Cincinnati News

BIG EAST WEEK 7 PREVIEW: BACK TO THE FIELD

Keg of Nails on the line in Cincinnati

By Raphielle Johnson

Another week and another round of realignment rumors regarding the Big East. Could a resolution be coming soon? Possibly, but with the situation being a fluid one there’s no telling when this may all end. That’s the good thing about Saturdays: they move the focus back to the field if only for a few hours. Six Big East teams are in action on Saturday, with four meeting in important conference battles. The headliner: Louisville (2-3, 0-0) taking on Cincinnati (4-1, 0-0) at Paul Brown Stadium (Noon, Big East Network) with the Keg of Nails Trophy up for grabs. With the Bearcats having won the last three games in the series, a large number of Louisville players have yet to touch the trophy, and that should be more than enough motivation for Charlie Strong’s team.

Louisville hasn’t performed well on the offensive side of the football this season, and the running game has been a big reason why. The Cardinals are sixth in the Big East in rushing offense with an average of 116.6 yards per game, with Dominique Brown leading the way with 170 yards on the year. Brown was originally their “Wild Card” quarterback but the struggles of Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright has led to more carries as a running back for the sophomore. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been solid all things considered, completing 63.8% of his passes this season. The Cardinals are talented at wide receiver and tight end (Josh Chichester), but if they struggle to run the football against a defense that’s 2nd nationally in turnover margin and 5th in rushing defense it’s going to be a long afternoon.

“What’s happening to us offensively is people are able to load the box because we are not running the ball,” said Strong earlier this week. “It is making us one dimensional and we have to throw the ball. Now, they are bringing a lot of pressure and that is where you are getting the sacks and pressure from.”

The Louisville offensive line has struggled, which was to be expected of a unit that returned just one starter from last season and he’s (center Mario Benavides) been out for much of the season due to injury. Linebacker JK Schaffer isn’t called on to be a sackmaster but he’s been a key component in a defense that’s bounced back from a poor 2010. Schaffer leads the Bearcats in tackles with 35 while also picking off three passes, and as a team the Bearcats have forced 18 turnovers. But the real strength for Cincinnati has been their rushing defense, a category in which they lead the Big East. Does Louisville essentially abandon the run, something they’ve had to do in recent games since they’ve been unable to establish anything? If so, a one-dimensional outfit could play right into the hands of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati also has the second-best rushing offense in the Big East with senior Isaiah Pead leading the way with an average of 95.2 yards per game. Pead ranks third in the conference in rushing yards per game, and with quarterback Zach Collaros’ ability to run the ball the Bearcats’ spread attack is a tough matchup for any defense. Collaros also has the assistance of receivers Anthony McClung, D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins, but they rank just 6th in passing offense. Louisville is also a good defensive team against the run, ranking 10th nationally through five games. But they haven’t run into an offense that can take advantage of one-on-one situations across the board yet this season like the Bearcats, although FIU did have T.Y. Hilton in their win over the Cards.

In last year’s meeting, a 35-27 Cincinnati victory, both teams went over 400 yards of offense and Collaros threw five touchdown passes. But Louisville, who rushed for 228 yards in a losing effort, does not have a Bilal Powell (24 carries for 209 yards, 2 TD) at the ready for Saturday. That inability to consistently run the football is what will ultimately get Louisville in trouble against an improved and opportunistic defense. It’s tough to see how much different the crowd will be with the game in a pro stadium, but either way the Bearcats simply have too much this time around.

Pick: Cincinnati -13.5 (34-17)

3:30 PM (Big East Network) USF (4-1, 0-1) at Connecticut (2-4, 0-1)

Connecticut and USF have put together some thrilling finishes in recent years, with the Huskies winning each of the last two meetings with field goals in the final minute of play. But this is a far different UConn team than those two outfits, as the Huskies have struggled to maintain a consistent level of play. USF on the other hand comes in off of a bye week spent smarting over the rough loss at Pittsburgh, so it’s safe to assume that Skip Holtz’s team is more than ready to get back on the field. And while the Bulls did have the benefit of a less than strenuous schedule leading into the Pittsburgh game, they were able to move the ball against the Panthers as well.

With a talented offense led by B.J. Daniels, USF has more than enough weapons to score points on a defense that ranks 7th in the conference in pass defense and 5th in total defense. “B.J. Daniels is an excellent quarterback,” said UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni. “They run the ball really well and he’s an excellent thrower and an excellent scrambler.” In addition to Daniels in the backfield there’s the tandem of Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray, and the Bulls are currently the Big East’s best rushing offense with an average of 223.2 yards per game on the ground. Defensive lineman Kendall Reyes is the leader up front for the Huskies, and linebacker Sio Moore has been a steady performer as well.

But the issues for UConn defensively have been in the secondary, as corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson’s knee injury has exposed this unit. USF has the conference’s second-best passing offense, and while the aforementioned schedule has played a role so has the development of Daniels. Daniels has completed 62.5% of his passes with eight touchdowns and just one interception, a far cry from his 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2010. The improved health of the receiving corps has played a role in Daniels’ development from last season to 2011, with Sterling Griffin and Lindsey Lamar being two of the key figures.

As for the UConn offense, they’ve improved some despite the recent struggles running the football. Who’s going to step up alongside Lyle McCombs? The redshirt freshman got off to a good start this season, but it;s become apparent in recent weeks that he’s better as part of a tandem as opposed to the featured guy. Losing D.J. Shoemate for the season definitely hurts, but Jonathan Jean-Louis is a capable back in his own right. If the backs can step up things should become simpler for Johnny McEntee, who has thrown the ball well the last two weeks. His critical fumble in the third quarter changed the game at West Virginia last weekend, but overall the junior was solid.

Do the Huskies have enough firepower to win this game? That’s definitely up for debate, but there’s no doubt that given the way this series has gone anything can happen. The Bulls should be hungry to remove the nasty taste of that Pittsburgh loss, but the maturity of a program that’s still looking to break through within the conference will be tested. These are the games that title contenders don’t slip up and lose. Can USF get back into the race? That question will be answered on Saturday afternoon.

Pick: Connecticut +7.5 (USF 27-23)

Noon (ESPNU) Utah at Pittsburgh (3-3, 1-1)

To say the least it’s been a roller coaster beginning to the Todd Graham era, with the Panthers following up their most impressive showing of the season with a disappointing effort at Rutgers last week. This week brings their final non-conference game of the season, as a Utah team that’s struggled of late looks to turn things around themselves. The Utes’ problems have come on the offensive side of the ball, as they’re dead last in the Pac-12 in total offense. Losing quarterback Jordan Wynn due to a shoulder injury didn’t help matters, and Jon Hays will be making his second start of the season as a result.

Hays threw three interceptions against Arizona State last week, but he may be in store for a better outing with a start under his belt. Brandon Lindsey and the rest of the Panthers up front need to get after Hays in passing situations, and force him to make plays under pressure. The good news for Hays is that he’s got some solid players to get the ball to, most notably running back John White and wide receiver DeVonte Christopher.

“John White ran hard and Jon Hays showed promise for his first outing and has things to build on,” said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. “We’ve got to continue working on our primary issue, which is taking care of the football.”

Pitt’s had its issues taking care of the football as well, with the Panthers throwing four interceptions in last week’s loss. Tino Sunseri owned three of those picks, and while there were issues from a decision-making standpoint the offensive line’s play did not help matters. When it comes to pass blocking there’s a lot of work to be done, because the sacks aren’t solely a matter of the senior quarterback holding onto the ball for too long. But if there’s been one thing that the Panthers have done well up front it’s open holes for Ray Graham, the top rusher in the Big East. Graham rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown last week, and his rushing average ranks second nationally. Utah knows that they’ll have their hands full with him.

“They have an outstanding tailback, maybe the best in the country,” said Whittingham. “He is second in the country in yards per game, but he’s first in total yards gained. He is a great back. The challenge for us is that he is getting about 150 yards per week on the ground, but he is also their leading pass receiver. He is doing a lot of good things for Pitt.”

Turnover margin will be critical in this contest, but Pitt’s experience at quarterback should be something they can take advantage of. But if they’re not making the proper reads and the offensive line struggles to block against a defense that ranks 19th in rushing defense, look out. In the end look for Ray Graham to make the difference, with a little help from a better Sunseri and an opportunistic secondary.

Pick: Pittsburgh -6.5 (31-24)

2:00 PM (ESPN3) Navy (2-3) at Rutgers (4-1, 2-0)

Greg Schiano’s hot Scarlet Knights look to keep things rolling against a Navy team that’s dropped its last three games and did not perform well on the heels of their heartbreaking loss to Air Force as they were blown out by Southern Miss. Rutgers whipped Pittsburgh in the second half last week as freshman Gary Nova threw two third quarter touchdown passes to get things rolling after a slow start. Nova will make the second start of his career, but the key to his long-term success will likely be the performance of the Rutgers running backs.

Neither Jawan Jamison nor Savon Huggins posted great stats last week, but they performed well enough for a rushing attack that’s by far the worst in the Big East. Those two, along with Jeremy Deering, likely hold the hopes of a Big East title in their collective hands. It also helps Nova that he’s got one of the best receiving corps in the Big East to throw to, with Mohamed Sanu leading the way. But Quron Pratt has stepped up in recent weeks, and last week Mark Harrison was heard from following a quiet start to his campaign. Harrison was one of the most improved players in the Big East last season, and if he can build on last week’s outing the Rutgers offense will be that much better.

“The quarterback needs to read [the routes] out,” said Schiano. “Mo [Sanu] saw double coverage almost the whole game again, and I don’t think that’s going to change. That will open up some other guys.”

Navy brings the always-tough to defend triple option attack, led by quarterback Kriss Proctor and fullback Alexander Teich leading what is the nation’s top rushing attack. Defensively for the Scarlet Knights it comes down to two words: assignment football. Every player has to simply do their job and not get caught out of position. If an attack like Navy’s is forced to deal with gaining just three yards or so per rush that’s a lot better than having the Midshipmen spring one for a big play. Rutgers has played well against the run, ranking 20th nationally in rushing and total defense, but this is their toughest ground test to date. Linebacker Khaseem Greene and defensive tackle Scott Vallone will be key cogs in the Rutgers defense if they’re to slow down the Midshipmen.

A fast start will be critical for the Scarlet Knights on Homecoming weekend, especially against an opponent that can do so much damage on the ground. If Rutgers can hit on a couple big plays through the air early, that should loosen things up against a defense that ranks 112th in rushing defense (to be fair, Navy has already faced South Carolina (Marcus Lattimore) and Air Force). Look for the game to be close right down to the wire, with the Scarlet Knights pulling out the win.

Pick: Rutgers -3.5 (24-20)

Last week: 3-1 straight up, 1-3 ATS

Season: 28-12 (18-18 ATS)

TCU LIKELY HEADED TO THE BIG 12

Horned Frogs unlikely to play a game in Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East Conference was hit with another bit of bad news on Thursday morning, as Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas notified Big East commissioner John Marinatto of his intentions to speak with Texas Christian University about joining the Big 12. Neinas took over for the recently dismissed Dan Beebe, and the Big 12 has been a busy league in recent days as a result. Missouri has decided to explore its options, which may include possible membership in the SEC. But whether or not the Tigers have enough votes to make such a move remains to be determined, and they’ve yet to commit either way (stay in the Big 12 or go elsewhere).

With TCU and Missouri the Big 12 would be at 10 total members, and depending on who’s doing the talking the league may either want to move to 12 members or stay at 10. But if the Tigers were to make a move a slot opens, and that’s where things get interesting. BYU was a school brought up in recent weeks, so maybe they’re an option with Louisville and West Virginia also being possible candidates. So in a sense what Missouri decides to do could spell the end of the Big East as a viable BCS AQ conference, although that status is already in trouble with TCU not joining.

Without the Horned Frogs (and Pittsburgh and Syracuse), the Big East will be down to just six football-playing members when the dust settles. And that doesn’t take into consideration who else may be trying to leave. The remaining Big East presidents (which included TCU at Sunday’s meeting at Georgetown) gave Commissioner Marinatto the authority to seek out new members, but what prospective candidates would sign off on joining such an unstable league? Navy AD Chet Gladchuck said as much to Gene Wang of the Washington Post today, stating that the Big East needs to get its house in order.

“As it stands today, the issue is not ours. The issue is theirs. They’ve got to figure out how to right the ship.”

That sounds about right, and even with some possible candidates on the table the currently volatile membership is an extremely difficult sell for the Big East. Connecticut president Susan Herbst released a statement today that read as follows:

“Conference realignment continues to be a very fluid situation as we have seen developments and new rumors nearly every day. It is important that none of us here at UConn become too anxious over this situation. We will continue to monitor the national landscape and be in communication with officials from other schools and leaders from around the country. UConn has always competed at the high level of collegiate athletics and will continue to do so in the future.”

Cynics will ask if the Huskies are committed to the Big East and rightfully so, given the overtures sent out to the Atlantic Coast Conference in the aftermath of Pitt and Syracuse’s move. The remaining football members of the Big East are looking out for their interests first and rightfully so. But the necessity to do so could ultimately result in the end of the conference’s run sponsoring football.

WEEK 5 HONORS ANNOUNCED & POWER POLL

Graham, Beauharnais and Merrell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ray Graham • Jr. • RB • Pittsburgh • Elizabeth, N.J.
Graham rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and finished with 309 all-purpose yards to lead Pittsburgh to a 44-17 win against No. 16/14 USF. He had four receptions for 42 yards and had 35 yards on kickoff returns as the Panthers keyed an offense that gained 523 yards against the Bulls. Graham, the nation’s third-leading rusher this season (146.8 ypg), was also chosen as the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve Beauharnais • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Saddle Brook, N.J.
Beauharnais had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception to lead Rutgers to a 19-16 win at Syracuse in double-overtime. Beauharnais’ interception came on Syracuse’s last drive of the fourth quarter and his 44-yard return allowed the Scarlet Knights a chance at the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. Beauharnais anchors a Rutgers defense that leads the nation in takeaways (18) and is fourth nationally in sacks (3.5 per game).
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamal Merrell • So. • LB • Rutgers • Bear, Del.
Merrell blocked two kicks — a field goal attempt and a PAT try — potentially taking four points off the board in a game that went to double-overtime before Rutgers prevailed 19-16 against Syracuse. Merrell also started at linebacker and contributed four tackles and a forced fumble as part of a defense that produced five takeaways against the Orange.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a half-sack in a 27-0 win at Miami (Ohio). Led a defense that held the RedHawks to -3 rushing yards.
 
Johnny McEntee • Jr. • QB • Connecticut • Fullerton, Calif.
Completed 22 of 39 passes for career highs of 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan.
 
Jarred Holley • Jr. • S • Pittsburgh • Easton, Pa.
Had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 44-17 win against No. 16/14 USF.
 
Dustin Garrison • Fr. • RB • West Virginia • Pearland, Texas
Rushed for 291 yards — the most by a Bowl Subdivision player this season — and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a 55-10 win against Bowling Green.
 
Julian Miller • Sr. • DT • West Virginia • Columbus, Ohio
Had seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 55-10 win against Bowling Green.
 
Week 5 Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (4-1, 0-0) Last week: 2nd
Last week: beat Bowling Green 55-10
WVU turned it on after falling behind Bowling Green 10-3 in the first quarter. The Mountaineers scored 52 unanswered points and put up the highest yardage total in their history at Milan Puskar Stadium. Dana Holgorsen’s team looked every bit the preseason favorite in their final tune-up for league play.

This week: Connecticut (Noon, Big East Network)

2. Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0) Last week: 5th
Last week: beat USF 41-17
Ray Graham and company looked outstanding on Thursday night, giving the partisans their first true look at “High Octane Football”. Tino Sunseri was more decisive in his reads both passing and running the football, something that needs to continue if they’re to contend for a Big East title.

This week: at Rutgers (3:30 PM, ESPNU)

3. Cincinnati (4-1, 0-0) Last week: 3rd
Last week: beat Miami (Ohio) 27-0
Butch Jones’ Bearcats notched their first shutout since 2006 in beating the RedHawks in Oxford on Saturday, a good way to go into their bye week. Cincinnati has already forced 18 turnovers this season, a far cry from last season’s pedestrian effort. And if Zach Collaros and company can continue to move the ball on offense they’ll be a factor.

This week: Bye

4. USF (4-1, 0-1) Last week: 1st
Last week: beat USF 41-17
To say the least things got out of hand at Heinz Field for the Bulls, who couldn’t slow down the Pitt offense or continue to move the football on offense. With a bye week to figure things out on both sides of the football, Skip Holtz’s team should be able to bounce back from the big loss. But B.J. Daniels has to be more productive in order for that to happen.

This week: Bye

5. Rutgers (3-1, 1-0) Last week: 6th
Last week: beat Syracuse 19-16 (2OT)
It wasn’t pretty but the fact remains that Rutgers won their league opener and ended a two-game losing streak to Syracuse. But now there’s the question of who will start against Pittsburgh on Saturday: incumbent Chas Dodd (who was ineffective on Saturday) or freshman Gary Nova? Nova didn’t turn the ball over and led the Scarlet Knights back for the win, so practice will ultimately decided who gets the nod.

This week: Pittsburgh (3:30 PM, ESPNU)

6. Syracuse (3-2, 0-1) Last week: 4th
Last week: lost to Rutgers 19-16 (2OT)
Defensively the Orange got off to a good start with Dyshawn Davis forcing a fumble that was returned for a score on Rutgers’ second offensive play of the game. But the offense sputtered with Ryan Nassib throwing three picks and Syracuse as a team turning the ball over five times, blowing some good chances to put away Rutgers. They’re favored to beat Tulane but it will be more difficult than expected if they don’t clean things up.

This week: at Tulane (8 PM, Cox Sports)

7. Connecticut (2-3, 0-0) Last week: 8th
Last week: lost to Western Michigan 38-31
Head coach Paul Pasqualoni cited a lack of pressure on WMU QB Austin Carder in discussing why the Huskies gave up 479 passing yards on Saturday, but quite honestly a secondary without Blidi Wreh-Wilson was torched. Gary Wilburn has to get better in a hurry, and it’s tough to see QB Johnny McEntee putting up a 300-yard, four touchdown performance in back to back weeks. With nothing but league games left, bowl eligibility is in jeopardy.

This week: at West Virginia (Noon, Big East Network)

8. Louisville (2-2, 0-0) Last week: 7th
Last week: lost to Marshall 17-13
The Cardinals took a major step back on Saturday, as their failure to prepare during the bye week and days leading up to Marshall resulted in a loss. A hard lesson for a young team to learn, but it’s probably one that Charlie Strong’s program needs in order to grow. Next up is a very tough matchup for an offensive line that’s been poor thus far: North Carolina, which boasts one of the best defensive lines in the country.

This week: at North Carolina (Noon, ESPN2)

WEEK 5 RECAP AND PRESIDENTS MEETING

Rutgers win slopfest in the Carrier Dome

By Raphielle Johnson

Three plays. That’s all it took at the beginning of the game between Rutgers (3-1, 1-0) and Syracuse (3-2, 0-1) to realize that Saturday’s game at the Carrier Dome would not be the “usual” football game. Two fumbles, the second of which was returned for a 66-yard touchdown by Syracuse’s Ri’Shard Anderson, in 42 seconds. But even though the Orange held the lead from that point until Gary Nova found Mohamed Sanu with 2:09 left in regulation, they couldn’t seal the deal. And that ultimately cost them in a 19-16 double overtime loss to the Scarlet Knights, who broke their two-game losing streak in the series.

In a game that featured a combined nine turnovers (five by Syracuse), Rutgers turned to the freshman Nova with starter Chas Dodd struggling to move the offense with consistency. And despite being sacked four times Nova was solid, completing 14 of 24 for 122 yards and the aforementioned touchdown without throwing an interception. The Scarlet Knights could do nothing on the ground, with Jawan Jamison’s 48 yards on 24 carries and thanks to sacks as a team Rutgers finished with a paltry five yards on the day. But the defense more than upheld its end of the bargan, picking off Ryan Nassib three times and ending the game on a forced fumble by Edmond Laryea in the second overtime.

“I’ve never seen a performance like that by our defense,” remarked head coach Greg Schiano after the game. “I’m sure when I turn the tape on, we’re going to have mistake after mistake, but if you think about all the short fields they were on, it was great. We intercepted three, got two fumbles and blocked two kicks. That’s an unbelievable day.”

Those short fields, and the inability to cash in, ultimately did in the Orange. Three times Syracuse began possessions inside of the Rutgers 31 yard line, and each time their possession ended with either an interception (twice) or a blocked field goal. Rutgers could have tied the game on Marcus Cooper’s return of the blocked kick but a penalty called it back. All that did was delay the inevitable as Nova led the Scarlet Knights on an 11-play, 46-yard drive culminating in the three-yard pass to Sanu to tie things up at 13. They even had a chance to win the game in regulation as Steve Beauharnais picked off Nassib and returned it 44 yards to the Syracuse 34, but San San Te’s miss from 44 yards out sent the game into overtime.

The two teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, and Te supplied what would eventually be the winning points on Rutgers’ second possession. Two plays into Syracuse’s final possession the Orange turned the ball over for a fifth time, handing Rutgers a victory that may not have been pretty but counts just the same. Both teams have a lot to work on, and Rutgers has a decision to make with regards to the quarterback position (Schiano stated that he and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. will evaluate the position in practice this week). But in a battle of teams who hope to surprise folks in the Big East race, this was an important first step to take.

“I can’t wait to get back to work,” said Schiano. “We have a great team in Pittsburgh coming in here. They showed that Thursday night. They are going to have a rest on us. For about three or four hours, I’m going to enjoy this one.”

Rutgers hosts Pittsburgh next week while Syracuse steps out of conference for the final time this season with a game at Tulane.

Cincinnati 27, Miami (Ohio)

In last year’s meeting Miami (Ohio) couldn’t run the football, and it was more of the same on Saturday as the Bearcat defense limited the RedHawks to minus-3 yards in their first shutout since a win over Eastern Kentucky in 2006. In the “Victory Bell” rivalry this was Cincinnati’s (4-1) first shutout in Oxford since 1898. Quarterback Zach Collaros didn’t have his best game from a passing standpoint (one touchdown, two interceptions) but he did account for 340 yards of offense (251 passing, 89 rushing). Isaiah Pead rushed for just 49 yards but scored twice, but this contest was more about the effort put forth by a defense that’s shown major strides through five games in 2011.

“They [Cincinnati defense] pretty much did what we’ve seen them do all week on film,” said Miami quarterback Zac Dysert. “We just had a hard time picking it up and getting into a rhythm.”

Both teams got off to a slow start, with neither scoring until Collaros found tight end Travis Kelce on a 30-yard pass with 6:08 remaining to make the score 6-0 Bearcats. The third quarter was when Cincinnati made their move, with a Pead capping a pair of 80-yard drives and linebacker JK Schaffer returning a fumble on an attempted punt 17 yards for the final points of the game. Cincinnati has now forced 18 turnovers on the season (tied atop the Big East with Rutgers), and their turnover margin of +12 leads the conference (Rutgers leads in average turnover margin per game due to having played one less game). Due to their offense the Bearcats aren’t going to be a team that dominates time of possession, but unlike last season the defense is making plays and that’s been the difference.

“They might have been a little too hyped to play this week,” said head coach Butch Jones. “But players stepped up and made plays in the second half to lead this team to a victory, and that speaks volumes to our football team and the stability and leadership to persevere in the second half.”

West Virginia 55, Bowling Green 10

West Virginia (4-1) needed a back to step up in their crowded backfield, and boy did they receive such an effort from freshman Dustin Garrison. Garrison rushed for 291 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries as the Mountaineers ran up a season-best 643 yards and 55 points on the overwhelmed Falcons. The game wasn’t always headed in this direction as Bowling Green took advantage of a slow WVU start to take a 10-3 lead halfway through the first quarter. But Dana Holgorsen’s charges woke up and scored 52 unanswered points at Milan Puskar Stadium. And despite four fumbles West Virginia didn’t turn the ball over once, a far cry from their four-turnover effort against LSU the week prior.

Geno Smith completed 18 of 30 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns, with his 33-yard connection with Ivan McCartney tying the game at 10 just 1:30 after Bowling Green’s score. Shawne Alston closed the scoring for the quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run, and it was essentially “school’s out” in the second quarter as the Mountaineers put together three drives the ended with touchdowns. Garrison’s second rushing touchdown came with 12:59 left in the third quarter to make the score 45-10, and Alston’s second scoring run in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.

Defensively West Virginia picked off three Matt Schilz passes with Keith Tandy picking off two, and the plus-5 turnover margin was their best effort of the season to date. West Virginia opens Big East play next week as Connecticut visits in a matchup of two of the three teams who shared the Big East crown last season. The Huskies beat West Virginia for the first time ever last season on their way to a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Western Michigan 38, Connecticut 31

Before the season started many looked at Connecticut’s non-conference slate and saw a possible record of either 4-1 or 5-0. But after yesterday’s loss to Western Michigan the Huskies are 2-3, and likely in serious danger of not getting to a bowl game with league play on the horizon. UConn was without the services of starting cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who sprained a knee in their win at Buffalo last week, and they definitely missed his services against the Broncos. Austin Carder threw for 479 yards and five touchdown passes, the final of which was a 41-yard pass to Chleb Ravenell with 1:35 remaining to provide the final points.

UConn had one last chance to tie the game, but Ryan Griffin was stripped of the football on the tail end of a 28-yard reception at the WMU 13-yard line. Quarterback Johnny McEntee played his best game of the season on Saturday, completing 22 of 39 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. But it wasn’t enough as the UConn pass defense suffered its first significant letdown of the season, and a one-dimensional offense (Western Michigan rushed for just 11 yards) proved to be too much to contain with Wreh-Wilson out of the lineup.

“Usually, when it’s those kind of numbers, it means you weren’t able to get to him enough and weren’t able to harass him enough,” said UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni of Carder’s afternoon. “I thought we slowed him down a little bit in the second half, but he did a good job of getting the ball to other people as the game went on.”

Gary Wilburn got the start in place of Wreh-Wilson, and Western Michigan went after him early and often on Saturday. Ravenell (nine catches for 123 yards, 2 TD), Jordan White (12 for 173, 2 TD) and Robert Arnheim (10 for 113) all surpassed the 100-yard mark receiving, and UConn could only sack Carder twice as he often had plenty of time to find open targets. Kashif Moore was the receiving star for the Huskies as he finished with eight receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Lyle McCombs accounted for 188 yards of offense (136 rushing) and caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from McEntee early in the fourth quarter to give UConn a 24-17 lead.

But in a quarter that had the looks of “who had the ball last would win” it was Western Michigan who landed the final shot. Next up for UConn is a trip to West Virginia, and they’ll be without the services of offensive lineman Jimmy Bennett (torn ACL) and running back D.J. Shoemate (shoulder), who missed Saturday’s game and will be out for the rest of the season. And with the defense showing signs of cracks against Western Michigan, the Huskies could be in a lot of trouble in Morgantown next week.

Marshall 17, Louisville 13

Louisville had a bye week following their win over in-state rival Kentucky, and apparently the extra week to listen to praise was the last thing that Charlie Strong’s team needed. With starting quarterback Will Stein (shoulder) out freshman Teddy Bridgewater got the start, and while he had his moments the entire Louisville (2-2) offense was out of sync against a solid Marshall defense. Mistakes kept the Thundering Herd in the game, and they ultimately capitalized in the fourth quarter and left Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium with a 17-13 victory. And to say the least, Coach Strong was not in a good mood following the game.

“You practice what you play. Last week in practice we didn’t practice well so we got it today.” said Strong. “As a coaching staff we accepted that and we saw our results today. The only way this team is going to move forward … as a coaching staff, we have to do a better job of coaching.”

Bridgewater completed 22 of 29 for 221 yards and a touchdown (two interceptions) but once again the problem offensively was the lack of a running game. Louisville rushed for 60 yards on 29 carries with Victor Anderson leading the way with 24 yards rushing. Dominique Brown, who rushed for 91 yards against Kentucky, could only account for just 11 yards on six carries. Marshall on the other hand rushed for 117 yards and quarterback Rakeem Cato threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which was a 4-yard connection with C.J. Crawford with 1:49 remaining to win the game.

The two turnovers and 11 penalties for Louisville were signs of a team that wasn’t focused or polished, and the inability to clean things up an take advantage of their bye week cost the young Cardinals. To say the least this is a hard lesson to learn but possibly a necessary one if Louisville is to continue to progress as a program. Next up for the Cardinals is a trip to North Carolina, and their problems on the offensive line (and the offense in general) could spell doom against one of the nation’s best defensive lines.

“This is definitely a wake-up call for everyone,” said tight end Josh Chichester. “We know we are a better team it just didn’t show tonight. We know we have to prepare for next week.”

Big East presidents meet on Sunday

The highly-anticipated meeting of the 15 Big East presidents (including TCU but subtracting Pittsburgh and Syracuse for obvious reasons) took place at Georgetown on Sunday, and to be honest not too much of consequence came out of it. The presidents gave commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to begin discussions with prospective members, but the bigger issue with regards to the long-term viability of the Big East wasn’t sewn up.

“The Presidents voted unanimously to authorize the Commissioner to aggressively pursue discussions with a select number of institutions that have indicated a strong interest in joining the BIG EAST Conference. The Presidents are also actively considering changes to the Conference’s governing bylaws to further solidify the membership of the Conference.”

“Actively considering” is where the problem lies. What should have happened in the meeting was that the league presidents would agree to back up their verbal commitment to the conference by raising the amount of the buyout should a school want to withdraw from the Big East. The current standard ($5 million and a 27-month notice) is not enough to keep schools committed, and without that solidarity it may be tough for Commissioner Marinatto to actively pursue new members. At the least TCU reaffirmed its commitment to the conference, and Connecticut president Susan Herbst was cited for playing an active role in committing to the Big East. But without the raised exit fee you have to wonder if folks are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

WEEK 5 BIG EAST PREVIEW: ON TO OCTOBER

Scarlet Knights, Orange highlight schedule

By Raphielle Johnson

Big East play opened up on Thursday night with Pittsburgh beating USF in their best performance of the season, and after Saturday either Rutgers (2-1) or Syracuse (3-1) will be tied with the Panthers atop the standings. The Scarlet Knights and Orange meet at the Carrier Dome in a noon matinee (SNY/Big East Network) with Rutgers looking to snap a two-game losing streak in the series. The good news for Rutgers is that they show up with one of the top wide receivers in the Big East in Mohamed Sanu, who caught a Big East-record 16 passes last week against Ohio.

On the season the junior has caught 36 passes, and his receptions per game average (12.0 rpg) leads the country while he’s 8th nationally in yards per game with 121.0. Syracuse may be a bit raw in the secondary but their experience in covering another of the nation’s best (USC’s Robert Woods) could be beneficial for Keon Lyn and company.

The key for Rutgers will be how the other receivers perform with Sanu likely to receive increased attention. Players such at Mark Harrison and Brandon Coleman need to step up in the passing game, something that hasn’t always happened for quarterback Chas Dodd (5th in the Big East in pass offense). Rutgers will also need to be able to run the football, something they’ve done with mixed results this season.

Jawan Jamison rushed for 97 yards against Ohio in his best performance of the season, but Savon Huggins fumbled twice and Jeremy Deering wasn’t highly effective either. Syracuse will once again be without defensive end Chandler Jones but the presence of end Mikhail Marinovich and linebacker Marquis Spruill helps matters up front. Rutgers is 6th in the conference in rushing offense but Syracuse ranks 7th in rushing defense, so something will have to give in this aspect of the game.

Syracuse hasn’t set the field ablaze offensively either, but last week’s win over Toledo was a step in the right direction especially on the ground. Backs Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley (Gulley is reported to be out for the season with an off-field injury) both performed well against the Rockets, combining to rush for 180 yards and a touchdown. But they will be tested by the Scarlet Knights, who have been stingy against the run in allowing a conference-best 68.3 yards per game.

For Syracuse to run the football effectively the offensive line needs to keep defensive tackle Scott Vallone out of the backfield. Vallone has 2.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss on the season, and his ability to win at the point of attack can make things difficult on opposing offenses. Linebackers Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais both have experience at their level, and the athletic ability to run sideline to sideline makes it imperative that the Syracuse offensive line allow their backs the opportunity to run north/south.

Syracuse has the ability to move the ball through the air as they rank 4th in the Big East in pass offense. Junior quarterback Ryan Nassib has thrown for 235 yards per game and has completed 71% of his passes with just one interception. He doesn’t make bad decisions with the football, and Nassib also does a good job of getting the ball to playmakers in the best possible positions to make something happen.

Receivers Van Chew and Alec Lemon have both shown signs of improvement as the season’s progressed, and in the middle of the field tight end Nick Provo ranks among the best in the Big East at his position. Rutgers is young in the secondary but they have picked off five passes in three games with junior Duron Harmon leading the Big East with three. Looking at these teams, this contest could come down to the wire and that would mean special teams. And Syracuse has arguably the best kicker in the Big East at their disposal.

Sophomore Ross Krautman, who was outstanding in his freshman campaign last season, has made five of six field goals on the season. But Rutgers senior San San Te has steadily improved throughout his four seasons in New Brunswick and is off to a good start to this season as he’s made six of seven with a long of 50 yards. Jordan Thomas (Rutgers) and Jeremiah Kobena (Syracuse) are both threats in the return game as well. Also keep an eye on turnover margin, a category that the Scarlet Knights have controlled in their three games (+10 margin).

Pick: Syracuse +1.5 (27-24)

Cincinnati (3-1) at Miami (Ohio) (0-3) 1 PM, ESPN3

It’s been a rough start to the Don Treadwell era in Oxford as the defending MAC champs remain winless, but there’s no better place to start turning things around than in a game against a bitter rival. That’s what Butch Jones’ Bearcats need to combat on the heels of their impressive beating of NC State; any early signs of a letdown can snowball into a real chance of being knocked off. The big difference for Cincinnati this season has been a simple one: turnover margin.

The Bearcats were by far the worst in the Big East last season with a margin of minus-15. They’ve turned that around completely through four games, as their plus-14 margin is tops in the country. Quarterback Zach Collaros is just 6th in the conference in passing yards per game but he’s thrown nine touchdown passes to just one interception, a far cry from his conference-leading 14 picks in 2010.

Running back Isaiah Pead has been outstanding on the ground (106 yards per game) and with receivers such as Anthony McClung, D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins the passing game is taken care of as well. Cincinnati is the best rushing team in the Big East with an average of 239 yards per game, and in last year’s 45-3 win over the RedHawks they rushed for 384 yards. If Miami is to have any shot of pulling off the upset one thing they must do is stop the run (allowing 175 yards per game).

Offensively for the Redhawks quarterback Zac Dysert runs the show, and it’s safe to assume that he’ll be looking for a bit of redemption as well. Dysert threw for just 165 yards on the afternoon, a number that became an issue due to Miami’s inability to run the football (42 yards rushing on 25 attempts). Dysert does rank second in the MAC in passing however, so he’s definitely a player that Cincinnati will need to keep in check.

Miami’s top targets in the passing game are Nick Harwell (Biletnikoff Award Watch List member) and Chris Givens, with the latter having 16 receptions this season. Harwell’s been banged up but the talent is definitely there, and if the Bearcats don’t keep him contained look out. Linebacker JK Schaffer and the rest of the Cincinnati defense had a good night against NC State and once again encounter a team that won’t do too much damage on the ground.

Two things can make this a tougher game than anticipated for Cincinnati: turnovers and special teams. The RedHawks rank among the nation’s best when it comes to kickoff returns (both returns and defending them), which could pose a problem for Ralph David Abernathy IV and the rest of the Bearcats. But Cincinnati may still have too much offensive firepower to be denied on the road.

Pick: Cincinnati -15.5 (37-20)

Western Michigan (2-2) at Connecticut (2-2) 3:30 PM, SNY/Big East Network

Connecticut takes on a Mid-American Conference opponent for the second consecutive weekend as they host a dangerous Western Michigan, whose two losses both came against Big Ten opponents on the road. Bill Cubit’s team will put the ball in the air early and often, which could be trouble for a UConn defense that will be without the services of corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson (knee). Gary Wilburn gets the start in his place opposite Dwayne Gratz, but the Huskies have been the best pass defense in the Big East due to the entire defensive backfield and not because of just one player.

WMU quarterback Alex Carder has completed 68.7% of his passes on the season for 987 yards and seven touchdown passes to go along with four interceptions. And if there’s one receiver the Huskies must pay attention to its Jordan White, who has caught 43 passes through four games, by far the highest number on the team. As for the Broncos’ rushing attack Tevin Drake leads the way with 201 yards on the season, and the run isn’t something that Sio Moore and the rest of the UConn defense will have to be too stressed about.

The question for the Connecticut offense is a simple one: what will they get out of the quarterback position? Johnny McEntee once again received the majority of the snaps, completing 12 of 21 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores without an interception. Could McEntee be pulling away from dual threat Scott McCummings and true freshman Michael Nebrich? If you ask head coach Paul Pasqualoni that could definitely be the case, but McEntee will need his skill position players to step up in order to be effective.

Nick Williams was that player last week, accounting for 113 yards and a touchdown on just two receptions against Buffalo. Isiah Moore leads the Huskies with 16 receptions but tight end Ryan Griffin and wide receiver Kashif Moore will also need to contribute after quiet games last weekend. But that’s not how Connecticut will look to win games, especially when going up against one of the best pass defenses in the nation. WMU ranks 6th nationally in pass defense and 16th in pass efficiency defense, which could be a problem for a quarterback who’s completing just 47% of his passes to date.

UConn has to get their rushing attack untracked, with a key component being senior D.J. Shoemate. The USC transfer missed the first two games with a sprained ankle then returned for the loss to Iowa State, only to see just a handful of reps last week. The Huskies will need another back to go along with redshirt freshman Lyle McCombs, who has rushed for 366 yards and four touchdowns this season. If the Huskies can effective run the football they’ll be in good shape, but to say the least this is a very dangerous game with West Virginia looming next weekend.

Pick: Western Michigan +3 (Connecticut 21-20)

Marshall (1-3) at Louisville (2-1) 3:30 PM, WHAS/ESPN3

Louisville enjoyed a bye week following their win over in-state rival Kentucky and it could not have come at a better time for the banged-up Cardinals. Starting quarterback Will Stein was lost in the first half of that game to a shoulder injury, making way for freshman Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater performed well and took care of the football, allowing players such as Dominique Brown to make plays and lead the offensive attack.

It remains to be seen if Stein can go (he is listed atop the depth chart for this week) but at the very least Louisville will be in good hands with Bridgewater if the Miami native has to make the start. Brown has helped rejuvenate the rushing attack for Louisville, an area in which they’d struggled in games against Murray State and FIU. Brown will alternate between quarterback (in their “Wild Card” formations) and running back, sharing the load with Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright. And the Cardinals have received solid contributions in the passing game from the likes of tight end Josh Chichester and receivers Josh Bellamy, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker.

Marshall has struggled at times defensively but it’s important to point out who the Thundering Herd have played thus far. A weather-shortened loss at West Virginia followed by games against Southern Miss, Ohio and Virginia Tech is nothing to scoff at. Doc Holliday’s team will be ready for this challenge, and with defenders such as defensive end Vinny Durry and linebacker George Carpenter they’ve got the talent needed to make things tough on Louisville.

The question for Marshall will be whether or not they have the ability to move the ball on offense against a Louisville defense that ranks 21st nationally in both total and scoring defense. The Thundering Herd have struggled to move the football at times, as they rank 112th in total offense and 113th in scoring offense. Linebacker Dexter Heyman will lead a fast unit that will also make a change in the secondary, with Adrian Bushell now starting at one of the cornerback spots.

Special teams will be an area to keep an eye on as well, with Marshall having the outstanding Andre Booker on both kickoff and punt return duty. Booker ran back a punt for a touchdown at West Virginia and it doesn’t take much daylight to spring him loose. Either Chris Philpott or Josh Bleser will handle the punting chores, and there will be a need for punts with good hang-time if they’re going to neutralize Booker. This can be a tough game if the Cardinals allow it to be through poor execution, but they should be 3-1 when time expires.

Pick: Marshall +11 (Louisville 21-13)

Bowling Green (3-1) at #22/23 West Virginia (3-1) 3:30 PM, Big East Network

After a disappointing loss to LSU due in large part to turnovers and poor tackling, West Virginia looks to get back on the right track before beginning league play next week. But Bowling Green will be anything but a walk in the park for the Mountaineers, who face the task of slowing down an offense that puts up an average of 468.5 yards per game. Quarterback Matt Schilz has already thrown 14 touchdown passes and 1,169 yards with just four interceptions.

Receivers Kamar Jorden and Eugene Cooper have been his preferred targets, but Dave Clawson’s Falcons can do a lot more than just throw the football. Running back Anthon Samuel is averaging seven yards per carry while Jordan Hopgood has been a solid supplementary piece. West Virginia is allowing more than 133 yards per game on the ground (328 total yards per game), and if Bowling Green can get well above those numbers it could be a longer day than expected in Morgantown.

Offensively the key for the Mountaineers will be sound decision-making from quarterback Geno Smith. Yes the junior threw for well over 400 yards against LSU, but he also threw a pair of interceptions. When Smith is making good choices with the football in terms of who should get the ball and where, Dana Holgorsen’s team is extremely tough to stop. Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Ivan McCartney have been the most reliable receiving options for WVU this season, and it’s tough to see that changing against a Bowling Green defense that’s given up 199 yards per game through the air.

West Virginia should take better care of the football this week than last, and they’ll also need improved play on special teams especially punter Corey Smith. Look for the WVU secondary and passing game to ultimately prove to be the difference against a very tough opponent despite the MAC coaches picking Bowling Green to finish 5th in the East Division. Coach Clawson’s team has shown itself to be better than that thus far.

Pick: Bowling Green +18 (West Virginia 38-21)

Record: 23-8 overall; 14-13 ATS

WEEK 4 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Sanu, Schaffer and O’Donnell honored by Big East

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Sanu set BIG EAST and school records with 16 receptions in the Scarlet Knights’ 38-26 win against previously unbeaten Ohio, shattering the previous mark of 13 catches set in 1993 and held by six players.  He finished with career highs of 176 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in the win, giving him 29 receptions in the last two games. Sanu ranks as the national leader in receptions (12.0 per game) and is eighth nationally in receiving yards (121.0 ypg).

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Schaffer had a team-high nine tackles with an interception to key Cincinnati’s defense in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State. Schaffer’s 16-yard interception return set up a Cincinnati scoring drive and helped the Bearcats take an early 21-0 lead against the Wolfpack. Schaffer is the BIG EAST leader in passes defended (6) on a defense that has 16 takeaways — the most in the nation this season.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pat O’Donnell • Jr. • P • Cincinnati • Lake Worth, Fla.
O’Donnell was pivotal in establishing field position in Cincinnati’s 44-14 win against North Carolina State as he averaged 59.7 yards on three punts, pinning the Wolfpack inside the 20-yard line twice. North Carolina State’s average starting field position in the first half was its own 17-yard line, which helped the Bearcats build a 24-7 halftime lead. O’Donnell is averaging 47.6 yards on nine punts this season.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Isaiah Pead • Sr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and had three receptions for 24 yards and a TD in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State.

B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Completed 15 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and a TD on 15 carries in a 52-24 win against UTEP.

Lindsey Lamar • Jr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Had 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions in a 52-24 win against UTEP. Had four receptions for 85 yards and had 94 kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime win against Toledo.

Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 38 of 65 passes for 463 yards (all school records) and two touchdowns in a 47-21 loss to No. 2 LSU.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (4-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat UTEP 52-24
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday night, but all was not well in Tampa. Head coach Skip Holtz once again voiced his concern with the team’s depth as the second unit didn’t take full advantage of the extra playing time. The good news to come out of the game was that as a team USF rushed for 373 yards. But the bad habits will have to be taken care of with Big East play opening this week.

This week: at Pittsburgh (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

2. West Virginia (3-1; 2nd)

Last week: lost to LSU 47-21
The Mountaineers fought their way back into the game Saturday night, cutting the lead to 27-21. But the combination of poor tackling and poor special teams did them in on the ensuing kickoff return (99 yards to push the LSU lead back out to 13 points), and a minus-4 in turnover margin is not how you beat one of the best teams in America. But Geno Smith and company will bounce back.

This week: Bowling Green (3:30 PM, Big East Network)

3. Cincinnati (3-1; 4th)

Last week: beat NC State 44-14
The Bearcats exacted a measure of revenge on the Wolfpack on Thursday night, putting forth their best performance of the season when considering the caliber of the opponent. Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead were two of the offensive stars while the defense got back to the ball-hawking ways that have been evident in each of the team’s wins. Keep an eye on Cincinnati’s ability to force turnovers as the season wears on.

This week: at Miami (Ohio) (1:00 PM, ESPN3)

4. Syracuse (3-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Toledo 33-30 (OT)
Syracuse’s win over the Rockets wasn’t without controversy (Toledo has requested that the game be vacated as a result of a missed PAT being ruled good and upheld by replay) but there were positives to be found. Ryan Nassib was once again accurate and didn’t turn over the football, and backs Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley moved the ball on the ground.

This week: Rutgers (Noon, Big East Network)

5. Pittsburgh (2-2; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Notre Dame 15-12
The issues on offense remain (it should also be noted that Ray Graham hasn’t reached 100 yards rushing in either of the last two games) but there’s also the matter of Pitt giving up leads in the fourth quarter. And there isn’t a great deal of time to solve the issues with USF arriving in town for the league opener on Thursday night. Todd Graham’s team needs to find a way to turn things around, and soon.

This week: USF (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

6. Rutgers (2-1; 6th)

Last week: beat Ohio 38-26
It was the “Mohamed Sanu Show” at High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday as he caught 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. But while he was outstanding Sanu was the lone Scarlet Knight to catch more than one pass. Where’s Brandon Coleman? Mark Harrison and Tim Wright? These three will need to step up if Rutgers is to continue winning games. It was also good to see Jawan Jamison rush for 97 yards, providing a spark to the running game.

This week: at Syracuse (Noon, Big East Network)

7. Louisville (2-1; 7th)

Last week: Bye
Will the Cardinals be able to get running backs Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright untracked following the bye week? The good news for the Cardinals is that Dominique Brown played very well in the win over Kentucky, and the bye should allow some of their banged-up players to get healthy (center Mario Benavides sticks out). Louisville will need to have everything clicking against a Marshall team that’s already faced WVU and Virginia Tech.

This week: Marshall (3:30 PM, WHAS)

8. Connecticut (2-2; 8th)

Last week: beat Buffalo 17-3
The Huskies may have found a playmaker on the perimeter in Nick Williams, who’s been used primarily as a kick returner for much of his career. Johnny McEntee had his best game from a numbers standpoint but still needs to get better, especially with opponents keying on the run. Speaking of which, D.J. Shoemate saw limited duty (only a handful of snaps) on Saturday so the question remains whether or not he’s 100%.

This week: Western Michigan (3:30 PM, SNY)

BEARCATS WHIP NC STATE 44-14

Cincinnati picks up much-needed win

By Raphielle Johnson

Both Cincinnati and NC State went into Thursday night’s game with something to prove, given the fact that both had lost their toughest challenge to date. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, they were unable to run the football offensively, and their defense wasn’t much better in stopping the run in what would become a 44-14 beating at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati (3-1) running back Isaiah Pead took control of the game in the third quarter on his way to a 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. As a team the Bearcats, who entered the game leading the Big East in rushing offense, rushed for 246 yards with an average of more than five yards per carry.

Quarterback Zach Collaros was effective with both his arm and his feet, with his dual-threat capabilities proving to be too much for an NC State (2-2) defense depleted by injuries. Collaros completed 25 of 34 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards and two touchdowns. NC State had no such luck, with their quarterbacks being sacked six times and as a team rushing for minus-26 yards.

Neither Curtis Underwood (6 yards) nor James Washington (minus-1 yard) could get going on the ground, which made Dana Bible’s offense far too one-dimensional to keep up with Cincinnati. Glennon threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns but also threw a pair of interceptions, with both leading to Cincinnati touchdowns in the first quarter.

“We were really disappointed in the way we played last year,” noted head coach Butch Jones after the game. “They dominated us in all three phases, it wasn’t even close. The thing is they really dominated us in the physicality of things and we take great pride in being a physical football program. That has kind of been a rallying cry.”

The two teams exchanged punts on their first possessions of the the game, but the momentum turned in favor of Cincinnati on a Drew Frey interception at the Wolfpack 35. Six plays later Pead would score from two yards out to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead, and it would become 14-0 on their next drive on a Collaros run from 13 yards out. NC State showed some life, driving down to the Bearcat 24-yard line, but a JK Schaffer interception ended that drive. The ensuing Cincinnati possession would go into the second quarter but they kept things rolling as Collaros scored his second rushing touchdown of the game.

The Wolfpack would eventually get on the board as T.J. Graham turned a quick pass from Glennon into an 87-yard touchdown, but they went into the locker room down 24-7 at the break thanks to a Tony Miliano field goal. The game was essentially determined in the trenches, with the Cincinnati defensive line eliminating the threat of the the run (falling behind 21-0 had something to do with NC State’s reliance on the pass as well) and the offensive line taking advantage of a front four that’s been decimated by injuries.

“I think two things stand out tonight: we have to contain the quarterback on defense which would solve a lot of problems and we do not protect the quarterback well enough to consistently throw the ball,” remarked NC State head coach Tom O’Brien. “When we are behind we have to throw the ball. I know its tough. They know we’re throwing, they are going to be coming but we still have to do a better job than we did.”

Miliano capped the Bearcats’ first drive of the second half with a career-long field goal from 48 yards out, and after the defense forced another NC State punt the offense shut the door on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Collaros to Pead. Three Cincinnati receivers caught at least five passes with Anthony McClung’s six receptions (94 yards) leading the way. D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins caught five passes apiece with Thompkins’ 4-yard reception making the score 41-14 early in the final quarter. To say the least it was a good night for Cincinnati, who now gets ready for a trip to reigning MAC champion Miami (Ohio) next week.

“I just thought our kids were very focused and that our staff did a great job preparing them,” said Jones. “Obviously we will enjoy this one and have a great challenge playing the defending Mid-American Conference champions next week.”

BEARCATS LOOK FOR PAYBACK AGAINST NC STATE

Cincinnati hosts Wolfpack on ESPN

By Raphielle Johnson

Finally what happens on the field takes center stage again after a tumultuous few days in college athletics, and while many will still think about the overall landscape the games will be a much-needed diversion for many. Cincinnati (2-1) kicks off the Week 4 for the Big East in front of a national television audience as they host NC State (2-1) at Nippert Stadium (8 PM, ESPN). It’s the second game of the season for the Bearcats against a respected opponent, and if they need any more motivation than that there’s always what happened in Raleigh last year.

Russell Wilson led the Wolfpack to a 30-19 win that wasn’t as close as the final score would lead one to believe. But Wilson is now at Wisconsin, meaning that Mike Glennon in the signal-caller that Cincinnati will have to deal with. Glennon, one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the Class of 2008, is a 6-6 passer who doesn’t offer the same threat with his legs that Wilson did (Wilson threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns) but can get it done through the air.

Glennon (who is mobile) is coming off of his best game as a starter, completing 17 of 20 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-13 win over South Alabama. On the season, Glennon has completed 64% of his passes, throwing for 248 yards per game and eight touchdowns to just one interception.

“He’s extremely smooth,” noted Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones earlier this week. “He’s athletic now, he can scramble and make some plays, but you’re looking at a 6-6 kid who can seal, rush and is very poised in the pocket and he throws with great rhythm. He has a great sense of the rhythm and timing of their throw game.”

Glennon is also fortunate to have two of the best targets in the ACC at his disposal. Wide receiver T.J. Graham and tight end George Bryan are the two players the Bearcat secondary must keep an eye on in the passing game, because if they fail to do so Dana Bible’s offense can pick them apart in a way similar to what Tennessee did. Graham’s 12 receptions are second on the team through three games but his yardage (252 receiving yards) leads the way by a wide margin. His listed backup, Tobais Palmer, leads the team with 13 receptions, and they’re the lone Wolfpack players in double figures in catches to this point in the year.

“I believe he’s the fifth all-time leading returner in the history of the ACC,” said Jones of Graham. “He’s extremely dynamic with the ball in his hands either in the return game or in the receiver position. He has the ability to flip field position in a hurry.”

Bryan may have just four receptions through three games, but the preseason All-ACC selection is more than capable of getting hot at any time. NC State goes with a two-headed attack at running back with Mustafa Greene out until October due to a foot injury. Junior James Washington and senior Curtis Underwood are the backs in this system, averaging a combined 130 yards per game, with Underwood having the tandem’s lone 100-plus yard rushing game with 114 in the opener against Liberty.

Cincinnati may not have been great against the pass in Knoxville but they haven’t been particularly good against the run either. The Bearcats currently rank last in the Big East in rush defense, allowing 127.7 yards per game. Defensive tackles Derek Wolfe and John Hughes in addition to middle linebacker JK Schaffer need to control the middle of the field if Cincinnati is to force Glennon to deal with long-yardage situations.

Defensively the Wolfpack arrive in Cincinnati a bit banged up, but they aren’t to be underestimated due to the presence of senior linebacker Audie Cole. Cole leads the team with 29 tackles through three games, and in 2010 was tied for the team lead in tackles with 97. Cole’s moved from the SAM to middle linebacker this season, and to have a player as experienced as Cole in the middle of things is a benefit for head coach Tom O’Brien. Dwayne Maddox is one player who NC State will ask to step up, along with safeties Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff, and the hope is that their scheme can do enough to confuse Zach Collaros and company.

“I don’t think that will have much of an impact because they do so many things that challenge you in preparing for them and then with a short week of preparation,” noted Jones of the Wolfpack injuries. “All their fires and movement and different blitz schemes and coverages, they’re skilled in the back end.”

Defensive end Jeff Rieskamp is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to start, but linebacker Terrell Manning is not listed on the pregame two-deep due to a knee injury. Add in the injuries that hit the defensive tackles (J.R. Sweezy and Thomas Teal are both out until sometime next month), and it could be a nice day for Isaiah Pead on the ground. Pead has rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns, and as a team the Bearcats average a conference-best 239 yards per game on the ground.

NC State ranks ninth in the ACC in total defense (due in large part to a pass defense that’s 11th in the league), and that’s against a schedule that outside of their loss to Wake Forest hasn’t overwhelmed. Add in the likes of Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins and D.J. Woods, and Collaros should be able to move the Bearcats down the field through the air. But if Cincinnati struggles to run the football they’re going to get themselves in trouble.

“Our players have great confidence in what we’re doing,” said Jones. “One thing is very evident and that’s Isaiah Pead is a very good player. He’s one of our weapons. D.J. Woods continues to get better and better the more reps that Kenbrell Thompkins gains.”

Obviously this will be a stiffer challenge for Cincinnati than last week’s game against Akron was, a beating that provided the bonus of getting to rest a number of key players in the second half. There won’t be such luck against NC State, and a key for both teams will be turnovers especially in the passing game.

The Wolfpack (seven interceptions) and Bearcats (six) rank third and fourth respectively in interceptions nationally, and a short field via turnover or kicking game will prove costly for whichever team gets into this kind of trouble. If Cincinnati is to show that they’re more than capable of rebounding from last season’s tumble this is a game they have to win.

Pick: Cincinnati -7.5 (31-20)

Last Week: 5-2 overall (5-1 ATS)

Overall: 17-6 overall (11-8 ATS)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BIG EAST?

Pac-12 news gives league a reprieve

By Raphielle Johnson

In the immediate aftermath of the Atlantic Coast Conference expanding to 14 teams by grabbing Pittsburgh and Syracuse things looked dire for the Big East. A charter member (Syracuse) and a member who had been a part of the league for nearly 30 years were both moving on to a situation that both find to be more stable. The result was a football conference that, already suffering from perception problems nationally, was short on the number required to be a recognized FBS conference (eight teams). The seven remaining football-playing members met on Tuesday night in New York City and while the message coming out of the meeting was one of unity, is that really the case?

“The fact that all of our schools, on less than 24 hours notice, made this meeting shows they’re committed to moving forward together,” said commissioner John Marinatto. Also of note is that Marinatto will hold Pitt and Syracuse to the 27-month notice portion of the Big East bylaws on leaving the conference. According to the rules each school will also have to pay $5 million.

What also came out of that meeting was Marinatto stating that all seven schools pledged their allegiance to the Big East, committing to moving forward and aggressively seeking out new members. But that may not be completely true, as officials from the University of Connecticut said that both UConn and Rutgers did not make such a pledge. Those two schools, according to many reports over the last few days, have been on the phone with the ACC and will keep their options open. Obviously the hope would be to going the caravan to the ACC, and remaining in a reconfigured Big East seems to be a last resort for both.

That’s where the Pac-12’s decision to remain a 12-team league instead of moving to 16 (adding Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech) comes into play. With the Pac-12 presidents deciding that they would not allow commissioner Larry Scott to go ahead and invite the Sooners and Longhorns (the other two would tag along to avoid political issues in each state), the “need” to move to 16 is delayed. That also rules out a proposed merger between the remaining Big East and Big 12 schools, a union made out of necessity more than anything. With Oklahoma not moving (cynics wonder if the Pac-12 watched the Big 12 circus and decided they wanted no part of it) the meeting that was supposed to take place in Chicago was scrapped.

To figure out what happens with the Big East also means figuring out what the nine (Texas A&M joins the SEC after this school year) remaining Big 12 members can do. And there’s an awful lot of work to do, with egos bruised and many upset about the path that has led to three schools moving on. Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel voiced his displeasure with the events of the last two years in the Big 12, and the fact that a lot of concerns regarding revenue sharing (there’s also the matter of the Longhorn Network) still haven’t been addressed has Oklahoma stating the commissioner Dan Beebe needs to be replaced. Obviously the Big 12 will look to add schools at some point in the near future, but how many schools they get and the caliber of those institutions will depend on the leadership in the conference.

So where does this leave the Big East? With the statement that all remaining football schools are unified in committing to the league coming under question it’s best to simply say that schools are evaluating their options. UConn’s made no secret about what they’d like to do, but the most recent strike against a possible move to the ACC may have come on Wednesday night. ACC commissioner John Swofford stated on “The Tony Barnhart Show” that he doesn’t see 16-team super-conferences as being “inevitable”. And with recent events it’s tough to see the ACC taking a step in that direction…unless there’s a sudden change of heart at Notre Dame about placing their football in a conference (no chance of this right now). Connecticut and Rutgers may be on a possible list, but there’s no need for the ACC to make such a move right now.

West Virginia was rumored to have been turned down by both the ACC and SEC, meaning that they’re likely in the reconfigured Big East. But the prospects for both the Mountaineers and Louisville could change if the Big 12 were to come calling, but the issues noted earlier in this post need to be rectified in order for the conference to make moves. Unfortunately for Cincinnati and USF they find themselves in positions where they have to watch this all unfold, with the hope likely being that the Big East remains a viable football conference by adding new schools. The two names that have come up in the aftermath of Tuesday’s meeting are Navy and Air Force, with both joining the league as football-only members.

Navy (a football independent) plays their other sports in the Patriot League and Air Force is an all-sports member of the Mountain West. And according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com Navy could have very well become a member of the Big East by now, but the move of Pitt and Syracuse put that on hold. And East Carolina announced today that they have applied for membership as an all-sports member, so there’s another possibility to look at but it may not be a realistic one for the Pirates. But at this stage the Big East may find itself in the same position it was in back in 2003: looking to Conference USA for replacements.

Related Links

- USF athletic director Doug Woolard sent out an email to USF supporters.

- Cincinnati interim athletic director Bob Arkeilpane remains optimistic that the Big East will be able to navigate the troubled waters. The same can be said for school president Dr. Gregory Williams, who released a statement today.

- In addition to the service academies UCF and Temple have been mentioned as expansion possibilities.

- With College Gameday headed to Morgantown for Saturday’s game against LSU this should be a happy time for West Virginia. But there’s too much worry in the air to completely focus on the Tigers for administrators or fans. WVU athletic director Oliver Luck released a statement on Wednesday as well.

- Could Rutgers have avoided their current situation had they won more games? That’s the argument presented here.

- The gentlemen over at the Big East Coast Bias have done well in keeping track of all of this. Be sure to check them out.

WEEK 3 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Smith, Heyman and Bitancurt receive honors

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Smith set a school record by completing 36 passes on 49 attempts for 388 yards — all career highs — to lead West Virginia to a 37-31 win at Maryland. He registered his second 300-yard game of the season and the fourth of his career, and saw three separate receivers finish with at least 100 yards for the first time in school history.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dexter Heyman • Sr. • LB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Heyman was named the Howard Schnellenberger MVP of the annual Governor’s Cup matchup between Louisville and Kentucky after he had 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the Cardinals’ 24-17 win in Lexington. Heyman keyed a Louisville defense that limited Kentucky to just 35 rushing yards.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Bitancurt • Jr. • K • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Bitancurt scored 13 points, making field goals of 21, 34 and 35 yards and going 4-for-4 on PATs, in West Virginia’s 37-31 win at Maryland. Bitancurt leads all BIG EAST players in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game, and ranks fifth on West Virginia’s career scoring chart (186 points).

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had two sacks and forced a fumble that was returned 54 yards for a touchdown in a 59-14 win against Akron.

Andre Davis • Fr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Blocked a punt and scored a touchdown on the ensuing 11-yard return as part of a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Also had three receptions for 39 yards and another touchdown.

Darrell Scott • Jr. • RB • USF • Ventura, Calif.
Rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries and had an 84-yard touchdown reception in a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Finished with 230 all-purpose yards.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 23 of 37 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in a 38-17 loss at Southern California. Had a streak of 22 consecutive completions spanning two games.

Terence Garvin • Jr. • S • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Had nine tackles, an assisted tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 37-31 win at Maryland.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (3-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat FAMU 70-17
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday in beating Florida A&M. B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe for the most passing yards in a game in school history, Darrell Scott went off and USF scored off of a turnover for the third straight game.

This week: UTEP (7 PM, ESPN3)

2. West Virginia (3-0; 2nd)

Last week: beat Maryland 37-31
The Mountaineers were well on their way to an impressive beating of Maryland as they led 34-10 in the second half. But they allowed the Terrapins back into the game, not locking things down until Eain Smith picked off Danny O’Brien late in the fourth quarter.

This week: LSU (8 PM, ABC)

3. Pittsburgh (2-1; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Iowa 31-27
Talk about giving one away. The Panthers led at Iowa by three scores early in the fourth quarter, only to see the offense sputter and the defense run out of gas. Tino Sunseri still has a way to go with regards to how quickly he gets through his progressions, and whether or not Pitt can win the conference depends on his development.

This week: Notre Dame (Noon, ABC)

4. Cincinnati (2-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Akron 59-14
Cincinnati took advantage of a hapless opponent on Saturday, especially from a defensive standpoint. The Bearcats scored three times on defense…in the first half. In two wins UC has forced ten turnovers, but failed to force any against their one credible opponent to date (Tennessee). There’s still a lot of work to be done on both sides of the ball.

This week: NC State (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

5. Syracuse (2-1; 4th)

Last week: lost to USC 38-17
Don’t be fooled by the final score: the Orange did some good things out in Los Angeles. QB Ryan Nassib performed well in the face of a tough pass rush, not turning the ball over and pass-catchers such as Alec Lemon and Nick Provo were productive as well. But the running game struggled, and that’s the main concern that comes out of that game for Syracuse.

This week: Toledo (Noon, Big East Network)

6. Rutgers (1-1; 6th)

Last week: Bye
The Scarlet Knights had a bye week but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t busy. De’Antwan Williams has decided to transfer, meaning that Rutgers is down to three backs (all possibilities to start): Savon Huggins, Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering. Rutgers will also shake some things up on the offensive line in hopes of getting the running game going.

This week: Ohio (2 PM, ESPN3)

7. Louisville (2-1; 8th)

Last week: beat Kentucky 24-17
Starting quarterback Will Stein went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter, and that could have been a good time for the Cardinals to fold. But they didn’t thanks to Teddy Bridgewater and Dominique Brown, who led the way in the win over Kentucky. Look for Brown’s role as a runner to expand as his performance (14 carries, 91 yards) was the first time this year Louisville truly got going on the ground.

This week: Bye

8. Connecticut (1-2; 7th)

Last week: lost to Iowa State 24-20
Once again the quarterback position underwhelmed, with Johnny McEntee getting the majority of the snaps. Scott McCummings was able to move the ball some in his designated packages, but Paul Pasqualoni and his staff have to figure the position out before the season tumbles downhill. The defense has had a few breakdowns but has performed well; how much longer before they truly crack from having to carry the offense?

This week: at Buffalo (3:30 PM, ESPN3)

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