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A LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK #6 IN BIG EAST FOOTBALL

Huskies/Panthers gridiron match-up highlights weekend schedule

by Raphielle Johnson

Just four games on the schedule again this week, consisting of a pair of conference games and two non-conference tilts. The best matchup, on paper, is Connecticut (3-1, 0-0) visiting Pittsburgh (4-1, 1-0) in a game (3:30 PM on ABC) that will serve as one of the “separators” of the contenders from the pretenders in the race for the Big East title. The Huskies will once again be without the services of QB Zach Frazer (knee) but Cody Endres has been efficient in starts against Baylor and Rhode Island (both wins) with two touchdown passes but most importantly no turnovers.

Running backs will receive the bulk of the attention with both teams having a talented tandem to rely on. Pitt has a pair of freshmen in Dion Lewis and Ray Graham with Lewis getting the bulk of the carries, ranking second in the conference in rushing yards per game (116 ypg). The Huskies are a bit more balanced with Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon taking care of business. Two times this season both have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game and both were Husky victories.

But the difference may lie in the passing attacks, where the Panthers are the more prolific of the two. Bill Stull may have been maligned due to an uneven 2008 season that ended with a borderline unwatchable showing in the Brut Sun Bowl but he’s played well this season. Stull ranks fifth nationally in pass efficiency with a rating of 167.49, having thrown eleven touchdown passes to just one interception. Primary receivers include Jonathan Baldwin, Dorin Dickerson, Oderick Turner and TE Nate Byham. On paper the Huskies lack similar threats in the passing game.

Defensively the Huskies lead the conference in both total and rushing defense, ranking second in the Big East in pass defense and third in scoring defense. They’ll be bolstered by the return of All-Big East linebacker Scott Lutrus, who missed the prior three games with a stinger suffered in the season opener at Ohio. His return is crucial due to the injury status of Sio Moore (hamstring; hasn’t played since the opener) and Kijuan Dabney (shoulder; out for the season), and it will reunite the original starters at linebacker (Lawrence Wilson and Greg Lloyd Jr.). Pitt will encounter far more resistance than they did in the second half of their win at Louisville.

As for the Panther defense they’ve had their fair share of issues but one thing that hasn’t failed them has been their ability to get to the quarterback. Averaging just over four sacks per game the Panthers lead both the Big East and the nation in that category. Connecticut will need to account for DE Greg Romeus on passing downs; he’s talented enough to blow up said plays before the quarterback gets the opportunity to throw the ball.

If the history of the series has anything to do with this meeting then viewers could be in for an anticlimactic finish. Four of the five meetings as Big East members have been decided by twelve points or more (two wins for each). The lone exception was a 46-45 classic won by the Huskies in 2006. With there not being a huge gap between the two teams on paper, expect some drama at Heinz Field.

And the remainder of the schedule:

West Virginia (3-1, 0-0) @ Syracuse (2-3, 0-1) Noon on Big East Network

The two most turnover-prone teams in the Big East meet in the Carrier Dome, combining for eleven turnovers in last week’s games. The Mountaineers were able to survive four fumbles in a 35-24 win over Colorado, subduing the Buffaloes with their explosive attack. Syracuse wasn’t as fortunate, turning the ball over seven times (five Greg Paulus interceptions) in a 34-20 loss to USF. Outside of pass offense (third) the Orange rank fourth or lower in the Big East in every other major statistical category, including dead last in total defense and pass defense.

For as well as Noel Devine played against Colorado it could be QB Jarrett Brown and (by extension) WR Jock Sanders who have big games on Saturday for that reason. Syracuse hasn’t beaten WVU since 2001 and the last time the Mountaineers were in Syracuse (2007) things got out of hand quickly (55-14 final). In five of those seven losses the Orange have allowed at least two hundred yards on the ground, including an unfathomable 457 yards in 2006. Syracuse hasn’t been terrible against the run thus far, ranking fourth in the Big East in rushing defense and allowing USF just 125 yards a week ago. But they haven’t seen a Noel Devine yet…they’d better keep contain when dealing with him.

In regards to winning this game the turnover battle will be far more important to the Orange; there is that much of a disparity in overall talent between these two. But for the future and contending for a Big East title it would be in the Mountaineers’ best interest to take care of this issue before they take on more formidable conference opponents.

Texas Southern (1-3, 0-1 SWAC) @ Rutgers (3-1, 0-1) 3:30 PM (no television)

Not much to learn here about the Scarlet Knights that we didn’t learn in the past month. Tom Savage (concussion) is expected to be cleared to go but how much should he play (if at all)? Texas Southern does feature quite a few transfers from FBS schools but truth be told they shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Rutgers in their final tune-up before conference play. Simply avoid injuries and not play sloppy football should be the goals on this Saturday.

Southern Miss (3-2, 1-1 Conference USA) @ Louisville (1-3, 0-1) 7:30 PM on ESPNU

This sets up as a huge game in the tenure of Steve Kragthorpe, one that became more winnable in the eyes of fans when word came that Southern Miss would be without QB Austin Davis for the remainder of the season. But the Cardinals have to be careful; they cannot afford to be lulled into a false sense of security.

Southern Miss head coach Larry Fedora has all the confidence in Martevious Young, noting earlier this week that Young has the stronger arm of the two while possessing the same skill set. That same bit of reasoning fell upon deaf ears in the days leading up to USF playing Florida State and we all know what happened there.

Also in the fold for the Golden Eagles will be playmakers RB Damion Fletcher (groin) and WR DeAndre Brown (shoulder), both of whom missed last week’s loss at UAB. Both practiced early this week and provided they show well during contact drills they’ll be ready to go. What Louisville needs to do offensively is get Victor Anderson going; the better he is the better the quarterback position plays as a result.

Anderson is averaging just sixty-nine yards rushing per game, a far cry from his performance in 2008 as a freshman. It remains to be seen who starts at quarterback for Louisville (Coach Kragthorpe wasn’t telling on Monday) but make no mistake about it: the Cardinals need a good showing on Saturday night.