Raphielle Johnson

BELK BOWL PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE vs. NC STATE

Cardinals looking for 8th win of season

By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East makes its first foray into the bowl season on Tuesday night as tri-champion Louisville (7-5, 5-2) takes on NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) in the Belk Bowl (8 PM, ESPN) in Charlotte. Big East Rookie of the Year Teddy Bridgewater has had a month of practice with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, who took over the play calling duties after the fourth game of the season, and the hope that the time to fine-tune that wasn’t there when the change was made will benefit the Cardinals offensively. Both teams enter the game having played solid football to finish the year, with Louisville winning five of their last six and the Wolfpack three of their last four games.

Common Opponents
Cincinnati (Louisville: L 25-16; NC State: L 44-12)
North Carolina (Louisville: L 14-7; NC State: W 13-0)

Louisville vs. ACC in bowl games: 1-1
W over Wake Forest in 2007 Orange Bowl
L to Virginia Tech in 2006 Gator Bowl

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Photo Credit: Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

NC State vs. Big East in bowl games: 2-3
W over West Virginia in 2010 Champs Sports Bowl
L to Rutgers in 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl
W over USF in 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl
L to Pittsburgh in 2001 Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl
L to Miami (FL) in 1998 Micron PC Bowl*
* – member of the Big East at the time of the game

All-Time Bowl Records
Louisville: 8-7 (won three of their last four bowls)
NC State: 13-11-1 (won four of their last five bowls)

Fans of powerful rushing attacks? If so, this may not be the game you’re looking forward to as neither team was particularly good at running the football this season. Louisville, despite returning Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright from last year’s backfield (anchored by Bilal Powell), finished the regular season ranked 94th in rushing offense. NC State was even worse as they finished 107th nationally with an average of 108.2 rushing yards per game.

Junior James Washington led the way with 852 yards on the ground with his per game average (71 yards) ranking eighth in the ACC. He’s the closest thing to a feature back that NC State has, with redshirt freshman Tony Creecy ranking second on the team in rushing. Louisville has been among the nation’s best in rushing defense this season, ranking 10th nationally. Senior linebacker Dexter Heyman has been one of the key factors in the Cardinal defense, leading the team in both tackles and tackles for loss.

Louisville will be without the services of defensive end Greg Scruggs due to disciplinary actions taken in light of a reckless driving charge, but they should be fine up front as he was listed second on the pre-bowl depth chart. The key for the Cardinals will be to pressure NC State quarterback Mike Glennon, a 6-6 signal-caller who’s got a gun for an arm. Glennon threw 28 touchdown passes (2nd in the ACC) and his 2.677 yards of total offense is a mark that ranks 7th in school history. The redshirt junior completed 62.4% of his passes with 11 interceptions, and he’s got some good weapons to get the ball to.

The most acclaimed of those weapons would have to be Second Team All-ACC tight end George Bryan, the school’s all-time leading pass catcher at the position. Bryan finished the season with 30 receptions for 302 yards and four touchdowns, ranking fifth on the team in receptions. Wide receiver T.J. Graham led the team in receptions and is a dangerous big-play threat, having scored five receiving touchdowns and averaging 16.4 yards per catch.

Washington tied with Graham for the most receptions (39) on the team, so the Louisville linebackers will need to be aware of him especially in the screen game and the same goes for Creecy (25 for 157, 3 TD). Assisting Graham at wide receiver are fifth-year senior Jay Smith (36 for 573, 4 TD) and redshirt junior Tobias Palmer (35 for 448, 4 TD). NC State wasn’t “great” throwing the football as they ranked 52nd in passing offense, but they’re good enough to make defenses pay if assignments are missed. Florida transfer Adrian Bushell has been solid this season but opposite him is a freshman in Andrew Johnson, so he may be the target early on for the Wolfpack. Heyman leads the team in interceptions with three, meaning that the pass rush (32 sacks) will need to be up to par.

Louisville linebacker Dexter Heyman (Credit: Associated Press)

Offensively things haven’t always been pretty for Louisville this season, but as the year has progressed they did a better job of limiting mistakes. Bridgewater’s completed 66% of his passes for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions, completing 19 of 28 for 241 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) in the regular season finale against USF. The move to Watson has paid off for Louisville in that regard, and once Bridgewater truly figures things out he’s going to be scary.

The Cardinals are a young team all around, especially at wide receiver. DeVante Parker (17 receptions for 276 yards, 6 TD) leads the team in touchdown receptions and could assume a larger role with Michaelee Harris out due to injury, and freshman Eli Rogers was second on the team in receptions and receiving yards (behind Harris in both categories). Also factoring into the rotation are Andrell Smith and Jarrett Davis, and they will alternate at the position left open by Harris’ injury. But there is some experience to call on in the form of senior tight end Josh Chichester (27 for 365, 2 TD) and senior wide receiver Josh Bellamy (19 for 182, 1 TD). Nine players caught at least ten passes this season for Louisville, which could make things tough for the NC State secondary.

However the Wolfpack do have the nation’s leader in interceptions in Thorpe Award finalist David Amerson, who picked off 11 passes and returned one for a score. NC State has picked off 24 passes this season, a mark that ranked tops in the ACC by a wide margin. But they will give up yards, as their 219.5 yards allowed per game was seventh in the ACC. There are just two juniors in the NC State two-deep, and with the attacking style of defense that defensive coordinator Mike Archer (and linebackers coach Jon Tenuta) prefers it’s no surprise that NC State defensive backs get ample chances to pick off passes.

The experience for NC State can be found in the front seven, where senior middle linebacker Audie Cole leads the way. Cole was second on the Wolfpack with 98 tackles, and his per game average ranked tenth in the ACC. Terrell Manning has also played well this season, but outside of Amerson the strength of this defense lies in the middle of the field. Safeties Earl Wolff (99 tackles) and Brandan Bishop are two of NC State’s top tacklers, and up front senior J.R. Sweezy is a tough matchup for opposing linemen. NC State has racked up 33 sacks, a number that ranks third in the ACC, and this could be an issue for a Louisville offensive line that’s allowed 36 sacks in 12 games.

In addition to the sack issue for Louisville, they’ll need to avoid losing the turnover battle against a team that led the ACC in turnover margin with a plus-14. Tom O’Brien’s team also doesn’t kill itself with penalties, as they were tops in the conference in penalty yards per game (32.8) and third in total number of penalties (52). Louisville on the other hand was the third-most penalized team in the Big East, which may have had something to do with their youth. In Chris Philpott the Cardinals have a solid kicker and the same can be said for NC State’s Niklas Sade (10-15 FG). Look for turnover margin (and points off of turnovers) to determine the outcome in Charlotte, as this is a matchup that on paper either team can win.

Prediction: Louisville 27-24

BIG EAST ANNOUNCES END OF SEASON AWARDS

Pead, Wolfe and Jones among honorees

Press Release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia – which finished in a three-way tie for the BIG EAST title – joined Rutgers as schools that had individual winners of the BIG EAST postseason football honors as chosen by the league’s eight head coaches.

Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, while defensive tackle Derek Wolfe joined Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene as the BIG EAST Defensive Players of the Year. West Virginia wide receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin was tabbed as BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year, while Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was the unanimous choice as BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. Cincinnati coach Butch Jones was tabbed by his counterparts as BIG EAST Coach of the Year.

Butch Jones won Coach of the Year honors (Photo Credit: Al Behrman/AP)

The conference also announced the selections to its All-BIG EAST First and Second Teams, highlighted by Pead and Austin – the two unanimous selections to the first team.

Pead becomes the first Cincinnati player to be named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and the fourth consecutive running back to earn the honor. Pead led the BIG EAST with 11 rushing touchdowns and was second in the conference in rushing, averaging 92.5 yards per game. He enters the postseason with 1,110 rushing yards and ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring – first among non-kickers – with 84 points. Pead, who was unanimously chosen to the All-BIG EAST First Team, also had 36 receptions for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He ranked second in the BIG EAST in all-purpose yards, averaging 124.1 yards per game.

Wolfe is the first Cincinnati player to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year following a regular season in which he led the BIG EAST with 19.5 tackles for loss and had 9.5 sacks. He is the focal point of a Bearcat defense that limited opponents to just 92.7 rushing yards per game – good for second in the BIG EAST – and a league-low eight rushing touchdowns.

Greene likewise becomes the first Rutgers player to be chosen as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Greene finished the regular season with a BIG EAST-leading 127 tackles – 20 more than anyone else in the conference – while averaging 10.6 stops per game. He is the key man on a Scarlet Knight defense that leads the BIG EAST in total defense (311.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 points per game).

Austin is the third West Virginia player to earn BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year honors, joining punter Todd Sauerbrun, who won in 1994, and cornerback Adam Jones, who was the 2004 selection. Austin was chosen to the All-BIG EAST First Team at two positions, getting the nod at wide receiver in addition to his unanimous selection at the return specialist spot. He leads the BIG EAST and is ranked second nationally in all-purpose yards (191.2 yards per game), is the league leader in punt returns (14.1 yards per return) and is second in the conference in kickoff returns (26.5 yards per return). Austin is the only BIG EAST player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns this season.

Bridgewater is the third Louisville player in the last four years to be named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, joining a pair of teammates – running back Victor Anderson, who was selected in 2008, and safety Hakeem Smith, who was chosen last year. Bridgewater became Louisville’s starting quarterback in the fourth game of the season and led the Cardinals to five wins in their last six games to earn a share of the BIG EAST championship. He enters the postseason ranked third in the BIG EAST in pass efficiency rating (136.1) after throwing for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season.

Jones becomes Cincinnati’s fourth BIG EAST Coach of the Year selection, joining three-time winner Brian Kelly. Jones engineered a five-win turnaround from last season, leading Cincinnati to a share of the BIG EAST championship and an appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl after a 9-3 regular season. The Bearcats were picked fifth in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, but ended up earning a share of their third conference title in four years.

Connecticut kicker Dave Teggart, Connecticut defensive lineman Kendall Reyes and West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy are the three repeat selections to the All-BIG EAST First Team.

2011 BIG EAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS

BIG EAST CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati (Sr., Columbus, Ohio)

BIG EAST CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati (Sr., Lisbon, Ohio)
Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers (Jr., Elizabeth, N.J.)

BIG EAST CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia (Jr., Baltimore, Md.)

BIG EAST CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (Fr., Miami, Fla.)

BIG EAST CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Butch Jones, Cincinnati

ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Mohamed Sanu Rutgers
WR Tavon Austin West Virginia
OT Justin Pugh Syracuse
OT Don Barclay West Virginia
OG Randy Martinez Cincinnati
OG Art Forst Rutgers
OG Andrew Tiller Syracuse
C Moe Petrus Connecticut
TE Nick Provo Syracuse
QB Geno Smith West Virginia
RB Isaiah Pead * Cincinnati
RB Ray Graham Pittsburgh
RB Antwon Bailey Syracuse
K Dave Teggart Connecticut
RS Tavon Austin * West Virginia

DEFENSE
DL Derek Wolfe Cincinnati
DL Kendall Reyes Connecticut
DL Chandler Jones Syracuse
DL Bruce Irvin West Virginia
LB JK Schaffer Cincinnati
LB Khaseem Greene Rutgers
LB Najee Goode West Virginia
CB Adrian Bushell Louisville
CB Keith Tandy West Virginia
S Drew Frey Cincinnati
S Hakeem Smith Louisville
S Jarred Holley Pittsburgh
S Duron Harmon Rutgers
P Pat O’Donnell Cincinnati
* unanimous selection

ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Alec Lemon Syracuse
WR Stedman Bailey West Virginia
OT Alex Hoffman Cincinnati
OT Mike Ryan Connecticut
OG Desmond Wynn Rutgers
OG Jeremiah Warren USF
C Joe Madsen West Virginia
QB Zach Collaros Cincinnati
TE Ryan Griffin Connecticut
RB Lyle McCombs Connecticut
RB Darrell Scott USF
K Maikon Bonani USF
RS Jeremy Deering Rutgers

DEFENSE
DL Trevardo Williams Connecticut
DL Chas Alecxih Pittsburgh
DL Aaron Donald Pittsburgh
DL Ryne Giddins USF
LB Dexter Heyman Louisville
LB Max Gruder Pittsburgh
LB Marquis Spruill Syracuse
CB Dwayne Gratz Connecticut
CB Antwuan Reed Pittsburgh
CB Logan Ryan Rutgers
CB Kayvon Webster USF
S Jerrell Young USF
S Eain Smith West Virginia
P Cole Wagner Connecticut
P Justin Doerner Rutgers

Additional players added to the All-BIG EAST teams due to ties in the voting

FINAL WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED

McClung, Lindsey and Austin honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Anthony McClung • So. • WR • Cincinnati • Indianapolis, Ind.
McClung had eight catches for a career-high 142 yards with two touchdowns to help Cincinnati to a 35-27 win against Connecticut, giving the Bearcats a share of their third BIG EAST title in the last four years. McClung had touchdown receptions of 13 and 31 yards, giving him a team-high five touchdown receptions in the regular season.

Cincinnati WR Anthony McClung (Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brandon Lindsey • Sr. • LB • Pittsburgh • Aliquippa, Pa.
Lindsey had a hand in three turnovers to lead Pittsburgh to a 33-20 win against Syracuse, making the Panthers bowl-eligible. Lindsey finished the game with six tackles, a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries to lead a defense that forced six Syracuse turnovers. Lindsey finished the regular season with 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tavon Austin • Jr. • WR • West Virginia • Baltimore, Md.
Austin had 208 all-purpose yards, including 141 yards on three kickoff returns, to help West Virginia to a 30-27 win at USF, giving the Mountaineers a share of their record seventh BIG EAST championship. Austin returned a third-quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, giving him two TDs on kickoff returns this season. He also had a team-high seven receptions for 54 yards and added a 30-yard punt return for the Mountaineers.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in a 35-27 win against Connecticut.

Dave Teggart • Sr. • K • Connecticut • Northborough, Mass.
Scored 13 points, going 4-for-4 on field goal attempts with makes of 35, 45, 53 and 43 yards, in a 35-27 loss at Cincinnati.

Kevin Harper • Jr. • K • Pittsburgh • Mentor, Ohio
Scored 15 points, including field goals of 37, 36, 36 and 47 yards, in a 33-20 win against Syracuse.

Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had seven receptions for 80 yards, including a pivotal 26-yard catch on fourth down in the game-winning drive, in a 30-27 win at USF.

Najee Goode • Sr. • LB • West Virginia • Cleveland, Ohio
Had seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a key forced fumble in the fourth quarter in a 30-27 win at USF.

Final Power Poll

1. West Virginia
2. Cincinnati
3. Louisville
4. Rutgers
5. Pittsburgh
6. Connecticut
7. USF
8. Syracuse

BIG EAST ANNOUNCES 2011-12 BOWL MATCHUPS

Mountaineers Discover Orange Bowl Bound

Press Release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – West Virginia will face Clemson in the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl, marking the Mountaineers’ first appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game since 2007 and highlighting five bowl appearances by BIG EAST teams to cap the 2011 season.

West Virginia won a share of its record seventh BIG EAST title Thursday as the Mountaineers finished in a three-way tie for first in the final standings. The Mountaineers tied Louisville and Cincinnati for the top spot, but were awarded the BIG EAST’s automatic BCS bid based on the league’s tie-breaking procedure. Each team went 1-1 against the other tied teams, giving the bid to West Virginia as the highest ranked of the three teams in the final BCS standings.

WVU quarterback Geno Smith (Photo Credit: Dan Friend/MSN SportsNet)

West Virginia will face Clemson, the ACC champion, Jan. 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on ESPN. It will be the 31st bowl appearance for the Mountaineers, and their first trip to the Discover Orange Bowl. It is also will be just the second meeting between West Virginia and Clemson and their first since the 1989 Gator Bowl.

The Belk Bowl selected Louisville as this year’s BIG EAST representative, sending the Cardinals to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., for the first time. Louisville went 7-5 overall and 5-2 in BIG EAST play, tying for the BIG EAST title. Louisville enters the postseason having won six of its last seven games. The Cardinals will face North Carolina State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Louisville is 3-0 all-time against the Wolfpack, though the Belk Bowl will be the first postseason meeting for the schools.

Rutgers returns to the postseason after a one-year absence as the Scarlet Knights were selected to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. The Scarlet Knights, who went 8-4 overall and 4-3 in the BIG EAST will make their sixth bowl appearance in the past seven seasons, after playing in just one bowl game in their history prior to the current stretch. Rutgers will face Iowa State (6-6, 3-6 Big 12) Dec. 30 at 3:20 p.m. on ESPN. It will be the first meeting between the schools.

Cincinnati, which went 9-3 and won a share of the BIG EAST title at 5-2, was chosen for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. The Bearcats, who have won at least a share of three of the last four BIG EAST championships, will face Vanderbilt Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. It will be the first meeting between those teams since 1980 as the Bearcats look to even the all-time series at 4-4.

Pittsburgh was chosen for the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legions Field in Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 7, when the Panthers will face SMU. Pittsburgh went 6-6 in the regular season and was 4-3 in the BIG EAST. The Panthers, who defeated Kentucky in Birmingham last year, look to extend the BIG EAST representative’s record to 6-0 in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The Panthers will face a Mustang squad that was 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA. The schools last met in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1983.

The BIG EAST is a combined 20-8 in bowl games in the past five seasons. Visit www.BIGEASTBowlCentral.com for more information on the BIG EAST bowl lineup.

2011-12 BIG EAST BOWL SCHEDULE

Belk Bowl • Dec. 27
Louisville vs. North Carolina State 8 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Series: Louisville leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 27, 2007 — Louisville, 27-10

New Era Pinstripe Bowl • Dec. 30
Rutgers vs. Iowa State 3:20 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Series: First meeting

AutoZone Liberty Bowl • Dec. 31
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt 3:30 p.m.
Television: ABC
Series: Vanderbilt leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 4, 1980 — Vanderbilt, 23-6

Discover Orange Bowl • Jan. 4
West Virginia vs. Clemson 8:30 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Series: Clemson leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 30, 1989 — Clemson, 27-7

BBVA Compass Bowl • Jan. 7
Pittsburgh vs. SMU 1 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Series: Tied, 2-2-1
Last Meeting: Jan. 1, 1983 — SMU, 7-3

WEEKLY HONORS AND UPDATED POWER POLL

Bridgewater, Miller and Smith honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Bridgewater engineered a comeback from a 17-3 second-half deficit to lead the Cardinals to a 34-24 win at USF, giving Louisville at least a share of the BIG EAST championship. He completed 19 of 28 passes for 241 yards and three second-half touchdowns, helping the Cardinals outscore the Bulls 31-7 in the second half. Bridgewater has helped Louisville to five wins in its last six games as the Cardinals claimed their second BIG EAST title.

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Photo Credit: Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julian Miller • Sr. • DT • West Virginia • Columbus, Ohio
Miller earns BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks after helping West Virginia to a 21-20 win against Pittsburgh. He had 12 tackles and tied a school record with four sacks against the Panthers, including two sacks on Pittsburgh’s final drive. Miller leads all active Bowl Subdivision players with 27.5 career sacks.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Corey Smith • Jr. • P • West Virginia • Inwood, W.Va.
Smith entered West Virginia’s game against Pittsburgh in the second quarter and made an immediate impact in the field position battle, helping the Mountaineers to a 21-20 win. Smith averaged 57.2 yards on four punts, hitting kicks of 57, 50, 62 and 60 yards, dropping two punts inside the Panther 20-yard line and one on the 2-yard line. Smith’s 60-yard punt from the West Virginia 14 in the final two minutes, helped the Mountaineers seal the win on defense.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Pat O’Donnell • Jr. • P • Cincinnati • Lake Worth, Fla.
Averaged 54.0 yards on four punts with three inside the 20-yard line in a 30-13 win at Syracuse.

Isaiah Pead • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Had nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown in a 30-13 win at Syracuse. Pead was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.

Nick Williams • Jr. • WR • Connecticut • East Windsor, N.J.
Had 158 return yards, averaging 42.7 yards on three kickoff returns with a 30-yard punt return in a 40-22 win against Rutgers.

Trevardo Williams • Jr. • DE • Connecticut • Bridgeport, Conn.
Had six tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble in a 40-22 win against Rutgers.

Tavon Austin • Sr. • WR • West Virginia • Baltimore, Md.
Had 10 catches for 102 yards and had 122 all-purpose yards in a 21-20 win against Pittsburgh.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (8-3, 4-2; last week: 1)
WVU was able to rally to beat rival Pittsburgh in the “Backyard Brawl”, remaining in contention for the Big East title. In addition to a win over USF on Thursday night the Mountaineers will need Cincinnati to beat Connecticut on Saturday, which would result in a three-way tie for the league title. Their BCS ranking would then more than likely catapult Dana Holgorsen’s team into the BCS.

2. Louisville (7-5, 5-2; 4)
Charlie Strong’s team finished off the season with its’ first-ever win at USF, and their rise after a 2-4 start has to make the Cardinals’ head man favorite for the Big East Coach of the Year award. Teddy Bridgewater has made great strides as the season’s worn on, and the upcoming bowl practices should be a springboard into 2012 for this young team. To get the league’s BCS berth all the Cardinals would need is a Cincinnati loss to UConn.

3. Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2; 5)
Munchie Legaux played much better on Saturday in the Bearcats’ 30-13 win at Syracuse, keeping alive their hopes of winning the Big East. The Bearcats need to not only beat UConn but also have West Virginia lose on Thursday night. Those two things happen and Butch Jones’ team is BCS bound as a result of their win over Louisville earlier this season.

4. Pittsburgh (5-6, 3-3; 3)
Pittsburgh virtually disappeared offensively in the second half on Friday night, falling to West Virginia 21-20 and seeing their hopes of winning the Big East disappear as a result. Todd Graham’s team needs a win over Syracuse on Saturday to reach bowl eligibility, a situation no one thought they’d be in before the season started.

5. Connecticut (5-6, 3-3; 6)
The Huskies were highly impressive in their 40-22 demolition of Rutgers, ending the Scarlet Knights’ conference title hopes while also keeping alive the possibility of reaching bowl eligibility. A win by Paul Pasqualoni’s team on Saturday at Cincinnati would send Louisville to the BCS and the Huskies to a bowl game.

6. Rutgers (8-4; 4-3; 2)
Greg Schiano’s team simply laid an egg on Saturday afternoon, showing up flat with at the least a share of their first-ever Big East title on the line. Gary Nova replaced Chas Dodd in the fourth quarter, and the question heading into the bowl game is whether or not there will be an open competition for the starting job.

7. USF (5-6, 1-5; 7)
USF was better offensively against Louisville than they were the week prior against Miami but it still wasn’t enough as they dropped to 5-6 on the year. Skip Holtz’s team needs a win on Thursday to reach bowl eligibility, and with his name beginning to pop up in some coaching searches (North Carolina) this will be an interesting couple of weeks in Tampa.

8. Syracuse (5-6, 1-5;
The free fall in Syracuse continued with a 30-13 loss to Cincinnati, meaning that the team that was 5-3 after blowing out West Virginia will now be in a fight with Pittsburgh for bowl eligibility on Saturday. Where could the Orange land with a win? That remains to be seen, but you’d have to think that they’ll be in a locale far less desirable than the Pinstripe Bowl. Pretty sure Doug Marrone’s team will take anything at this point, however.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Jamison, Heyman and Bushell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jawan Jamison • Fr. • RB • Rutgers • Starke, Fla.
Jamison rushed for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries to lead Rutgers to a 20-3 win against Cincinnati and vault the Scarlet Knights into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST standings. Rutgers entered the game a half-game behind the Bearcats in the standings, but stands just one win shy of earning a share of its first BIG EAST title. Jamison became the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game and is the first since Ray Rice in the 2005 season.

Jawan Jamison joined some elite company on Saturday (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dexter Heyman • Sr. • LB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Heyman had seven tackles, including a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss, along with an interception to lead Louisville to a 34-20 win at Connecticut, lifting the Cardinals into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST standings. Heyman led a defense that limited the Huskies to just 76 rushing yards, helping the Cardinals to their fourth win in their last five games and making Louisville bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adrian Bushell • Jr. • CB • Louisville • DeSoto, Texas
Bushell returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to send Louisville on its way to a 34-20 win against Connecticut, putting the Cardinals in a first-place tie in the BIG EAST standings with one game remaining. Bushell averaged 68.0 yards on two kickoff returns against the Huskies.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in a 20-3 loss at Rutgers.

Kashif Moore • Sr. • WR • Connecticut • Burlington, N.J.
Had seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.

Sio Moore • Jr. • LB • Connecticut • Apex, N.C.
Had 13 tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.

Brandon Jones • Jr. • CB • Rutgers • Sicklerville, N.J.
Had four tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati.

DeDe Lattimore • So. • LB • USF • Athens, Ga.
Had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 6-3 loss to Miami (Fla.).

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (7-3, 3-2; last week: 2nd)
The Mountaineers had an off week in advance of the “Backyard Brawl” on Friday night, and given the conference tiebreakers they’re possibly the closest the Big East has to a team that can say it’s in the “driver’s seat”. But who knows at this point? The best thing for Dana Holgorsen’s team to do is make sure they protect Geno Smith, as their league losses have featured the offensive line’s inability to keep guys out of his face.

2. Rutgers (8-3, 4-2; last week: 3rd)
The Scarlet Knights rise a spot following their 20-3 win over Cincinnati, with Jawan Jamison’s 200 yards leading the way. Rutgers made life difficult for Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux, and the defense has been a strong point for the Scarlet Knights all season long. If they can continue to run the football they’ll have a good shot at locking up at least a share of their first-ever Big East title at UConn on Saturday.

3. Pittsburgh (5-5, 3-2; last week: 4th)
Pitt had an extra week to prepare for bitter rival West Virginia, but whether or not they win will boil down to which Tino Sunseri shows up at quarterback. And can that front four generate enough pressure to bother Geno Smith? If so the Panthers will have a shot at knocking off WVU.

4. Louisville (6-5, 4-2; last week: 5th)
Few gave Charlie Strong’s team a shot at playing for a share of the Big East title at the end of September, but the young Cardinals have simply plugged along. Teddy Bridgewater and the offense played much better on Saturday than they did in the loss to Pittsburgh, and a win at USF on Friday is more than possible.

5. Cincinnati (7-3, 3-2; last week: 1st)
Last week the Bearcats remained atop the poll in spite of their loss to West Virginia due to the desire to see them with Munchie Legaux at quarterback for a full game. They didn’t look good at Rutgers, falling 20-3 and out of their perch atop the Big East standings. Games against Syracuse and Connecticut are definitely winnable, but UC has to get Isaiah Pead back on track.

6. Connecticut (4-6, 2-3; last week: 6th)
The Huskies remain here since USF scored just three points in their loss to Miami and Syracuse had the weekend off, but the offense sputtered in their loss to Louisville. The wide receivers did Johnny McEntee no favors with their drops, but a game plan in which the junior is allowed to throw 43 times while just 23 rushes are attempted boggles the mind. Yes Louisville is one of the best at stopping the run, but is McEntee really going to beat anyone with his arm?

7. USF (5-5, 1-4; last week: 7th)
What keeps the Bulls here is the fact that they whipped Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, but with B.J. Daniels going down the offense looked extremely poor in their 6-3 loss to Miami. If Daniels can’t go can Bobby Eveld use the increased reps this week to play better against a tough Louisville defense? At the very least more will be needed from backs Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray.

8. Syracuse (5-5, 1-4; last week: 8th)
The bye week wasn’t without news for the Orange as the school suspended safety Phillip Thomas for a calendar year due to a rules violation. Other than that the week off came at just the right time for Syracuse, who needed to shore things up on both sides of the football. They still need a win to reach bowl eligibility as well, and they’ve got two chances to get the job done.

LEGAUX STRUGGLES AS RUTGERS RE-ENTERS RACE

Scarlet Knights, Cardinals share first place

By Raphielle Johnson

Many had questions as to how sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux would perform in his first collegiate start as he took over for injured senior Zach Collaros. Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones didn’t think the Bearcats would change much from a strategic standpoint, and Legaux is an outstanding athlete who can give opponents fits in this system. But against one of the best defenses in the Big East Legaux struggled mightily, and Rutgers’ 20-3 win over the Bearcats turn the Big East race into a wide-open sprint to the finish line.

Jawan Jamison joined some elite company on Saturday (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Rutgers (8-3, 4-2) had their own star on the day as running back Jawan Jamison rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The yardage established a new career high for Jamison, whose efforts made him the third freshman in school history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. The other two are Terrell Willis and Ray Rice, which is high company to keep when discussing the history of Rutgers Football. Jamison’s first score opened the account less than four minutes into the game as Rutgers took advantage of a Cincinnati (7-3, 3-2) fumble.

Tony Miliano’s field goal from 47 yards out late in the first quarter cut the lead to 7-3, but that would be the only points for Cincinnati on the day. Legaux and company simply couldn’t get much of anything going on offense, and Greg Schiano’s defense deserves a lot of the credit. Isaiah Pead was limited to just 28 yards rushing, and without the consistency in the passing game this would prove to be the fatal blow for the Bearcats. Cincinnati finished the game with 225 yards of offense, just 25 more than what Jamison produced on the ground himself.

“I thought the players did an incredible job and the assistant coaches – Bob Fraser and all the guys,” said Schiano. “They put together a great plan and the kids executed it. It is so hard to get 11 guys to do what they are supposed to do. I think the resolve amongst our players today was excellent – the focus.”

Jamison’s score from one yard out halfway through the third quarter made the score 17-3, and given the tone of the contest essentially shut the door on the Bearcats. Cincinnati converted just four of fifteen third downs and averaged 3.8 yards per play on the afternoon. Rutgers now shares first place in the Big East with Louisville, something few people would have expected a month ago. Chas Dodd has made sound decisions with the football, and with the running game rounding into form at just the right time clinching their first-ever Big East title is a more than realistic possibility.

As for Cincinnati, with games against Syracuse and Connecticut remaining there’s the opportunity to work their way back to the top of the standings. But if Saturday’s play was any indication of what’s to come, it’s going to be a lot easier said than done. The Bearcats visit Syracuse while Rutgers visits Connecticut next weekend.

Louisville 34, Connecticut 20

After a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh (partially fueled by the release of the newest “Call of Duty” game, according to head coach Charlie Strong), the Louisville Cardinals rebounded by beating Connecticut 34-20 in East Hartford. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 174 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Cardinals (6-5, 4-2), who are now one win away from clinching at least a share of the Big East title. Given how they began the season, that’s a remarkable achievement for Strong’s young team, which has for the most part rounded into form in recent weeks.

UConn (4-6, 2-3) now needs wins in its final two games to reach bowl eligibility, but given the way in which they’ve executed offensively it’s more likely that the Huskies spend the holidays at home. Johnny McEntee threw for 253 yards and a touchdown but completed just 18 of 43 passes, but the many drops were also partly to blame. Louisville eliminated the threat of the UConn rushing attack, limiting Lyle McCombs to 33 yards on ten carries, and as a team UConn rushed for just 76 yards on 23 carries. Connecticut’s bright spot on offense was wide receiver Kashif Moore, who caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in addition to another score on the ground.

Neither team was particularly good on third down, but Louisville’s play in the red zone proved to be the difference. In their three red zone opportunities the Cardinals came away with three touchdowns, while the Huskies finished two of their opportunities with Dave Teggart field goals. Louisville closes their season with a game at USF on Friday, and UConn plays their final home game against Rutgers on Saturday. UConn will close out their season at Cincinnati on December 3rd.

Miami 6, USF 3

A pitcher’s duel broke out at Raymond James Stadium, with Skip Holtz’s Bulls (5-5, 1-4) losing both the game and quarterback B.J. Daniels. Daniels went down early in the second half with a right shoulder injury, and USF didn’t threaten to score from that point forward. Luckily for the Bulls their defense played well throughout, but ultimately being on the field as much as they were proved costly on the final drive. Jake Wieclaw’s 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Hurricanes the win, and as a result the Bulls have to wait another week for the chance to reach bowl eligibility.

USF put up just 249 yards of offense on the day, with Darrell Scott’s 57 yards on 15 carries leading the offense along with Daniels’ 98 yards passing. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris completed 27 of 35 passes for 259 yards but he was sacked six times by an aggressive USF defense. Miami finished the game with four drives of eight plays or more, with two of them resulting in points. The Hurricanes would go 61 yards on 15 plays in their final drive to win the game on Wieclaw’s kick. USF on the other hand had just two drives of ten plays, the second of which came in the middle of the second quarter. If Daniels is unable to play on Friday against Louisville, the door could be open for the Cardinals to earn their first-ever win at USF.

Next Week’s Schedule

11am (Friday) Louisville at USF (ESPN2)
7pm (Friday) Pittsburgh at West Virginia (ESPN)
Noon Cincinnati at Syracuse (Big East Network)
Noon Rutgers at Connecticut (ESPN2)

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Sanu, Miller and Smith honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Sanu had 13 receptions for 129 yards to key Rutgers’ 27-12 win against Army and set school and conference records in the process. With 92 receptions on the season, Sanu broke the BIG EAST single-season record of 91 catches, which was held by Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald since 2003. He also broke Kenny Britt’s school record of 87 catches set in 2008. Sanu ranks second nationally in receptions, averaging 9.4 catches per game this season.

Mohamed Sanu caught 13 passes on Saturday (Photo Credit: Associated Press)

Hakeem Smith • So. • S • Louisville • Jonesboro, Ga.
Had a career-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in a 21-14 loss to Pittsburgh.
 
Tino Sunseri • Sr. • QB • Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown and ran for the game-winning TD in a 21-14 win at Louisville.
 
Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Had a team-high 13 tackles in a 27-12 win against Army.
 
B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Had 371 yards of total offense in a 37-17 win at Syracuse. Completed 23 of 34 passes for 254 yards and rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
 
Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had six receptions for 104 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown catch, in a 24-21 win at Cincinnati. Had his seventh 100-yard game of the season.

Austin named to Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (7-2 (3-1); 1st)
Not going to drop the Bearcats despite both losing to West Virginia by three and losing starting quarterback Zach Collaros for the season with a fractured ankle. While Munchie Legaux takes over under center, and Cincinnati remains in the driver’s seat for the Big East crown.

2. West Virginia (7-3 (3-2); 3rd)
The Mountaineers are right back in the Big East race thanks to their win over Cincinnati, and following their bye week Dana Holgorsen’s team will face rival Pittsburgh and USF to finish the season.

3. Rutgers (7-3 (3-2); 4th)
Mohamed Sanu set the Big East record for receptions in a season in the win against Army, but just as important was the play of running back Jeremy Deering. If he and Jawan Jamison can be productive this weekend against Cincinnati they’ve got a shot to knock the Bearcats off.

4. Pittsburgh (5-5 (3-2); 5th)
Defensively the Panthers were very good in Saturday’s 21-14 win over Louisville, and Tino Sunseri was able to avoid the critical mistake. They’ll need to take full advantage of this bye week before the Backyard Brawl if they’re to beat West Virginia, however.

5. Louisville (5-5 (3-2); 2nd)
The Cardinals drop from second to fifth due to the struggles of their offense against Pittsburgh. Louisville needs to be able to run the football if they’re going to be a factor in the Big East race the rest of the way.

6. Connecticut (4-5 (2-2); 6th)
UConn had a needed bye last weekend, which should have been used to sharpen things up offensively. Saturday’s game against Louisville will likely be a defensive struggle.

7. USF (5-4 (1-4); 8th)
The Bulls thoroughly outclassed Syracuse on Friday night, winning 37-17 at the Carrier Dome. They step out of conference this week as they host Miami, a game just as important recruiting-wise as it is on the scoreboard.

8. Syracuse (5-5 (1-4); 7th)
After blowing out West Virginia the Orange have looked worse by the week, ultimately being blown out by USF on Friday night. Doug Marrone’s team needs one win to reach bowl eligibility but will they be able to get it?

BEARCATS LOSE GAME…AND COLLAROS

How long will Cincinnati be without senior QB?

By Raphielle Johnson

Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1) entered Saturday’s game against West Virginia looking to apply a stranglehold to the top of the Big East standings. Unfortunately for the Bearcats they didn’t accomplish that mission, and they lost their starting quarterback to boot. Senior Zach Collaros was lost for the season in the second quarter with a fractured right ankle and the Bearcats fell 24-21 to the Mountaineers (7-3, 3-2) at Paul Brown Stadium. Munchie Legaux took over for Collaros and the sophomore from New Orleans kept Cincinnati in the game throughout. But the final drive of the game ended with Eain Smith blocking a Tony Miliano field goal that would have sent the game to overtime as time expired.

Cincinnati will rely on Munchie Legaux from this point forward (Photo Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)

“That is the maturation process and obviously when you kick in these stadiums, Paul Brown Stadium, it’s challenging as well with the swirling winds,” said head coach Butch Jones. “But that’s part of growing up and maturing into a place kicker, you know the next three years, he’s probably going to be put in a number of these situations and you learn from it and you have got to move on.”

Geno Smith had another productive afternoon for West Virginia, throwing for 372 yards and a touchdown. He’s now over the 3,500 yard mark for the season with 24 touchdown passes to just five interceptions, and records could begin to fall as the season reaches its end. Smith’s 59-yard touchdown pass to Stedman Bailey tied the game at seven with 11:37 remaining in the first quarter, answering a 40-yard Isaiah Pead touchdown run. But in a one minute, twenty-four second span in the second quarter the Mountaineers not only took a 17-7 lead but also possibly changed the tenor of the Big East race.

After a Tyler Bitancurt field goal from 28 yards out gave WVU a 10-7 lead the Mountaineer defense got after Collaros deep in Cincinnati territory, with Bruce Irvin sacking the senior and forcing a fumble that defensive lineman Julian Miller recovered in the end zone. Irvin landed on Collaros’ foot during the play, resulting in the ankle injury. While Legaux did move the Bearcats while in the game he doesn’t have the same grasp of the offense as Collaros, which could limit his ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage. But the New Orleans native got more comfortable as the game progressed, taking advantage of good field position to lead the Bearcats on a two-play, 48-yard drive to cut the WVU lead to 17-14 with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.

“You change your back up plan a little bit and then it’s establishing a rhythm on a consistency and continuity,” said Jones. “I thought fourth quarter we had a little bit of a rhythm started with Munchie and thought he did a pretty good job. Obviously there are things we need to get corrected going into Piscataway on Saturday.”

Legaux would put together another scoring drive, this one going 52 yards on ten plays with Pead’s run from ten yards out making the score 21-17 with 13:20 remaining in the game. Pead finished with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, his third 100-plus yard rushing effort in the last four games. But the Mountaineers would answer on the ensuing drive as Smith led the visitors on a 12-play, 74-yard drive that Shawne Alston capped with a one-yard touchdown run. Each team went scoreless in their next two drives, setting the stage for the Bearcats’ final try to send the game into overtime. But Miliano’s field goal from 31 yards out was blocked, giving West Virginia new life in the conference race.

But Cincinnati remains in the driver’s seat thanks to the Pitt (5-5, 3-2) Panthers, who beat Louisville (5-5, 3-2) 21-14 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Senior Day. The Cardinals struggled offensively for much of the afternoon, and while Tino Sunseri didn’t light it up he was productive enough to deliver the win. Sunseri completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a third quarter touchdown pass to Mike Shanahan while also rushing for a touchdown to make the score 21-7 in the fourth quarter. Louisville finished the game with 280 yards of offense, but it was turnovers that cost them dearly. An Eli Rogers muffed punt set up Pitt’s final scoring drive, meaning that while the other league contenders moved closer to Cincinnati the Bearcats remain in good shape to win the conference.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are USF (5-4, 1-4) and Syracuse (5-4, 1-4), who met at the Carrier Dome on Friday night. B.J. Daniels accounted for 371 yards of offense and Demetris Murray rushed for a pair of touchdowns with Darrell Scott out as the Bulls whipped the Orange 37-17 to get their first league win of the season. It was a much needed victory for Skip Holtz’s team, who had struggled mightily after running through a less than challenging non-conference slate. Syracuse on the other hand has played poor football since blowing out West Virginia, dropping three games to league opponents Doug Marrone’s team was expected to beat.

And in the other game involving a Big East team Rutgers (7-3, 3-2) beat Army 27-12 at Yankee Stadium thanks in large part to wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and running back Jeremy Deering. Sanu caught 13 passes for 129 yards on the day, breaking both the school and Big East records for receptions in a season in the process. Sanu’s 94 receptions place him ahead of Pitt great Larry Fitzgerald, who caught 92 passes in 2003. Deering rushed for 64 yards on 14 carries, as he had an easier time of breaking free than Jawan Jamison throughout the course of the game. Jamison’s 56-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game away after a Jordan Thomas return of a blocked punt made the score 20-12 with 6:36 remaining.

Next Week’s Schedule

Cincinnati at Rutgers (Noon, ESPNU)
Louisville at Connecticut (Noon, Big East Network)
Miami at USF (3:30 PM, ESPNU)

WEEK 11 PREVIEW: BEARCATS LOOK TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED

Game could be WVU’s last gasp in title race

By Raphielle Johnson

The games in November are the ones that people tend to remember, and the stakes are increasing in the Big East race. Cincinnati (7-1, 3-0) has a one-game lead over Louisville in the loss column, but it’s more like a two-game lead due to the fact that the Bearcats won the game between the two. That puts even more pressure on West Virginia (6-3, 3-2), who would find themselves essentially out of chances with a loss on Saturday (Noon, ABC) at Paul Brown Stadium. The Mountaineers have lost two of their last three games, and the defense hasn’t looked good in any of those contest. If Dana Holgorsen’s team wants to entertain any thoughts of handing Cincinnati their first conference loss, the defense that is last in the Big East in scoring defense and 7th against the run needs to step up.

Zach Collaros and Cincinnati look to remain undefeated (Photo Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II)

“Our job defensively is to do a good job of stopping the run, keep the quarterback in check and make sure we tackle,” said Holgorsen earlier this week. “We had way too many missed tackles last week, which is a mindset thing. We had way too many missed tackles.”

Cincinnati is second in the Big East in rushing offense with an average of 194 yards per game on the ground, and senior running back Isaiah Pead combines with quarterback Zach Collaros to provide the bulk of those yards. Cincinnati’s spread attack has done a good job of opening up running lanes, but there’s still more that the Bearcats can do with the pass. In Anthony McClung, D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins the Bearcats have a solid trio on the outside, and freshman Alex Chisum has played well in recent weeks. Against Jeff Casteel’s 3-3-5 the Bearcats should have opportunities to make plays down the field, because the Mountaineers haven’t done their best in the trenches of late.

WVU has just 14 sacks on the season, last in the Big East and ten worse than the UConn and Syracuse, who are tied for 6th in the conference with 24 sacks. Cincinnati on the other hand has been the best in the conference when it comes to protecting the quarterback with just 11 sacks allowed. The battle up front on both sides of the ball could determine the outcome, and Cincinnati looks to have the edge in that department. Defensive tackle Derek Wolfe has been one of the best defensive players in the conference this season, and while WVU’s offensive line has been solid protecting Geno Smith the run game has had its share of issues. Dustin Garrison had his moments early in the season and Shawne Alston performed well in the win at Rutgers, but the consistency isn’t always there.

These are the top two scoring teams in the Big East, which lends itself to a high-scoring affair, but the combination of line play and turnover margin (CIncinnati leads the conference with a +13 margin) may ultimately be the difference.

Pick: Cincinnati 38-34

Friday 8 PM (ESPN2): USF (4-4, 0-4) at Syracuse (5-4, 1-3)

USF looked to be well on their way to snapping a three-game skid as they led Rutgers 17-3 halfway through the fourth quarter. But the Bulls let the game slip away, falling 20-17 in overtime and now bowl eligibility could be in serious doubt with another loss. Syracuse also goes into this game on a downward trend as they’ve dropped games to Louisville and Connecticut after their blowout win over West Virginia. Who bounces back on Homecoming Weekend at Syracuse? That’s all going to come down to which team capitalizes on their good fortune. UConn turned the ball over five times in the first half last week but the Orange were unable to take advantage and it cost them dearly.

The Orange are third in the conference in turnover margin and the Bulls 4th, but both quarterbacks haven’t played to their expected level in recent weeks. USF’s B.J. Daniels is second in the conference in passing while Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib ranks fourth, and the two are close with regards to pass efficiency. Despite the lack of major playmakers on the outside the passing games should be fine. The difference could come on the ground, as USF leads the Big East in rushing while Syracuse ranks 7th. But the Bulls could be without the services of Darrell Scott due to a concussion and a wrist injury, leaving the job to Demetris Murray.

Two of the better defensive linemen in the conference will also be on display in USF’s Ryne Giddins and Syracuse’s Chandler Jones, and the front sevens for both teams will need to be at their best. If Syracuse can run the ball consistently with Antwon Bailey that should set up tight end Nick Provo in the passing game. But if not the door swings open for the Bulls. Syracuse hasn’t played to their potential of late while the Bulls haven’t shown themselves capable of closing the door in close games. Something has to give in the Carrier Dome.

Pick: Syracuse 24-23

Saturday Noon (Big East Network): Pittsburgh (4-5, 2-2) at Louisville (5-4, 3-1)

Pittsburgh had a 10-point lead on Cincinnati last week and looked to be well on their way to making things interesting in the Big East standings. But the Panthers failed to close the door, ultimately losing by three to the first-place Bearcats. But just as important as the conference race is the fact that Pittsburgh now has five losses, and they can’t afford more than one the rest of the way if they’re to reach bowl eligibility. That position is a contrast to that of Louisville, who has won three straight games and remain a player in the title race. Optimism once again surrounds Charlie Strong’s program, and Senior Day is a sellout from an attendance standpoint. Can the Cardinals take advantage?

The answer to that question likely depends on Pitt QB Tino Sunseri, who has alternated flashes of brilliance with moments of ineptitude that boggle the mind. When Sunseri’s on he’s making quick decisions with the football and the offense plays at the high octane level that head coach Todd Graham expects. But when he’s off things slow down, something the Panthers can ill-afford with a banged up offensive line and Ray Graham done for the season. Louisville’s been good at getting after quarterbacks in recent weeks, and Dexter Heyman and company are more than capable of making things tough on Pitt.

Louisville’s also gaining confidence offensively, with Teddy Bridgewater making sound decisions under center and the running game has improved as well. Which rusher steps up for Louisville? Maybe it’s senior Victor Anderson, but sophomore Jeremy Wright and freshman quarterback Dominique Brown are also solid options. Their offensive line has come together with some tinkering and the return of center Mario Benavides, but they could have their hands full with Pitt’s talented front four. The offensive line that shows up and protects its quarterback will ultimately determine the outcome, but there’s something to be said for Louisville’s play of late.

Pick: Louisville 28-23

Saturday 3:30 PM (CBS Sports Network): Army (3-6) vs. Rutgers (6-3, 3-2)

The Black Knights and Scarlet Knights will get together at Yankee Stadium this season, but rest assured last year’s meeting at the Met Life Stadium will also be discussed. In that game Rutgers defensive tackle Eric Le Grand was paralyzed, forging a bond between the two institutions that has lived on to this day. Head coach Greg Schiano has cited the amount of support that Army head coach Rich Ellerson and his program have given Eric, and Rutgers will wear special helmets in tribute to both Army and military veterans on this holiday weekend. As for the game itself, Rutgers comes in on a high following their comeback win over USF and they’ll have a new quarterback as well.

Chas Dodd, who began the season as the starter, returns to the top of the depth chart after replacing the ineffective Gary Nova in the fourth quarter last week. Nova’s issue was decision-making, something that should improve with Dodd given the fact that he’s got a year of experience under his belt. WR Mohamed Sanu has been outstanding all season long but Quron Pratt has come on over the last month or so. The key for Rutgers offensively will be to run the ball well, and in addition to Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering look for more touches for Joe Martinek against Army.

Defensively the Scarlet Knights will face the nation’s top rushing offense, as Army averages 365.8 yards per game on the ground. QB Trent Steelman has missed the last two games and is listed as doubtful for Saturday, meaning that Max Jenkins will be the man under center if Steelman can’t go. Jenkins and the Black Knights got off to a good start at Air Force last week but they were unable to sustain their first quarter play, falling 24-14. Rutgers will also have to deal with RB Raymond Maples, but will it help that they’ve already taken on an option attack in Navy? That’s the hope amongst Rutgers fans, and it ultimately could be the difference in a tight contest.

Pick: Rutgers 21-17

Record: 34-20 (2-2 last week)

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