Big East Conference Preview

The Big East gets a lot of crap from most football fans. Some of it is justified (i.e. there is no BCS championship-contending team) and some of it is not (i.e. the Big East does not compete with the other major BCS conferences). One thing that is definitively true is that the conference is starting to become more competitive. This year, four teams (Cincinnati, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut) have legitimate chances of winning the title, and it wouldn't even be much of a surprise if Rutgers or South Florida snuck in on the parade. Heck, even Louisville has reasons to be optimistic under new coach Charlie Strong. Syracuse, well...basketball season is only a few months away. Here's how I see the Big East shaping up:

1. Cincinnati: The top half of the league is really pretty even, so when forced to choose a top team, I'm going to go with one with experience and proven results. West Virginia and Pitt have question marks at QB, while UConn still hasn't proven it can throw the football. While Cinci is also breaking in a new QB in Zach Collaros, he has at least already had game experience and delivered admirably, being undefeated as a starter. There are also talented players at other key positions, such as RB Isaiah Pead and WR Armon Binns. The defense lost some important players, but I think early season non-conference tests at Fresno State and at home against Oklahoma will have the unit ready for Big East play. Ultimately, when there is uncertainty at the top, no reason not to give the champs the first shot at keeping their throne right?

2. Pittsburgh: I wouldn't hesitate to put the Panthers at numero uno if QB Bill Stull was returning. But alas, he is gone, and new QB Tino Sunseri looks to keep the momentum going for coach Wannstache. Sunseri has some studs to work with in RB Dion Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin, but he better be ready quickly, as the Panthers have a brutal non-conference schedule that includes going to Utah and Notre Dame while playing Miami (the good one in Florida) at home. Ultimately, the Panthers season will be decided in the last four weeks, when they play the upper half of the Big East (with only West Virginia being at home). After such a rough start to the season, I just can't get myself to see Pittsburgh running through the gauntlet without a rough stretch. The question is whether or not that rough stretch will cost them the title.

3. UConn: If coach Randy Edsall and the Huskies want to finally take that next step and make it to a BCS game, this is probably the year to do it. This team is talented, well-coached, and has the perfect schedule to do some damage. Non-conference games against Michigan and Temple will give the team some competition before Big East play, and they get Cinci, Pitt, and WVU all at home. The real question mark with the Huskies is if QB Zach Frazer is going to finally give the Huskies a passing attack. They have been able to have good seasons recently even without it, but there is no two-pronged rushing attack this year as of yet to lead the way. RB Jordan Todman is electric, and USC transfer D.J. Shoemate could be the thunder to Todman's lightning, but Frazer needs to improve if this team wants to be tasting oranges at the end of the season. Also, there have been a few injury problems of late with the defense, such as DE Marcus Campbell being lost for the year.

4. West Virginia: Like the previous two teams, WVU is hoping that quarterback Geno Smith can take the next step and mature into a well-rounded QB. Noel Devine is the best running back in the Big East in my opinion, and there are other talented youngsters out there, but this team is woefully inexperienced. They also have to play at Pitt and at UConn. I feel like this team will play a lot of close games, but with such a young team, it's hard to have faith that they will come through in the clutch enough to win the conference. Losing stud kicker Pat McAfee to graduation also isn't going to help very much.

5. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are the team with the best chance at throwing a wrench into the title chase, and it's because Coach Greg Schiano has recruited talented players at the key positions. QB Tom Savage is only a sophomore, but he still is probably the best QB in the league. He also has a rising star to throw to in WR Mohammed Sanu. Like almost every team in the Big East, the defense is unproven, and the Knights also have to play at Cinci, Pitt, and WVU. But Schiano has been steadily increasing the talent level in New Brunswick, and maybe some of the many Florida natives will be able to lead the team to the promised land this upcoming fall.


6. South Florida: This is the most mysterious team in the Big East. Longtime coach Jim Leavitt got himself into some trouble and got run out of town, leaving new coach Skip Holtz (the son of our favorite Notre Dame lunatic Lou Holtz) not much time to prepare for the upcoming season. He's got a talented quaterback to work with in sophomore B.J. Daniels, but there is not much depth on this team. How they do in back-to-back weekends at WVU and Cinci will determine which way the momentum rolls for the Bulls. The defense also took a big hit, as it lost all-conference players in George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul.

7. Louisville: You gotta give new coach Charlie Strong some credit. After the awful situation previous coach Steve Kragthorpe left behind, Strong has been able to slowly build some momentum in the 'Ville. This season should still be pretty rough, but Strong managed to receive commitments from some high-profile players in Florida (he was previously the defensive coordinator of the Florida Gators) despite the Cardinals not being relevant for the past three years. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled off an upset or two that ultimately determines who ends up winning the Big East. But right now, I just don't see the offensive line having the talent to allow inexperienced QB Adam Froman to establish much consistency.

8. Syracuse: Sep. 18th and 25th are the days you want to be cheering on the Orange at the Carrier Dome. They will be playing Maine and Colgate, respectively, and those should be two wins in a season that won't have many. But hey, if you like punting, P Rob Long is one of the nation's best, and if RB Delone Carter ends up playing, he might be talented enough to coax out one Big East win. But that's about all I can see the Orange doing.