Over the next week before the college football season opens on September 3, I will be doing brief, but accurate, predictions of the six major BCS conferences leading up to my overall bowl predictions on September 2. So, we begin with the Big East.
- South Florida 10-2 (6-1)
- Rutgers 10-2 (5-2)
- Pittsburgh 10-2 (5-2)
- Cincinnati 9-3 (5-2)
- Connecticut 8-4 (4-3)
- Louisville 5-7 (1-6)
- West Virginia 4-8 (1-6)
- Syracuse 3-9 (0-7)
For a team from the Big East to make it into the BCS National Championship game, they will have to go undefeated. Overall, this conference is not very good. However, the top five teams are all fairly equal when it comes to having a shot at the conference title.
I am taking South Florida for a few reasons. The Bulls just promoted coach Canales, so the team will be running a much truer spread offense this season. This will allow their excellent quarterback, Matt Grothe, to really spread his wings as an all around threat this season. Grothe threw 18 touchdowns for 2911 yards last season. He is also the teams leading returning rusher from last season, racking up near 600 yards and 4 touchdowns. This quarterback will tear apart Big East defenses. If South Florida can learn to finish games this season, they will be heading to a BCS game.
Even though I have Rutgers finishing second based on overall record and beating Pittsburgh head to head, Cincinnati is my second choice to win the Big East. Head Coach Brian Kelly really has this team heading in the right direction. The Bearcats lost ten defensive starters, so I just can’t bring myself to pick them atop the league. They have two tough early challenges traveling to both Rutgers and Oregon State.
Rutgers does have the most favorable schedule of any of the Big East teams. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and South Florida all travel into New Jersey to take on the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers opens the season against Cincinnati. This is a huge game when it comes to an early advantage in the conference. I have Cincinnati winning the opener, but the Scarlet Knights will be able to rebound after blowing through their nonconference schedule.
Pittsburgh may have the most talented team in the conference, but Coach Dave Wannstedt never seems to come through. I really don’t like this guy. Season after season it seems that he has things going and falls flat. In last year’s bowl game against Oregon St., the Beavers where missing both of their offensive weapons, the Rodgers brothers, and the Panthers still lost the game, 3-0. Come on Wannstedt. Are you telling me that you couldn’t even score a measly fieldgoal? Don’t get me wrong, the Beaver defense was outstanding, along with the Panthers, but this all falls on the coaching staff.
Connecticut is going to have trouble repeating last season’s surprise success after losing star runningback Donald Brown, who led the nation in rushing last season, to the NFL. They will be competitive but won’t be able to keep up with the “big boys” of the conference.
Louisville is one of the biggest disappointments of the last 5 years, and Syracuse is just bad. The Cardinals play both Kentucky and Utah in preseason play. I have them beating Kentucky, giving them a thin ray of hope, but that will be the only high point of the season. Syracuse plays Maine. At least they can get one win.
As for West Virginia, the days of Pat White are gone. That leaves you with absolutely no one to rely on except darkhorse Heisman hopeful runningback Noel Devine. However, with everyone keying on this guy, his shot is very slim. The Mountaineers have very few weapons. I am excited to see West Virginia travel into the SEC to face Auburn on Sept. 19. We can only hope the Mountaineers show up.
Well, there you have this season’s quick Big East preview. Swing back by tomorrow, and I’ll have the ACC preview up and running. If you have any further questions, concerns or input, leave a comment and I’ll address it.
Peterson's Prognostics 