic road win at South Florida. Next Step…Getting Tony Pike healthy for Louisville, and the remainder of the year.

2. Pittsburgh (6-1, 3-0): Offense continues to cruise, while the defense is ratcheting up. Next Step…Huge home game against South Florida.

3. South Florida (5-1, 1-1): Disappointing defensive performance against Cincinnati, especially after Tony Pike left the game. Next Step…Tough bounce-back game at Pitt.

4. West Virginia (5-1, 1-0): Quarterback questions after the injury to Jarrett Brown. Next Step…UConn at home.

5. Connecticut (4-2, 1-1): A nice win, followed by tragedy over the weekend. Jasper Howard was taken away from us way too soon. Next Step…Playing with heavy hearts at WVU.

6. Rutgers (4-2, 0-2): Good effort in a loss against a much better Pitt team. Next Step…Trap game at Army.

7. Syracuse (2-4, 0-2): Much-needed bye week, following two losses. Next Step…Revenge game against lowly Akron.

8. Louisville (2-4, 0-2): You wonder how much longer Steve Kragthorpe has a job. Next Step…Trying not to get trounced by Cincinnati.

Big East Preview, Week 7

Showcase time for the conference, as the two monsters of the Big East battle on Thursday night. Sure, there may be some other games this week, but only one matters to the nation as South Florida hosts Cincinnati. At the end of the week we could see a team in the top-5 and as many as four conference members ranked. On to the picks.

Last Week: 3-1

Overall: 32-5

Bye: Syracuse

Marshall at West Virginia: Well it’s rivalry week in the state of West Virginia. The problem is it’s not really a rivalry. Marshall has NEVER beaten the Mountaineers. How can you have a rivalry if it’s so one-sided? But maybe this is the year. The Thundering Herd come in 4-2, probably playing the best football since the rivalry was renewed a few years back. WVU will have to slow down Darius Marshall. The Herd Tailback has been fantastic this year, averaging over six yards per game. Expect the Mountaineers to stack the box, and should be able too, considering Marshall is a one dimensional team. The Herd is averaging less than 180 yards passing. West Virginia has scored over 30 points in every single game this year. That basically means nobody can stop the balanced attack. And now that Jarrett Brown seems comfortable again, expect another big day. Once again what can kill WVU are turnovers, which were a problem last week at Syracuse…again. If the ball is held onto it should be a nice win for WVU.

Prediction: 38-17 West Virginia

Louisville at Connecticut: The Cardinals are looking to make it two-straight as they travel up north to face a team that has to be upset. The Huskies let Pitt off the hook last week, and will look for some answers defensively this weekend. UConn looked susceptible to the run, which bodes well for the ‘Ville. Look for massive use of Victor Anderson to try to control the tempo, and keep the Cards in this game. It may be a bit late for the run to be ultra successful though, considering that is what UConn will be keying in on. The Cards don’t have a solid quarterback to fall back on if the rush is jammed. The Huskies should be able to control the tempo with their two-headed rushing attack. And when a passing play is actually called, Cody Endres will be up to the task. Louisville is just not good enough to stay in this game.

Prediction: 27-17 Connecticut

Pittsburgh at Rutgers: The Panthers are showing why the media had them number one in the conference. With a balanced attack, and what seems to be a new, improved defense, Pitt is playing with very high class. Rutgers is still a mystery. The Knights have spent a lot of time beating up on chumps since opening the season getting blown out by Cincinnati. This is a huge game for Rutgers. The public perception continues to be that the team is middle of the road. A statement win could go a long way for the Jersey Boys. The big question is if the Rutgers defense can contain Pitt. The Knight’s D has been a much better unit since the first week, but hasn’t truly been tested. I just don’t see Rutgers slowing down Dion Lewis and company. Plus, the Pitt defense is in good form, and should handle an inconsistent attack.

Prediction: 28-20 Pittsburgh

(8) Cincinnati at (21) South Florida: This is the first major showcase for the conference this season. The Bearcats will be looking for a statement win to help boast National Title aspirations, as well as Heisman hopes for Tony Pike. South Florida continues the dream season with B.J. Daniels at the helm. All the young quarterback has done is run the offense beautifully, and helped his team win games. The Bulls’ defense continues to be the major story though. George Selvie and company have been lights out this year…and will have to continue the great play to try to slow the Bearcat attack. The Bulls have only allowed two passing touchdowns all season. So look for Cincinnati to try to use a lot playaction. Of course this means the run needs to be successful, and there is no guarantee of that. Look for the USF defense to do enough to keep the Bulls in the game. This means its Daniels to possibly win or lose. Typically USF has a meltdown in the middle of the season. This game could certainly be a catalyst for that. But there is something about Daniels so far that makes me believe this won’t happen. Look for the crowd to motivate the youngster to lead his team to a close victory. Grothe is quickly being forgotten in Tampa.

Prediction: 24-20 South Florida

Big East Preview, Week 5

Conference play is upon us, as the Big East heads into week 5. Two conference games highlight the week, including South Florida looking for a 5-0 start. Also on the slate is a revenge game for West Virginia, and a should-be laugher for the conference’s number one team. Here are the picks.

Last Week: 5-2

Overall: 24-4

Bye Week: Rutgers, UConn

(10) Cincinnati at Miami (OH): This may be the biggest game that has ever happened at Yager Stadium. It was obviously scheduled when Cincinnati still sucked. With the top-10 ranking, the Bearcats will be getting everyone’s A-game…not sure Miami’s matters. The RedHawks are 0-4, and averaging just 11 points a game. Miami has also been shutout twice. And the topper is the loss to Kent State, the armpit of college football. This game has all the signs of a major blowout. Cincinnati already had a trap game, and it was last week against a

much better team in Fresno…and the ‘Cats handled it. Expect a beatdown.

Prediction: 51-7 Cincinnati

Pittsburgh at Louisville: Both teams are coming in with losses, and will be looking for a quick start in conference. This is a key game for Pitt to try to get back on track. The preseason favorite is desperately looking for a defense. The Panthers have been devastated by key injuries, and were finally exposed against a good offense in NC State. The Cardinals continue to search for offensive balance, which is a plus for Pitt. Look for the Panthers’ D to key in on the run, and limit Victor Anderson and Bilal Powell. Louisville QB, Justin Burke is going to have to make plays for the Cards to stay in this one…and that just isn’t likely. Pitt should have success against an inexperienced defense as well. Louisville can’t get into a scoring spree with the Panthers.

Prediction: 31-19 Pitt

Colorado at West Virginia: This is a revenge game for the Mountaineers, having played a forgettable game against the Buffalos last year. It was probably more embarrassing for Bill Stewart than anyone else, considering the game plan was a complete failure. A new year, a new team though, as WVU comes in as the heavy favorite. Colorado is off to a putrid start, including a loss to Toledo, where the Buffs allowed 54 points. It will be a long night defensively if Colorado can’t slow down a West Virginia offense that’s averaging 33 points a game. The Mountaineers have a balanced attack as well, making it more difficult. The Buffalos best chance is to create turnovers. It has been the Achilles’ Heal for WVU. It’s really the only thing that has buried this team. Even if the Mountaineers turn the ball over few times it will still take a major effort from Colorado. The Buffalo defense hasn’t been consistent, and the Mountaineer defense will have a wild, Thursday night crowd behind them in Morgantown.

Prediction: 35-20 West Virginia

Game of the Week: South Florida at Syracuse: This is a chance for both teams to make a prohibitive statement. South Florida is likely ranked with a win. It would make the Bulls 5-0 and 2-0 with new starter B.J. Daniels. A win for Syracuse would mean a 3-2 record, and a marquee win in a conference that is steadily improving. This is a game the Orange has been building for. It’s a chance to prove that the ‘Cuse is back…or at least close. The defense will once again anchor the Bulls. Through four games, USF has allowed just 27 points…an incredible stat. The experienced front should be able to get adequate pressure on Greg Paulus. Syracuse will have to get the ground game going. And Paulus can’t be put into too many 3^rd and long situations. Mistake-free football is very important for the 'Cuse, which did a good job holding onto the ball last week. However, special teams were a disaster against Maine, and need to tighten up the rest of the way. This should be an exciting game if the Orange defense can harass Daniels early. But expect the USF defense to really control the game, and create a few turnovers that will be the difference.

Prediction: 28-17 USF

Big East Power Rankings, Week 4

1. Cincinnati (3-0, 1-0): Fantastic weekend for the Bearcats, beating a tough Oregon State team in Corvallis. Next Step…A home game against a gutsy Fresno State team.

2. Pittsburgh (2-1, 0-0): Dealt nicely with key defensive injuries, and handled Navy’s option. Next Step…A tough road trip to Raleigh.

3. West Virginia (2-1, 0-0): 500 yards of offense…and a loss? Turnovers are haunting the Mountaineers. Next Step…Bye Week

4. UConn (2-1, 0-0): Huge victory on the road at Baylor. The Husky defense may be the most underrated in the country. Next Step…Hosting Rhode Island.

5. South Florida (3-0, 0-0): The Bulls won this weekend, but lost four-year starting QB Matt Grothe to a torn ACL. The season is now potentially on the brink. Next Step…An instate road game at FSU.

6. Rutgers (2-1, 0-0): Struggled a bit against an FIU team they should have whacked. Next Step…On the road to face a bad Maryland team.

7. Syracuse (1-2, 0-0): The offense has come together, as the Orange win for the first time this season. Next Step…A should-be win against UMaine.

8. Louisville (1-1, 0-0): Not a bad weekend, but mistakes continue to be a storyline. Next Step…Tough road game at Utah.

Big East Blitz

South Florida: Matt Grothe's impressive career is over due to a torn ACL. A sad ending for the senior, who had just broken the Big East total yards record. TBO.com's Brett McMurphy recounts Grothe's final chapter in college football.

Louisville: Hey, at least someone has some optimism for the Cardinals. In all serious, it was a pretty good effort against Kentucky.

Rutgers: According to the pressofatlanticcity.com, Rutgers' QB Tom Savage is okay. Savage was forced out Saturday in the fourth quarter due to a big hit. Greg Schiano doesn't expect him to miss much time.

UConn: Do we now have a quarterback controversy now in UConn? The Hartford Couran't Desmond Conner says slow down...for now.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers had over 500 yards of offense against Auburn. They also turned the ball over five times. Bob Hertzel is asking if WVU needs to go back to the ground game.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats continue to be the only Big East team ranked. They did move up after an impressive road win over Oregon State.

Syracuse and Pitt: Congrats to the Big East award winners...The Orange's Mike Williams(offense) and Ryan Lichtenstein(Special Teams) were two major factors in Doug Marrone's first win. Pitt's Dan Mason wins the defensive award in his very first start.