Pittsburgh News

PANTHERS DROP THE HAMMER ON USF

Pittsburgh takes first step in Big East race

By Raphielle Johnson

Through four games this season many Pitt fans were wondering when the “High Octane” attack that first-year head coach Todd Graham talked about constantly would show up on the field. Back-to-back losses to Iowa and Notre Dame left the Panthers almost at a crossroads of sorts heading into Thursday night’s Big East opener against #16/14 USF, and a loss could have sent things further downhill. But fortunately for the Panthers and their partisans, “High Octane Football” made it’s first true appearance in the Steel City.

Tino Sunseri and Pitt had a very good night (Photo Credit: Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Behind 226 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Ray Graham the Panthers rolled up more than 500 yards on their way to a convincing 44-17 victory at Heinz Field. Tino Sunseri performed well for Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0), throwing for 216 yards and rushing for another 35 with two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). While the senior didn’t light it up from a yardage standpoint he made quick decisions in getting the ball to the skill position players, something that had been an issue for much of the four games leading up to Thursday’s rout.

“I thought he executed the system well and he did a great job and was tough,” said Todd Graham of his quarterback’s performance. “He had great pocket presence. He was very decisive with the football. He got the ball out and was a commander. I thought he took charge of the team tonight.”

USF (4-1, 0-1) looked like world beaters in their three games following the win at Notre Dame but had no such luck against a Pittsburgh team that did a good job of taking care of the football after fumbling on its first drive. After Darius Patton’s fumble killed the Pitt drive at the USF 48, the Bulls marched right down the field and took a 7-0 lead on B.J. Daniels’ run from 12 yards out. But the Panthers answered immediately, with a Sunseri touchdown run capping a 10-play drive that went 77 yards. A Kevin Harper field goal from 47 yards out late in the first quarter gave Pitt a 10-7 lead, which is how the second quarter began.

After a second Harper field goal USF was able to get back on the scoreboard thanks to a Demetris Murray seven-yard run. But the pace at which the Panthers were able to play offensively took its toll on the USF defense, and Pitt took full advantage on a 14-play, 82-yard drive capped by a Ray Graham touchdown run. USF was able to cut the lead to three (20-17) on a Maikon Bonani field goal with 26 seconds left in the half but those would be their final points on the night. And the halftime break did little for the USF defense when it came to slowing down Pittsburgh, who had it clicking all night long.

“A lot of people have been talking about how it’s coming and how we’ve been getting closer and closer,” remarked Sunseri after the game. “We finally did it and we know what it feels like now.”

The Bulls went three and out on their first possession of the second half, only to see the Panthers go right back down the field for another touchdown. Pitt used tight end Hubie Graham as a tackle-eligible receiver, lining offensive lineman Juantez Hollins up in the right slot. USF failed to cover Graham, who caught the pass from Sunseri and ran straight into the end zone for the 12-yard score. USF would have to punt again and Pittsburgh made them pay with another punishing drive, this time scoring on a two-yard run by Zach Brown. Pittsburgh rushed for 307 yards on the night as their offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and kept Sunseri upright for much of the evening.

“I think there are a lot of fundamental things we have to go back and look at and we lost contain much too much as a defense letting the ball get outside of us tonight,” said USF head coach Skip Holtz. “We made too many mistakes in order be competitive as well as Pitt played tonight.”

USF was able to move the football as well, accounting for 425 yards but the third down conversions (6-for-15) and turnovers (two fumbles lost) did them in against a team that crossed midfield on nearly every one of their possessions. But the Bulls, who have been down this road before, will have plenty of time to fix the issues on both sides of the football since they don’t play again until October 15th at Connecticut. As for the Panthers, the win was quite the building block for a program that is undergoing quite the change in terms of philosophy. For the first time this season, Pittsburgh put together sixty minutes of what all involved with the program expect Pitt football to be.

“We really played a physical football game,” said Coach Graham. “We took care of the football and executed the system. I’m proud of the leadership they are showing. We made great strides tonight because we finally played a complete football game.”

LEAGUE PLAY BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT

Bulls, Panthers meet in the Steel City

By Raphielle Johnson

The final week of September gives Big East fans their first conference games of the season, with a pair of games on tap this weekend. The game that’s arguably more important with regards to the conference title race takes place on Thursday night as #14 USF (4-0) heads north to take on Pittsburgh (2-2) in front of a national audience (8 PM, ESPN). In the preseason media poll these were the two teams expected to challenge favorite West Virginia for the crown, with the Panthers picked to finish 2nd and Bulls 3rd. But while Skip Holtz’s team has looked the part for much of four games the same can’t be said for Todd Graham’s club, which has dropped close games to Iowa and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks.

USF quarterback B.J. Daniels (Credit: Associated Press)

In both defeats Pittsburgh held leads in the fourth quarter only to watch the opposition come back and snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. What are the reasons for such a tumble? One issue, that’s also plagued Pitt throughout the game, has been the performance of the offense. The “high octane” system has looked anything but for much of the season, with senior quarterback Tino Sunseri being the focal point of the concerns of many.

Sunseri’s completed 65.1% of his passes but only for 823 yards and four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. Pitt ranks sixth in the Big East in passing offense, a big reason why they’re fifth in total offense despite the play of running back Ray Graham. The offensive line will also need to up its play on Thursday night as Pittsburgh is last in the Big East in sacks allowed with 18. For an offense of this style such a high number is way too high, and while the line may be having issues with the new system they must get better at the basics.

Graham leads the conference in rushing with an average of 127 yards per game, but the majority of that damage was done in wins over Buffalo and Maine as he’s failed to rush for 100 yards in each of the last two weeks. When opponents are comfortable in their ability to shut down Pitt through the air they can focus more on Graham, Zach Brown and the rest of the rushing attack.

USF ranks third in the Big East in rush defense as they allow 82 yards per game on the ground, but this is the best running back they’ve faced to date. Also good against the pass thanks to a talented secondary led by senior Jerrell Young, USF has the talent needed to slow down the Panther offense.

“We have to get ready to play and come out and get those past mistakes corrected,” said Graham earlier this week when discussing his team’s offense. “People ask me what do we need to do and my answer is that we need to execute our system. If we are able to do that and not turn the ball over then we are going to be successful.”

Linebacker Michael Lanaris leads USF with 27 tackles while Julius Forte and Claude Davis have three sacks apiece to lead the way in that category. One thing that USF has done well to this point in the season is force turnovers, as they are tied for second the Big East with 13 takeaways and their turnover margin of +8 is third. And the Bulls aren’t happy to just take the ball away either, as they’ve scored off of a turnover forced on defense or special teams in each of their four games. Pitt, a minus-2 in turnover margin, has to take care of the football for sixty minutes in order to take care of their home field advantage.

Offensively the Bulls have moved the ball well since their season-opening win at Notre Dame with junior quarterback B.J. Daniels leading the way. Daniels has completed 66% of his passes, good for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns (one interception) and he’s well on his way to putting together his best season (by far) at USF from a numbers standpoint. Pittsburgh will also need to be focused on what Daniels can do on the ground as he’s rushed for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

USF has allowed just five sacks this season, a compliment to both the offensive line and Daniels’ ability to escape the pocket when pressured. That likely places some pressure on Brandon Lindsey, Greg Williams and Max Gruder, three Pitt defenders who will have more than enough chances to corral Daniels.

“They’re a big read-zone team and he does a great job with that,” said Graham of Daniels. “He also does a good job with protecting himself and you can tell he is experienced. Our job is to confuse him and keep him in check this Thursday. When Daniels starts to scramble, we need to make sure we match up the routes in our zone and don’t give up any cheap plays.”

Daniels will have ample assistance at the skill positions on Thursday, something that was tough to say last season due to injuries especially at wide receiver. Terrence Mitchell (concussion) isn’t expected to play against Pittsburgh but with players such as Sterling Griffin, A.J. Love and tight end Evan Landi, USF has more than enough options to turn to in the passing game. There’s also the versatile Lindsey Lamar, who will also factor into the return game, and Colorado transfer Darrell Scott adds a dimension at running back. Daniels, Scott and Demetris Murray all rank in the top seven in rushing, and this could be an issue for a Pitt defense that ranks sixth in the Big East in rushing defense (105.5 ypg).

USF leads the Big East in total offense and rank second in scoring offense, pass offense and rushing offense. They’ve been very difficult to stop but Pittsburgh has more defensive talent than Ball State, Florida A&M and UTEP. If Pitt’s offense can produce and keep the defense off the field (Pitt is seventh in the Big East in time of possession but fifth in scoring offense and seventh in third-down conversion percentage) they definitely have a chance to turn things around and win at home. But if not the Bulls will enjoy ample opportunities to not only win but win in convincing fashion. The winner gets a head start on the Big East title race, something that can’t be overstated given how balanced the Big East has been in recent years.

Pick: USF -2.5 (28-20)

Record: 23-7 overall; 14-12 ATS

WEEK 4 BIG EAST RECAP: MOUNTAINEERS FALL AT HOME

LSU shows their class in Morgantown

By Raphielle Johnson

Saturday night was a big occasion in Morgantown due to the national media attention that come with playing the number two team in America. But unfortunately for #16 West Virginia (3-1) they found out the hard way what it takes to win such contests, falling to #2 LSU (4-0) 47-21 in front of a sold-out crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium. The differences were simple but costly: special teams, tackling and turnovers. The Mountaineers were able to move the football in the air against one of the country’s best defenses, racking up 463 yards passing on the night.

LSU made quite the statement on Saturday night (Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

“They were a smarter football team than we are,” said head coach Dana Holgorsen. “We had four turnovers and they had none. We had twice as many penalties and the special teams were completely one sided, so those three things pretty much got them the victory.”

But they were a minus-4 in turnover margin, with LSU scoring 21 points off of those mistakes. Les Miles’ team set the tone on their first drive, going 58 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 11-yard pass from Jarrett Lee to Rueben Randle. Brandon Taylor would pick off Smith to end WVU’s third possession of the game, and the Tigers would convert that into a touchdown to take a 13-0 lead. One quarter in and Coach Holgorsen’s team was in trouble against a defense littered with ball hawks (Tyrann Mathieu clearly stands out).

But West Virginia would answer early in the second quarter as Smith connected with Stedman Bailey to cut the LSU lead to six. After both teams ended their next drive with a punt LSU moved ahead 20-7 on a 52-yard pass from Lee to Odell Beckham with 6:53 left in the half. The Mountaineers wouldn’t do much with their ensuing drive, and they very nearly shut the door on themselves for good in the final seconds of the half.

Mathieu, coming on a blitz, was able to pick off a Smith pass and return it 16 yards to the Mountaineer 1. LSU would score two plays later on a pass from Lee to Chase Clement to make the score 27-7 at the break. WVU outgained LSU 163-85 in the quarter but because of turnovers and missed assignments they found themselves down three scores at the half. To say the least that won’t get it done against the nation’s best.

After a Drew Alleman missed field goal from 30 yards out West Virginia began to make their run back into the game. Smith led the Mountaineers on a six-play, 80-yard drive to cut the lead to 27-14 on a 12-yard pass to Tyler Urban. The WVU defense would ride the momentum, but every time they got a stop there was LSU punter Brad Wing. Wing averaged 48.7 yards per punt and all six of his punts were inside of the 10-yard line.

Compare that to WVU punter Corey Smith, who averaged 10 fewer yards per punt with the average bolstered by a 50-yarder. That was just one part of the special teams edge for LSU. The other would come just when the Mountaineers and their fans thought they had a chance to win. After another touchdown cut the deficit to six points, LSU’s Morris Claiborne returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to make the lead 34-21.

That six-point margin would be as close at West Virginia would get, as the defense missed tackles and could not get off the field in dealing with such a physical unit. There were also penalties, ten of them to be exact with some coming in key areas of the field (there were two different illegal procedure calls on wide receivers). So while the Mountaineers saw that they have the skill to compete on a higher level, the simple mistakes will need to be eliminated if they’re to become a championship-caliber team. LSU is there, but WVU still has some steps to take.

“We did some good things offensively and defensively, but you can’t beat a good team by doing that,” noted Holgorsen. “You can talk about 500 yards if you want to, but the only thing I’m going to talk about tomorrow is four turnovers.”

Notre Dame 15, Pittsburgh 12

In a matchup of two teams that have found ways in which to beat themselves this season it was Notre Dame that came up with the big drive late. Tommy Rees led the Irish on an 11-play, 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter, connecting with tight end Tyler Eifert for a six-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-12. The two connected again on the subsequent two-point conversion, and with Notre Dame sacking Tino Sunseri twice on the Panthers’ final drive the Irish won 15-12.

“I think Tommy was 8-for-8 in his last drive and Tyler Eifert was huge, he went up in traffic two or three times, got hit and held onto the ball,” said head coach Brian Kelly. [It was] just guys making plays on the last drive is really what stands out.”

Rees and the Notre Dame (2-2) offense went through their fair share of difficulty throughout the game, turning the ball over two more time to push their number to 15 in four games. But the defense came through for the visitors, as they limited Pitt (2-2) to 103 yards rushing and 268 yards of total offense. Ray Graham led Pitt with 89 yards on the ground, but 42 of those came on one carry. Tino Sunseri didn’t turn the ball over but he was sacked five times and threw for just 165 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh was able to capitalize off of a Notre Dame fumble late in the first quarter as Kevin Harper connected on a field goal from 39 yards out. But penalties and missed assignments for both teams turned the game into a defensive struggle following a Jonas Gray 79-yard run to put the Irish up 7-3. Pitt would add another field goal and go into the half down a point, and then put together their best drive of the game to start the second half.

The Panthers went 80 yards in 19 plays, chewing up more than eight minutes on the clock, scoring on a three-yard pass from Sunseri to Hubie Graham to make the score 12-7. Pitt head coach Todd Graham decided to go for two at a point in the game where many would refuse to “chase points” and it came back to bite them. The conversion attempt failed, leaving the door open for the Irish to take the lead on a touchdown and make the margin three with a conversion of their own.

Once again closing the game was an issue for Pittsburgh, who committed nine penalties to offset the eight for Notre Dame. That’s something that will have to get better in a hurry, because league play begins for the Panthers on Thursday night against USF. “That’s the thing that’s so frustrating right now in our locker room,” said Sunseri. “We feel like we are inches away from really busting this open and really being in that uptempo offense and understanding it, and being able to put points on the board.”

Syracuse 33, Toledo 30 (OT)

Syracuse (3-1) found a way to escape against the Rockets at home but not without controversy. Following Ryan Nassib’s touchdown pass to Alec Lemon with 2:07 remaining in regulation kicker Ross Krautman hooked the PAT, only to have the officials rule that he made the kick. The play was reviewed, with the replay official ruling that the play should stand as called. Toledo (1-3) would go down to tie the game on the final play of the fourth quarter, but Syracuse would pick off Austin Dantin on the first play of overtime and go on to win on a Krautman field goal. But while they have a good argument for being robbed, Toledo head coach Tim Beckman did no such thing.

“I don’t know anything other than what they tell me in the [coaches] box,” said Beckman. “They said it was a little bit off to the left. When you come into these games, you learn as a team and coaching staff that it’s us against the world. We have to make sure we don’t give the touchdown up, so they can’t kick that PAT.”

What many thought to be a tricky contest for the Orange (3-1) leading up to the noon kickoff got off to an ominous start, as Toledo went 80 yards on 22 plays to start the game. The Rockets only got a field goal out of the drive but they set the tone early in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse would turn the ball over on their first possession, and three minutes after their first score Toledo made it 10-0 on a Morgan Williams touchdown run.

The Orange rallied in the second quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points beginning with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Nassib to Nick Provo. Krautman made two field goals but Toledo’s Jeremiah Detmer responded with a 52-yarder as time expired. The two would each score a touchdown in the third quarter, setting the stage for an action-packed fourth. Morgan Williams answered a Krautman field goal with his second touchdown of the day, putting Toledo up 27-23 with 10:54 left.

Syracuse would score eight minutes later, beginning the sequence that many will ultimately remember from this game. Defensively the Orange had their issues with All-American Eric Page, who finished with 13 receptions for 158 yards. But Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley combined to rush for 180 yards and Ryan Nassib threw for 213 yards and two scores in the win. Syracuse opens Big East play next week as they host Rutgers.

Rutgers 38, Ohio 26

Ohio showed up in New Brunswick hoping to get off to their best start since 1976. But unfortunately for the Bobcats (3-1), Rutgers had wide receiver Mohamed Sanu who put forth a record-setting performance in the Scarlet Knight victory. Sanu caught 16 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, with the receptions setting both Rutgers (2-1) and Big East records.

Chas Dodd completed 21 of 32 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns for Rutgers, but the bigger development came at running back. With many expected Savon Huggins to take over following the bye week (and transfer of De’Antwan Williams), it was actually Jawan Jamison who led the team on the ground. Jamison rushed for 97 yards on 29 carries as head coach Greg Schiano stuck with the hot hand.

“I think it will be a good mix but I thought Jawan ran it really well today,” said Schiano. “There were a couple plays that were negative plays that he made a guy miss in the backfield. Those are the plays that don’t get a lot of notoriety but they are key.”

Tyler Tettleton was outstanding for Ohio in a losing effort, throwing for 339 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But Ohio lost four of five fumbles, which gave Rutgers the boost they needed at critical junctures in the game. Marcus Cooper’s 4-yard fumble return late in the first half gave Rutgers a 21-7 lead, and while the Bobcats would close to within four (21-17) they couldn’t get over the hump. Next up for Rutgers is a trip north to take on Syracuse in the league opener for both.

Connecticut 17, Buffalo 3

It wasn’t pretty from an offensive standpoint for either team, but the Huskies (2-2) found a way to get out of Buffalo with a much-needed win. And they may have found themselves a playmaker on offense as well. Nick Williams, known for his abilities in the return game, turned two slants into huge gains for UConn. A 64-yard connection with Johnny McEntee went for 64 yards, setting up UConn’s first score on a pass from McEntee to Mark Hinkley. Williams’ second reception was a 49-yard touchdown that shut the door on the Bulls (1-3).

McEntee once again received the majority of the snaps at quarterback, and while he didn’t put forth a legendary performance he was good enough. McEntee completed 12 of 21 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Huskies win despite a disappointing showing on the ground (42 attempts for 80 yards). And despite the absence of safety Jerome Junior (violation of team rules) and the loss for Blidi Wreh-Wilson due to injury, the UConn defense survived giving up a couple big plays through the air.

Next week the Huskies host a tough Western Michigan team in their final non-conference game, and there are a couple questions to answer offensively. Is McEntee the man head coach Paul Pasqualoni will go with for the long haul? With Michael Nebrich attempting just one pass that may be the case. And how healthy is D.J. Shoemate? Shoemate caught a pass but didn’t get any carries, so maybe the ankle is still a concern for the coaching staff. But to say the least, UConn needs good answers to these questions sooner rather than later.

#18 USF 52, UTEP 24

USF (4-0) had a field day on the ground, rushing for 373 yards (four yards short of the school record) and four touchdowns in their blowout win over the Miners. B.J. Daniels, who also threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns, kicked off the scoring with a 71-yard run three minutes into the game. But the Miners (2-1) were able to answer almost immediately, getting a good kickoff return and going 33 yards in less than two minutes to tie the game. USF was good against the run, but once Quenton Washington was lost the pass defense struggled.

“Defensively I thought our run defense was good, they were stout,” said head coach Skip Holtz. “Our front seven played well. I thought our pass defense was poor. I thought it was very poor tonight. I think you know all of a sudden we were down a starter in Q [Quentin Washington] and I say it all the time, you’re only as strong as your weakest link.”

The Bulls would score two more rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, and they would lead 31-17 at the intermission. The first of two Lindsey Lamar touchdown receptions (54 yards) made the score 38-17 with just under nine minutes left in the third quarter. The Miners were able to come back with Carson Meger connecting with Kevin Perry on a 25-yard scoring strike, but that would be their final points of the night.

Daniels connected with Lamar for a second touchdown pass with 6:46 left in the game, and just 14 seconds later Sam Barrington’s 30-yard pick six closed the scoring. USF has scored directly off of a turnover in each of their four games this season but there’s still plenty of work to be done going into Thursday’s conference opener at Pittsburgh, especially from a depth standpoint.

“I think some guys are coming along and some guys are emerging, but we’re not where we need to be right now,” said Holtz of his reserves. “We are a work in progress and we got to get better than what we are right now.”

WEEK 4 BIG EAST SATURDAY PREVIEW

Mountaineers look to make a statement

By Raphielle Johnson

It’s been a tough week for the Big East Conference due in large part to the expansion talk that’s taken over the entire nation it seems. But the conference got off to a good start to this week as Cincinnati blew out NC State 44-14 on Thursday night. But Saturday offers the marquee opportunity for the league to make a national statement, as #16 West Virginia (3-0) hosts #2 LSU (3-0) in front of a national audience (8 PM, ABC).

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

The ESPN show “College Gameday” makes its first-ever trip to Morgantown, and what’s normally a frenzied environment should be even more excited for this contest. But this is a steep challenge for the Mountaineers, who lost in Baton Rouge last season 20-14. There may not be any grass for the superstitious Les Miles to munch on (WVU’s field is FieldTurf) but he’s got one of the nation’s best defenses to rely upon.

The Tigers are second in the SEC in total defense, allowing 207 yards per game, second in rush defense and third against the pass. The defensive line is deep and talented, and in sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu the Tigers have one of the nation’s best. The key for the Mountaineers on offense will be to get something of consequence going on the ground in order to slow down that front four. WVU is sixth in the Big East in rushing with an average of 78.7 yards per game, so that will be easier said than done.

“They are wherever the ball is,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen about the LSU defense. “They get there really fast, and they’re pretty impressive once they get there. You can study their personnel all you want to, but they’re all capable of making plays.”

So how will the Mountaineers move the football against the talented LSU defense? They’ll need a big night from quarterback Geno Smith and his receiving corps, led by Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Ivan McCartney. This trio has caught five of Smith’s seven touchdown passes, and Austin is also dangerous in the return game. Last year’s meeting turned on a Patrick Peterson punt return for a touchdown, so both teams will need to be at their best on special teams.

Offensively LSU is led by quarterback Jarrett Lee, who has been entrusted to simply not make mistakes with Jordan Jefferson serving a suspension. Lee will also have the services of a key weapon in receiver Russell Shepard, who was suspended for the first three games of the season. Along with Rueben Randle the Tigers will have a tandem that can test the WVU secondary, but Lee won’t be a gunslinger.

“It’s a physical nature,” said Holgorsen of the LSU offense. “They’re going to put in a fullback and a tight end and they’re going to get after you. If you put too many people in there, then they’re going to one-on-one you on the outsides with their talented receivers.”

The Tigers are a very physical offensive team, with an experienced offensive line opening holes for a committee of running backs who can move the ball down the field. Spencer Ware and Michael Ford combine to average 148 yards per game and have scored a combined seven touchdowns. The battle up front is one that Julian Miller, Bruce Irvin and the Mountaineers have to win if they’re going to have any chance.

To be frank, this is the contest where we’ll see how much Irvin has progressed. Considered to strictly be a “sack master” last season, the personnel losses forced Irvin to step into a larger role in Jeff Casteel’s scheme. If the front three can do their jobs players such as leading tackler Najee Goode will have the opportunity to run and make plays. But if not it could be a long night against an LSU team that’s won their last 35 regular season non-conference games.

Few are giving West Virginia a chance of winning this game, due to the disparity in conference pedigree and the fact that LSU posted one of the most impressive performances thus far in their win over Oregon. The crowd could be a factor, but the Tigers have played (and won) in front of hostile environments many times before. If the Mountaineers can stand up to the physical test they’ll run into in the trenches they’ve got a shot to pick up a huge victory.

Pick: West Virginia +5.5 (27-24)

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (Noon, ABC)

Pittsburgh (2-1) looks to rebound from a stunning fourth quarter collapse, and recapture the local fans’ attention who seem more interested in the Week 3 NFL Odds at this point, in their loss at Iowa last week, but that will be tough to do with Notre Dame (1-2) coming to town. The Fighting Irish may have picked up their first win of the season last week but don’t be fooled by the record. Brian Kelly’s team could very well be 3-0, but the reason they aren’t is a simple one: turnovers. The Irish have turned the ball over 13 times in three games and are a minus-8 in turnover margin, with five turnovers in each of their losses.

“We try to correct everything that occurs as we move forward,” said Kelly of how the Irish deal with their 1-2 start. “So we don’t go back to those things relative to what happened in the past, other than we try to correct those mistakes and then move forward.”

Tommy Rees, who took over for the ineffective Dayne Crist in the loss to USF, has completed 69.7% of his passes despite throwing five interceptions. Rees has six touchdown passes on the year, and there’s no mistaking who the top target is. Michael Floyd, one of the best receivers in the country, has caught 31 passes for 397 yards and two touchdowns in three games and slowing him down will be the priority for the Pitt defense.

But Floyd’s not the only weapon that Notre Dame looks to. Running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray will both see action, with Wood being the primary ball-carrier (299 yards, 4 TDs). Pitt can look to their defensive line led by Chas Alexcih, Myles Caragein and Brandon Lindsey in slowing down the run as they’ve allowed just 80 yards per game on the ground. But the Panthers have given up 336 yards per game through the air, by far the worst in the Big East. If they can’t get to Rees up front it could be a long afternoon for that secondary.

“One thing that has hurt us is we have given up a lot of big plays on pressures and were not a team who has done a lot of that in the past,” said head coach Todd Graham earlier this week. “We are too loose in a lot of situations especially when we lost the momentum against Iowa. We had moments where blitzes were called and guys just didn’t go and execute.”

While Pitt needs to clean that up on defense, the bigger concern remains the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri. While the senior has completed 62.5% of his passes he’s thrown four interceptions to just three touchdowns. The speed at which Sunseri makes his progressions in an offense that’s supposed to specialize in quickly getting rid of the football has been an issue.

If Pitt can get things going in that area they’ll be a tough team to stop thanks to running back Ray Graham. Graham has rushed for 419 yards and six touchdowns in three games, and his versatility makes him a difficult matchup for just about anyone. Manti Te’o and company will look to slow him down and make Sunseri beat them. The question now is whether or not the senior can get the job done.

Pick: Pittsburgh +7 (Notre Dame 31-28)

Toledo at Syracuse (Noon, Big East Network)

On the heels of their first defeat of the season, Syracuse (2-1) returns home to take on a tough Toledo squad. The Rockets (1-2) have already taken Ohio State down to the wire, but they came back to earth last week as Boise State blew them out 40-15. Tim Beckman’s group will pose quite the challenge for a team that struggled at home to beat Wake Forest and Rhode Island, and the combo of running back Adonis Thomas and receiver Eric Page is a big reason why.

“They have an excellent player in [Eric] Page, who’s one of the best players in the country and an All-American candidate,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone. “There is a lot of experience on the football team that is coming in here, and we’re going to have to play extremely well to beat them.”

Thomas is averaging 75.7 yards per game and is second on the team in receptions per game to Page, who catches 8.3 passes for 91.3 yards per game. Page’s ability could be an issue for the Syracuse secondary, which has struggled at times this season. The Rockets will play two quarterbacks, with Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens, with Dantin getting the start and Owens coming in off the bench.

Offensively Syracuse could be in good shape thanks in large part to quarterback Ryan Nassib, who played well in defeat last weekend. Receivers Van Chew and Alec Lemon were productive against USC and in tight end Nick Provo the Orange have one of the best in the Big East. But Syracuse needs to get their running game going, as it ranks 109th nationally.

Antwon Bailey gets the majority of the carries but he’s been under 50 yards in each of the last two games. If Syracuse can get their running game in order they’ll be that much better offensively. But that’s a big “if”, and combined with the Rockets’ not being afraid of the competition could spell trouble. Don’t be surprised if this game is close late.

Pick: Syracuse -2 (28-24)

Ohio at Rutgers (2 PM, ESPN3)

Rutgers (1-1) returns to the field following a bye week and they’ll be short a running back as De’Antwan Williams has decided to transfer. Freshman Savon Huggins was expected to see more reps beginning with this contest against Ohio (3-0), but there will also be carries for Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering. The Bobcats, who are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1976, rank at or near the top of the MAC in a number of statistical categories including total defense (lead the conference).

Ohio ranks 2nd in the MAC in rushing defense, which should make things tougher for the Scarlet Knights on the ground. That could put more on the shoulders of quarterback Chas Dodd and his receiving corps, as they’ll take on a defense that’s 6th in the MAC against the pass. Nose guard Neal Huynh leads Ohio with 20 tackles, and linebacker Noah Keller is solid at the middle linebacker spot.

Offensively the Bobcats list three possibilities to start at quarterback, and Tyler Tettleton has started all three games to date. In fact he’s gotten so many more chances to both throw and run with the football that it’s tough to say that it’s an “either or” situation at the position. Donte Harden and Ryan Boykin have been the leaders on the ground yardage-wise but it’s Tettleton who has rushed for three scores.

Ohio may not throw a great deal but LaVon Brazill is one player Rutgers will need to keep track of in the passing game. Defensively the Scarlet Knights have been good; despite giving up 24 points at North Carolina they did force five turnovers. They may not reach that number against Ohio, a team that’s disciplined and takes care of the football. Given the optimism surrounding the Bobcats it would not be a surprise if Rutgers were to lose. In order to avoid the upset however, they must get something from the ground attack.

Pick: Ohio +4 (Rutgers 21-20)

Connecticut at Buffalo (6 PM, Big East Network)

The focus goes from the hunt for an ACC invite to a trip to Buffalo for UConn (1-2), and they could very well head back to Storrs 1-3 if they don’t get improved play from the quarterback position. Johnny McEntee has seen the majority of the snaps but he’s completing just 44.9% of his passes, and the position as a whole has a completion percentage of 44.2%. Regardless of what Lyle McCombs and D.J. Shoemate can get done on the ground it’s difficult to move the football when you’re one-dimensional.

And the lack of offense could prove to be a problem as the Bulls (1-2) have moved the ball well behind Cincinnati transfer Chazz Anderson. Anderson’s done a solid job of running the offense, having already connected with ten different receivers in the first three games. Running back Branden Oliver has rushed for 358 yards and five touchdowns, but despite Buffalo’s talent on offense the UConn defense hasn’t been the problem despite some big-play breakdowns.

Wide receiver Isiah Moore played well in the loss to Iowa State, and if the quarterbacks can get the ball to Moore and his fellow receivers in positions where they can go on to make plays the Huskies will move the football. But as it’s been seen in three games that’s easier said than done for this group. The Huskies can’t afford to turn the ball over (eight giveaways) especially early. Look for them to narrowly avoid Buffalo’s upset bid.

Pick: Buffalo +9.5 (Connecticut 27-20)

UTEP at USF (7 PM, ESPN3)

One final tune-up for the start of conference play for USF (3-0), who has arguably been the most impressive team in the conference. B.J. Daniels tied the school record for passing yards in a game last week and could very well break it this week. UTEP (2-1) struggled last week in their win over New Mexico State, and it goes without saying that the Miners can’t afford to have their quarterback complete just 9 of 28 passes.

The Miners will likely go with freshman Jay Hall again this week, which could prove to be problematic given how well the USF defense has played. Offensively the Bulls can look to Daniels and running back Darrell Scott, who played the best game of his young USF career last week. UTEP could make things interesting for a half or so, but by the fourth quarter look for a few USF players getting some extra rest for next week’s meeting with Pittsburgh on a short week.

Pick: USF -29 (48-17)

RECORD TO DATE: 18-6 overall, 12-8 ATS

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.

Louisville linebacker Dexter Heyman (Credit: Associated Press)

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)

PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE MAKE MOVE TO ACC OFFICIAL

Charter member, Panthers leaving Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

The news became official early Sunday morning, with Pittsburgh and Syracuse being unanimously approved as new members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was essentially a formality due to the idea that schools don’t apply to join a conference without knowing that they’ll have the votes necessary for inclusion. The ACC now sits at 14 members, but while commissioner John Swofford stated during the teleconference that his job is to focus on making this new union work no one closed the door on moving to 16 members at some point.

Pitt and Syracuse will join the ACC (Credit: Syracuse Post-Standard)

That’s a big deal for Big East commissioner John Marinatto, who must now attempt to pick up the pieces of a league once again fractured by the rival ACC. But how can that be done when no one knows what the future may hold for them. According to the Hampton Pilot, Connecticut and Rutgers could be on the ACC’s radar if (or when) they decide to move to 16 schools. And with just seven football-playing schools the Big East is not a viable BCS conference (according to BCS rules you need eight teams in a league), which has everyone one concerned and rightfully so.

Connecticut president Susan Herbst released a statement on Sunday, and while she did say that the school remains committed to the Big East they will keep their options open. That would essentially sum up what the other football-playing schools are thinking at this time. There’s talk of a possible union between the Big East’s remainders and those of the Big 12 (should Oklahoma and friends head west to the Pac-12), but it’s pretty obvious that the “strategy” of waiting to see what happens (also, waiting to negotiate a new TV deal) is a really bad idea.

But what can the league really do in this case? Obviously an unstable entity (a keyword used by administrators of both Pitt and Syracuse during their teleconference to announce their acceptance into the ACC was “stability”), the Big East really doesn’t have a lot that it can do at this time. Media outlets in both Connecticut and New Jersey have come to the same conclusion: that neither UConn nor Rutgers can afford to not act quickly on finding the best possible situation for their athletic departments.

The next critical decisions will likely be made by Oklahoma and Texas, who both have Board of Regents meetings scheduled for tomorrow with conference affiliation being on the agenda for both. Texas was rumored to be a possibility for ACC membership, but that may have been squashed with the ACC holding their equal revenue sharing plan in high value. The Longhorn Network, which upset Texas A&M to the point of leaving to the SEC (a move being held up by litigation led by Baylor), would likely have to be reconstructed in some form for Texas to fit into either the Pac-12 or ACC.

So this all likely means that the Big East and its football members will be rooting for the same thing (the Pac-12 moves to 16, including Texas) but for possibly different reasons. On one hand that would be the conference’s best path to survival, but on the other there would be two open spots should the ACC decide to go to 16 at some point as opposed to one or zero (if Texas were to succeed in bringing Texas Tech along). The ACC struck first in a move that surprised many, confirming the fact that we know nothing when it comes to realignment. But this much is certain: John Marinatto and company had better roll up their sleeves. No longer can the Big East afford to simply sit and watch the landscape of college athletics change, hoping that they avoid the “bullets” that will fly.

Oh yeah, the Big East played football yesterday. The league won four of its six games, with the two defeats (interestingly enough) being suffered by Pittsburgh and Syracuse. And the ESPN show College Gameday will be in Morgantown next week for West Virginia’s huge contest with LSU. Possible audition for the SEC? Who knows, but it wouldn’t hurt Oliver Luck’s program if the football team and fans treated the day as such.

Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 27

Leading 24-3 at one point, Pittsburgh’s offense went flat in the fourth quarter and the defense ran out of steam in Iowa City as the Hawkeyes came back to win. Slow progressions in the passing game were once again an issue for QB Tino Sunseri, and while it may be too early to call for Trey Anderson to take over the job one can’t blame Pitt fans for thinking such today. But with the news of the day, Saturday was a day of mixed emotions for those around the school.

West Virginia 37, Maryland 31

The Mountaineers jumped out to a big lead but had to hang on to win in College Park. After giving up three straight touchdown drives to make a 34-10 lead 34-31, the WVU defense stood its ground and gained a critical turnover in the fourth quarter. Eain Smith’s interception in the final minutes deep in Mountaineer territory gave the ball back to the WVU offense, which drove down the field for the game-sealing field goal.

Cincinnati 59, Akron 14

The Bearcats got out of the gates quickly in taking care of the Zips, who can make a case for being one of the worst teams at the FBS level. After failing to force a turnover in their loss at Tennessee last week, Cincinnati forced five in the first half alone (returning three for touchdowns) in taking a 49-0 halftime lead.

Louisville 24, Kentucky 17

Senior quarterback Will Stein was knocked out of the game in the first half with a shoulder injury, opening the door for freshman Teddy Bridgewater. The Miami native got the job done for the Cardinals, who snapped their four-game losing streak in the series. Louisville’s defense shouldn’t be overlooked however, as they limited the Wildcats to 35 yards rushing on 32 carries and sacked Morgan Newton six times. The Cardinals were also able to get their running game going, rushing for 181 yards on 40 attempts and Dominique Brown supplying the spark.

USF 70, Florida A&M 17

USF took full advantage of the Rattlers in Tampa, rewriting parts of the school record book in the beating. The Bulls established new marks for total yards (745, which is now also a Big East record), and quarterback B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe’s school record with 382 passing yards. Darrell Scott scored on a 56-yard run and an 84-yard reception…in the same quarter. It was that kind of night for USF, who moves to 3-0 with UTEP visiting next week.

USC 38, Syracuse 17

While the final score may be taken by some as a picture that things got out of hand in Los Angeles, there were positives to be taken out of the game for the Orange. Most notably the play of quarterback Ryan Nassib, who is now up to seven touchdowns and one interception on the season. The problem for Syracuse was that they couldn’t slow down Matt Barkley, who threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns in leading the Trojans to the win.

PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE APPLY FOR ACC MEMBERSHIP

Big East finds itself in big trouble

By Raphielle Johnson

In a story that’s picked up considerable speed over the last 20 hours or so, the Big East Conference could take a serious (and immediate) hit to its membership. Reported first by Pete Thamel of the New York Times and Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied to become members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Pitt could be reunited with Miami very soon (Photo Credit: Chaz Palia/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

The story broken by Thamel on Friday night acknowledged conversations between the schools and the conference, only to be followed by a report from McMurphy that the schools had formally applied for membership. To make a long story short, school presidents don’t apply to join a new conference without knowing that they’re going to have the necessary votes from said league’s presidents to make the move. According to McMurphy, Big East commissioner John Marinatto did not find out about the schools applying for ACC membership until earlier today while in College Park attending the West Virginia/Maryland game.

The move will get the ACC to 14 all-sports members, and with prevailing wisdom being that the future of college athletics will be four 16-team “super-conferences” that leaves two spots to fill there. Could the ACC, which would now have five former Big East members within its ranks, come calling for two more schools? That’s a big question to answer, but to say the least the other seven Big East football members (this number includes TCU) are working the phones frantically.

The same can be said for the Big East, which has been reported to have been in contact with each of the remaining Big 12 schools save Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Do the two weakened conferences look to band together to form a fifth league and stave off (temporarily) the “wave of the future”? To say the least there’s an awful lot still in the air for the Big East and its members, but to say the least they’ve been put on notice in a big way. Super-conferences will likely be here sooner rather than later, and the goal for each school now is to make sure they have a seat at the table before the music stops.

Related Links

- Rutgers and Seton Hall looking at uncertain futures due to the latest news

- Cincinnati president Greg Williams stated at the Bearcats’ game against Akron that UC remains committed to the Big East. Interim athletic director Bob Arkeilpane said the same while also noting that the school will keep all options open. Cincinnati has not applied to another conference.

- The Louisville Courier-Journal caught up with athletic director Tom Jurich, who doesn’t seem too thrilled with the administration at Pittsburgh right now.

- USF president Judy Genshaft and athletic director Doug Woolard released a statement that really didn’t say a whole lot.

WEEK 2 RECAP: BEARCATS BLOWN OUT IN KNOXVILLE

Tennessee dominates from 2nd quarter on

By Raphielle Johnson

Cincinnati went down to Tennessee with a team that needed to be tested following their opening 72-10 win over Austin Peay. And Butch Jones’ squad seemed to answer the call in the first quarter, racking up the yardage as they ended the quarter tied at 14. But the Bearcats couldn’t solve their issues of blown assignments and poor tackling, and once a pair of 4th down conversions fell short things got away from them. The end result was a 45-23 Tennessee win, handing Cincinnati (1-1) their first loss of the season.

Da'Rick Rogers and the Vols had their way with Cincinnati (Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II)

Isaiah Pead rushed for 155 yards on 14 carries to lead Cincinnati on the ground, and his 65-yard touchdown run on the Bearcats’ third play from scrimmage opened the scoring. The orange-clad crowd would be quieted but only momentarily, as the Volunteers (2-0) answered with a seven-play drive capped by a Marlin Lane score from two yards out. Also hot for Tennessee was quarterback Tyler Bray, who would finish with 405 yards passing and four touchdown (34 for 41).

“His confidence is at an all-time high,” said wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers of his quarterback. “You can really see it in practice. He is playing with great poise and playing like a quarterback right now. He is really running things.”

Following that first score Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley would dig into the bag of tricks, going with a surprise onside kick that kicker Michael Palardy would recover. Five plays later Bray connected with Justin Hunter for the first of his four touchdown passes, and the Bearcats were in trouble from a momentum standpoint. But they were able to answer, with Zach Collaros hitting tight end Adrien Robinson on a 13-yard strike to tie the score at 14. But unfortunately for Cincinnati that would be as close as they’d get, with the tackling issues being a major issue.

Rogers, Hunter and the rest of the Tennessee skill position players were able to rack up the yards after contact on Saturday, with the two receivers combining for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions. Cincinnati just allowed too many openings in the secondary, and eventually Tennessee was able to assert their dominance in the trenches as well. The two defensive stops on fourth down resulted in the Bearcats going scoreless in the second quarter, and from there it was all Tennessee.

“Those are (like) turnovers. People don’t realize how big those are,” said Dooley. “It’s not just the stops; it’s field position. It generates juice. You get a little excited. Those plays are huge on fourth downs.”

Two Rogers touchdown receptions made the score 28-14 at the half, and Bray’s 1-yard run put them up by three touchdowns early in the third quarter. Tennessee would get their lead up to 42-17 by the end of the third quarter, and an Anthony McClung touchdown reception with 8:46 remaining proved to be too little too late for the visitors. Tennessee was 10 for 13 on third downs and racked up 34 first downs to Cincinnati’s 18, out-gaining the Bearcats 531-396.

The Volunteers also had the ball for more than 37 minutes, which proved to be a serious issue given the fact that Cincinnati couldn’t force any turnovers. When you can’t get off the field it becomes extremely difficult to slow down a team with the talent of a Tennessee. So it’s back to the drawing board for the Bearcats, who host Akron next week in a game they’ll be heavily favored to win.

Vanderbilt 24, Connecticut 21

In a game that featured a great deal of offensive futility, it was obvious by the fourth quarter than whichever team could create something offensively would win the game. That turned out to be Vanderbilt (2-0), who went 45 yards on six plays to set up the winning points on a Carey Spear 31-yard field goal with just under 3 minutes to go. UConn (1-1) could establish nothing offensively for much of the game, so it came as no surprise that would turn the ball over on downs on their final possession.

Lyle McCombs was the best offensive player for the Huskies, rushing for 118 yards on 27 carries, but after a hot start on the ground the redshirt freshman was slowed down by the Vandy defense. It didn’t help matters that UConn could find no rhythm whatsoever in the passing game as Johnny McEntee (who received the majority of the snaps) struggled for much of the night. McEntee completed just 10 of 27 passes for 99 yards and was sacked four times, throwing three interceptions as well.

“As the game went, I stayed with Johnny just to have some continuity,” explained head coach Paul Pasqualoni. “We put Mike [Nebrich] in, and put him in at the start of the second quarter, which we did a week ago, but it’s just hard to get into the flow of the thing with what they were doing.”

But is there continuity if you can’t move the football? Without the threat of the pass to worry about the Vanderbilt defense was able to sell out against the run as the game progressed, resulting in numerous long-distance situations. That in turn allowed Vandy to pin their ears back and get after McEntee, forcing him to make a number of throws under pressure. Kenny Ladler’s interception of McEntee in the first quarter set up the Commodores’ first points of the game, which came on a 42-yard pass from Larry Smith to Chris Boyd.

After a UConn punt Vandy went back down the field on their most impressive drive of the day, moving ahead 14-3 on a Jerron Seymour 40-yard touchdown run. That’s how the first half would end after a scoreless second quarter, and UConn would score on a Dave Teggart field goal to cut the deficit to eight. That’s when the Husky defense and special teams would take over, scoring on a blocked punt and a fumble return to take a 21-14 lead early in the final quarter.

But the poor offense would show up once again, with McEntee throwing an interception to Casey Hayward that he would return for the game-tying touchdown. Simply put it wasn’t a good throw, and Hayward took full advantage of the opportunity. “I didn’t think he was going to throw the ball to my side on that play, but when he did there was a lot of space out there,” said Hayward. “The defense made a lot of key blocks for me to get into the end zone.”

After another Husky three and out Vanderbilt moved the ball down the field thanks in large part to Zac Stacy’s 48-yard run, setting the stage for Spear’s game-winner. While Vandy displayed a change in mindset under first-year head coach James Franklin in refusing to let the game get away from them, UConn’s issues in the passing game remain a major problem. Iowa State visits Friday night in a short week, and the Huskies need to figure this problem out before it’s too late.

North Carolina 24, Rutgers 22

Rutgers had every opportunity to pick up a big win on the road against a quality opponent but they fell just short, losing to North Carolina (2-0) by two points in a game the Scarlet Knights could argue they should have won. Giovani Bernard was the standout for North Carolina, rushing for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win. Bryn Renner threw for 273 yards but the Rutgers defense picked him off three times and forced five turnovers for the game, however the offense wasn’t able to produce enough against a talented Tar Heel defense.

Chas Dodd completed 25 of 47 passes for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Mohamed Sanu (13 receptions for 119 and a touchdown) was the favored target, but Rutgers’ inability to run the football proved costly. As a team the Scarlet Knights rushed for one yard the entire game, with Dodd being sacked four times and Savon Huggins being held without a yard on seven carries. Dodd was forced to make a number of throws under pressure and while the sophomore was successful on a number of occasions it wasn’t enough. Rutgers has to improve their running game if they’re to improve offensively.

“We’ve got to run the ball more effectively,” said head coach Greg Schiano. “We’ve got sit down and figure out if it’s schematic, if it’s personnel and then make whatever adjustments we feel will help it.”

Third down conversions were a factor as well, with Rutgers converting on just 6 of 17 chances. North Carolina wasn’t much better, converting 4 of 10 third downs, but they were able to break a big play when needed while Rutgers was not. Inopportune penalties hurt Rutgers in the second half as well, and that’s another area they’ll need to remedy before taking on Ohio in two weeks. But the game was largely a positive experience for Rutgers, who has the talent to get better as the season wears on.

Pittsburgh 35, Maine 29

This is a somewhat deceptive final score given the Black Bears scoring 14 points late in the fourth quarter. But the score does underline the issue of Todd Graham’s team not shutting the door on an inferior opponent, one they struggled with on Saturday. Tino Sunseri struggled, throwing for 244 yards and two interceptions before being replaced by freshman Trey Anderson. But the good news for Pitt is that they have Ray Graham, who rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

“The most positive thing I can say is that we’re 2-0,” said Coach Graham. “That game was definitely playing down to our competition. We didn’t play very well. I told our guys that whenever you get a home field win, you’ve got to celebrate, and then work hard to get better.”

Coach Graham stated after the game that he’s got full confidence in Sunseri and the senior remains his number one quarterback, but the decision-making and cohesion in the passing game has to improve if the Panthers are to reach their potential. Maine quarterback Warren Smith had a good day in defeat, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The Pitt defense successfully took away the run, limiting Maine to 37 yards on the ground. But once the Panthers were able to pull away in the second half the Black Bears took to the air and had some success, which didn’t sit well with the head coach.

“Defensively, we’re giving up stupid plays in the passing game,” remarked Graham. “It’s ridiculous and it should not be happening.”

Next up for Pittsburgh is a game at Iowa, and to say the least they won’t be able to get away with another performance from Sunseri like this one in Iowa City. Special teams need to improve as well, with Kevin Harper missing both a field goal and an extra point. Pittsburgh has had enough talent to beat their first two opponents without executing to their full potential. That happens again next week and they’ll get beat.

West Virginia 55, Norfolk State 12

West Virginia went into the locker room at the half down 12-10 to a scrappy Norfolk State team led by WVU alum Pete Adrian. And whatever head coach Dana Holgorsen and his staff said to the players in the locker room served as the catalyst for the Mountaineers’ (2-0) best quarter of football, as they blew away the Spartans in the third quarter. Four drives ended in touchdowns in the third quarter, and Geno Smith finished the game with 371 yards passing and four touchdowns in leading the way.

“Not tremendously pleased with the first half but was pleased with how we came out in the second half and played better,” said Holgorsen.

Holgorsen stated after the game that the change was all about the Mountaineers playing with better effort as opposed to making strategic adjustments. Norfolk State (1-1) was able to move the ball for much of the first half until they reached the red zone, where the WVU defense buckled down and limited them to four field goals. Those missed opportunities led to the margin being just two points at the half, setting the stage for the Mountaineers to blow the game wide open.

The running game still has yet to take off for West Virginia, with the head coach pointing out both the backs not hitting holes and players not finishing blocks. Vernard Roberts led the way with 64 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, but it was the passing game that ultimately got the job done. Tavon Austin and Devon Brown led the way, combining for 10 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Two quick touchdown drives early in the third quarter gave WVU a 24-12 lead less than five minutes in and that was all she wrote. Next up for the Mountaineers is Maryland, who had this week off after beating Miami on Labor Day.

Syracuse 21, Rhode Island 14

Syracuse struggled for much of the game against Rhode Island on Saturday, having some key players leave the game for short periods due to injury and the offense failing to establish itself for much of the game. The end result was a closer than expected win over a team playing its first game of the season. The Orange are 2-0 on the season but their play against the Rams doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence heading into next week’s game at USC.

“We didn’t get the momentum going the way we liked to go,” said head coach Doug Marrone. “But I told the kids that we’ll have time to correct this stuff. We’re not good enough not to enjoy a victory, and that’s the one thing that’s important for our players. That’s what I told the players and that’s what I told the coaches.”

Ryan Nassib tied a school record for completions in a game with 29, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns in the win. His touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Acchione with 8:34 remaining proved to be the difference on an afternoon that saw the Orange fail to establish a level of consistency on the ground. Starter Antwon Bailey was shaken up early but returned to rush for 43 yards, and as a team Syracuse rushed for just 36 yards on the day.

Defensively the Orange had their issues with Rhode Island quarterback Steve Probst at times, but key sacks from Marquis Spruill in the fourth quarter stunted the Rams’ ability to win the game. Spruill finished with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, and safety Phillip Thomas picked off a pair of passes. URI runs a completely different offense than what Syracuse will encounter next week, but the goal is to keep building week by week. An awful lot about Coach Marrone’s program will be learned next week.

USF 37, Ball State 7

On an emotional evening in Tampa with USF honoring the memory of the late Lee Roy Selmon it was the Bulls who were the lone Big East team to storm out of the gates. A fumble return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff opened the flood gates for the Bulls, who led 30-0 at the half on their way to the 37-7 win. But all was not well from Skip Holtz’s point of view, as he watched the second-team offense sputter when given the chance to play.

“We’ve been talking about the depth of this football team. I think that reared its ugly head,” said Holtz. “We struggled to get a first down in the second half. We need as much work as we can, and we have a long way to go with our 2’s. It’s amazing we don’t let our 2’s practice.”

B.J. Daniels threw for 359 yards and a touchdown on the night and Colorado transfer Darrell Scott supplied some highlights in rushing for 82 yards and a score on 11 carries. Scott hurdled defenders on multiple occasions, although there was a lesson learned on one such attempt that wasn’t successful. Demetris Murray added 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and receiver Victor Marc caught his first career touchdown in accounting for 81 yards on four catches. Terrence Mitchell led the way with seven receptions and seven players caught at least three passes.

Daniels set career marks in attempts, completions and yards, and if he can build on Saturday’s outing the Bulls will improve by leaps and bounds offensively. The depth, which led to many not picking them to win the Big East, remains a concern as noted above. But through two weeks of the season it can be argued that USF has been the most impressive team in the Big East. Next up for USF is Florida A&M next weekend.

Friday: FIU 24, Louisville 17

Louisville fell victim to penalties and other miscues on offense, and it didn’t help matters that the defense couldn’t find away to corral T.Y. Hilton in the first half. Hilton, one of the best players in the country, accounted for 201 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ first-ever win over an opponent from a BCS AQ conference. FIU really couldn’t establish much outside of Hilton offensively, but the Cardinals helped them out with a poor third down conversion rate (9 for 20) and a pick-6 in the first quarter gave FIU a 7-0 lead.

The second quarter was the Hilton show, with the senior scoring two touchdowns less than three minutes apart to give the Panthers a 21-3 lead with 9:28 left in the half. Will Stein found Michaelee Harris on a six-yard scoring strike late in the half to cur the lead to 21-10, but they weren’t able to score again until less than two minutes remaining in the game. Stein threw for 346 yards but for the second straight week Louisville failed to establish the run, rushing for 83 yards on 41 attempts.

“We just didn’t move people and didn’t block people,” said head coach Charlie Strong. “That’s two straight weeks we have kept the running game going. It is something we have to work on. You have to be able to run the football, because when you move the football, you have to be able to play physical.”

Josh Chichester led the way with six receptions for 111 yards, with Harris, Eli Rogers and DeVante Parker catching at least four passes apiece. Next up for Louisville is in-state rival Kentucky, who also hasn’t looked that impressive this season. The tone of the season for the Cardinals could be established next week in Lexington.

WEEK 2 BIG EAST SATURDAY PREVIEW

Bearcats, Huskies take on SEC opponents

By Raphielle Johnson

Some tried to make a big deal about the Big East’s 8-0 week to open the season, but that was a weekend to be taken with a grain of salt given the number of FCS opponents. This Saturday provides stiffer competition than if one was to play online blackjack for a number of teams, beginning with Cincinnati and Connecticut. Both beat over-matched FCS opponents last week, and both will be in the State of Tennessee taking on SEC opponents.

Cincinnati (1-0) will visit Neyland Stadium and take on Tennessee (1-0) (3:30PM, ESPN2), who picked up a solid win over Montana last weekend, in a game that was our pick for week #2 in our 2011 Ultimate Schedule. And it’s a safe bet that the Volunteers players and coaches will take the contest seriously, as opposed to a columnist who earlier this week essentially stated that the Bearcats are a Conference USA program.

But what’s written in a paper means nothing, and Cincinnati should be as fired up for the game as a gemer getting a shot at some internet video poker. Saturday’s game is the first chance for Butch Jones’ team to show that they’re ready to get back to being a factor in the Big East. But the talk of a win over the Volunteers erasing what happened last season is one that Coach Jones isn’t having.

Zach Collaros will be key against Tennessee (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

“I don’t think any win can erase. It’s a new season,” said Jones on Tuesday. “4-8 did not meet our expectations; it did not meet our standards. But, I think we learned a lot from it. It helped build a foundation.”

One thing the Bearcats did well in the 72-10 win over Austin Peay was force turnovers. After struggling mightily in that department last season, Cincinnati opened the season with five forced turnovers. But this Tennessee team is far superior to the squad Cincinnati blew out last week, with quarterback Tyler Bray leading the way.

Bray threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns last week, but if there’s a concern for Derek Dooley’s team it’s that they fumbled the ball six times (losing none) against Montana. Led by linebacker JK Schaffer the Cincinnati defense is more of an attacking unit, and they’ve got the ability to apply pressure to the Tennessee offense. Senior running back Tauren Poole rushed for 98 yards for Tennessee last week, and freshman Marlin Lane Jr. will also get carries.

But Cincinnati may have the tougher time with Volunteer wide receivers Da’Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter, who combined for 11 catches for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. The Bearcats were dead last in the Big East in both pass and pass efficiency defense last season, which had as much to do with their lack of a pass rush as their inexperienced secondary. Cincinnati will have to get after Bray and force some hurried throws if they’re to slow down Tennessee through the air.

The Bearcats will be tested by the Tennessee defense, and it will be interesting to watch the Cincinnati receivers go up against a young but talented secondary. A freshman and a sophomore started in the secondary for Tennessee last weekend, but they do have some depth. D.J. Woods, Kenbrell Thompkins and company will be tested but they’re more than capable of finding openings and making Tennessee pay.

But can the offensive line match Tennessee’s physicality up front? If so, Cincinnati will be able to play with balance offensively and that will help deal with a crowd that will be into six figures from an attendance standpoint. Crowd control will be key for Cincinnati, and the best way for them to do that will be to minimize mistakes in all three phases of the game. They’re young on special teams, which could be an issue. But Coach Jones has a much improved team, one that’s more than capable of leaving Knoxville with a win.

“It’s turnovers, eliminating negative yardage plays on offense and field position game,” said Jones. “All three of those things go hand in hand with turnovers, eliminating negative yardage and special teams that goes on throughout the game.”

Pick: Cincinnati +4.5 (31-28)

Rutgers at North Carolina (12:30 PM, SNY)

This matchup was one of the more bizarre games of last season, with the Tar Heels leaving New Brunswick with a close victory riddled with offensive issues for both teams. The hope for Rutgers (1-0) is that they’re better equipped on that side of the football, especially on the offensive line. But with Desmond Wynn dealing with an injury, the Scarlet Knights could once again have their hands full with a talented North Carolina (1-0) defensive line.

UNC lost a number of players before last season due to NCAA issues, but those personnel losses allowed other players to get more reps. One was defensive end Quinton Coples, who has the look of a high NFL Draft pick come April. Coples picked up two sacks in the season opener against James Madison last week, and he’s not the only outstanding player on the Carolina defense. Zach Brown leads an experienced group of linebackers, and the Rutgers wide receivers will encounter an experienced secondary.

“90 [Coples] is as good a player as there is in America,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano early this week. “He’ll be a second or third pick in the draft I think. You are looking at guys that are NFL players and then they have some young defensive linemen that are really good, as well. Some of these guys were forced into action last year because of some of the suspensions, so now they have a little experience.”

But in addition to getting after Chas Dodd, it’s likely a safe bet that the UNC defense will want to shut down RB Savon Huggins as well, given the way in which he committed to RU (this is still a sore spot for many Tar Heel fans). But the Scarlet Knights also have De’Antwan Williams, and Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering may also be bigger factors this week than last as well. That all goes back to line play, which looked better for Rutgers in their win over North Carolina Central. But this is a far better opponent, so a lot more will be learned about the Scarlet Knights with regards to whether or not they’ve improved from last season.

Defensively Rutgers will be tested by quarterback Bryn Renner, a player many surrounding the UNC program have been waiting to see on the field. Renner played very well last week in his first career start, completing 22 of 23 passes against James Madison. His favorite target against JMU was Dwight Jones, who caught nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Erik Highsmith is an experienced receiver, and running back Ryan Houston will also factor into the passing game.

Houston was one of three running backs to see significant action last week, with Giovanni Bernard and A.J. Blue also getting at least five carries. Bernard and Houston will be the two who get the lion’s share of the carries against Rutgers, but it goes without saying that interim head coach Everett Withers has a very talented team at his disposal. Rutgers also has plenty of talent, including the likes of Mark Harrison and Mohamed Sanu at wide receiver, but can they keep Coples and company away from Dodd? If so, the Scarlet Knights have a chance to stay in the game. But to say the least this will be an uphill battle for Rutgers.

Pick: North Carolina -10 (27-14)

Connecticut at Vanderbilt (7:30 PM, SNY)

The third matchup between a Big East team and a program from a BCS AQ conference matches Connecticut (1-0) with a team in Vanderbilt (1-0) that they beat handily in East Hartford last season. But these are also two programs with new head coaches, with former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin taking over the Vanderbilt program. He’ll match wits with Connecticut defensive coordinator Don Brown, who was on the same Maryland staff as Franklin last season. Look for the game to be physical on both sides of the football, with the team that wins the battle in the trenches ultimately winning the game.

“I think the thing that was our focus was UConn has done a great job of winning and playing to its strengths, and that’s been the O-line and D-line for years,” said Franklin on Wednesday. “They’re big, tough and physical. It fits their style of play, that’s what Coach Pasqualoni wants to do as well.”

D.J. Shoemate returns to the UConn backfield after missing last week’s win over Fordham with a sprained ankle, and his ability should add even more to a running game that was solid thanks to redshirt freshman Lyle McCombs. McCombs rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns, and the Husky rushing attack needs to be at its best given the quarterback situation. Connecticut will once again play three quarterbacks, with Johnny McEntee, Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich being the players.

McCummings threw the lone touchdown pass last week, connecting with tight end Ryan Griffin for a 55-yard score, and his ability to run offers a change of pace at the position. But Vanderbilt is more concerned with how physical UConn will play as opposed to what each quarterback brings to the table. UConn will be familiar with some of the Vandy defenders as well, especially outstanding linebacker Chris Marve. The Commodores forced three turnovers last week against Elon, with corners Casey Hayward and Trey Wilson each picking off a pass.

“They have a pressure defense, and I really like Chris Marve, the middle linebacker,” said Coach Pasqualoni on Tuesday. “Casey Hayward, the corner who also substitutes as their wildcat quarterback. That is always a problem for you.”

UConn defensively may have the upper hand in this matchup; the Commodores were outgained by Elon last week. Larry Smith completed just 13 of 27 passes for 125 yards and two scores but he didn’t turn the ball over, but he has to be more productive for Vandy. They tend to run the ball by committee, with Zac Stacy getting eight carries to Smith’s four. Hayward will also see time on offense given the fact that he’s one of their best athletes, and Chris Boyd caught a pair of touchdown passes last week. If Sio Moore and company read their keys however, there’s no reason why the Huskies can’t slow down Vanderbilt.

It’s tough to see UConn scoring 40 points as they did in last season’s meeting, but it’s not too difficult to see them leaving Nashville with a win. Take care of the football and don’t get beat in the kicking game (which is tough to see with Dave Teggart and Cole Wagner), and UConn should be fine.

Pick: Connecticut +2.5 (24-13)

Ball State at USF (7:00 PM, ESPN3)

It’s been a tough week for the USF family, one filled with conflicting emotions. The joy that followed the win at Notre Dame was soon tempered by the death of Lee Roy Selmon, an instrumental person in the birth and growth of the USF athletic department. He’ll be honored with a moment of silence before the game against Ball State, who opened their season with a win over Indiana last week. The key for USF (1-0) will be to avoid any kind of hangover, and it’s tough to see that happening given their experience.

Sophomore quarterback Keith Wenning played well against Indiana for Ball State (1-0), completing 23 of 29 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and starting 10 games last season as a true freshman seems to have paid off. The Cardinals may have experience at certain positions (especially on the lines), but they rely on some youngsters to get the job done in order to win. The USF secondary will need to make things tough on Wenning in order for the Bulls to take control of the game, and they’re more than capable of doing so. But can the defensive line control the line of scrimmage after not doing so for much of the win over Notre Dame?

Offensively the Bulls will need more from quarterback B.J. Daniels from a statistical standpoint, but he didn’t make the critical error against Notre Dame last week. The junior looked more mature in his decision-making, because in spite of a few missed reads Daniels was willing to live another play. Running backs Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray also need to be more productive this week, but that could be tough at the start with Ball State allowing just 3.2 yards per carry to Indiana. But the Bulls have too much talent across the board to lose this game, which could end up being closer than some expect.

Pick: Ball State +20 (USF 37-24)

Maine at Pittsburgh (1:00 PM, ESPN3)

After struggling with Buffalo in the first half last week, Todd Graham’s Panthers (1-0) were able to wake up and pull away in the second half. The goal for this week’s matchup with Maine (1-0) is to be sharp from the start, which should be good enough to take care of the Black Bears. Maine was led by a punt returner (Trevor Coston) and a running back (Pushaun Brown), with Coston returning a punt for a touchdown and being named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week and Brown rushing for 146 yards and two scores. Those will be the two players for Pitt to keep an eye on Saturday, even with Warren Smith completing 14 of 20 passes.

Pitt running back Ray Graham went off last weekend, rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns against Buffalo. And while he could easily do that against Maine it wouldn’t be a shock if backs such as Zach Brown and Malcolm Crockett saw more time given the opponent. Quarterback Tino Sunseri will also need to be even sharper in the first half than he was last week, something that should come given the number of receivers Pitt can throw at Maine.

Defensive linemen Chas Alexcih and Myles Caragein are powerful players inside, and along with Brandon Lindsey could hold a few meetings in the backfield during this contest as well. Look for this game to get out of hand by the second quarter, with Pittsburgh being able to rest some key starters ahead of next week’s game at Iowa.

Pick: Pittsburgh (no line) 52-14

Norfolk State at West Virginia (1:00 PM, Big East Network)

Simply put, this game could get out of hand quickly. Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers (1-0) didn’t get in a full game last week but they did get a win, beating Marshall 34-14 in Morgantown. Offensively WVU was able to move the ball but they got a little greedy at times, going for the spectacular play as opposed to going with shorter passes. One would have to expect quarterback Geno Smith to have a better game in that area this week, and a Tavon Austin or Tyler Urban inside could reap the benefits.

Norfolk State (1-0) whipped Virginia State 37-3 last week, and to say the least they’re taking on an entirely different opponent this weekend. Chris Walley completed 25 of 29 passes for the Spartans, who will also rely on running back Reggie Garrett for production. They also have a Virginia Tech transfer in wide receiver Xavier Boyce, but man for man it’s tough to see them being able to match up with the Mountaineers. Look for Bruce Irvin and company on the defensive end to take control of the game for the Mountaineers, who will prep for their game at Maryland with a blowout win.

Pick: West Virginia (no line) 56-10

Rhode Island at Syracuse (4:30 PM, TWC)

Syracuse (1-0) wasn’t great against Wake Forest last week but they were good enough to win, and like playing the on line casinso that is all that matters. SU had help, especially with Wake losing their starting quarterback to spark the Orange rally. There shouldn’t be such issues this week in facing a Rhode Island (0-0) team that’s playing its first game of the season and went 5-6 last season. But Joe Trainer’s Rams do return 18 starters, led by quarterback Steve Probst. URI will run the football but they’ve got a deep receiving corps, which could be a test for a Syracuse secondary that struggled in the opener. Keon Lyn and company will need to bring a better effort in order to put this one away early.

The Orange will be without Chandler Jones due to injury, and he’s just one of three defensive players expected to sit out. Offensively, Ryan Nassib and the rest of the Orange need to execute better especially at the point of attack. The offensive line had its issues against Wake Forest as they were unable to spring running back Antwon Bailey until late. If the line can control things not only will Bailey get his yards, but Nassib should be able to find Van Chew, Nick Provo and the other key pass-catchers.

Pick: Syracuse (no line) 35-17

WEEK 1 BIG EAST AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Graham, Young and Austin honored

Press Release

The Big East Conference announced the first winners of weekly honors this season, and there was little surprise as to who won the awards. Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham was named Offensive Player of the Week thanks to his 201 yards and three touchdowns on 29 attempts in a 35-16 win over Buffalo. The Defensive Player of the Week is USF safety Jerrell Young. In the Bulls’ 23-20 win over Notre Dame, Young created a 14-point swing in the first quarter with his strip of Jonas Gray and also picked off a pass in the fourth quarter. West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin is the Special Teams Player of the Week thanks to a 100-yard kickoff return and 46 punt returns on three opportunities. Below is the press release from the Big East Conference.

Ray Graham had the 2nd 200-yard game of his career on Saturday (Credit: Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ray Graham • Jr. • RB • Pittsburgh • Elizabeth, N.J.
Graham rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries to key Pittsburgh to a 35-16 win against Buffalo in the Panthers’ season-opener. Graham’s rushing total — the second 200-yard game of his career — was the second-best by a Bowl Subdivision player in Week 1 and the best against a Bowl Subdivision opponent (Oregon State’s Malcolm Agnew rushed for 223 yards in a loss to Sacramento State).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jerrell Young • Sr. • S • USF • St. Petersburg, Fla.
Young had a hand in two of USF’s five takeaways as the Bulls scored a 23-20 win at No. 16 Notre Dame. He contributed to a potential 14-point swing in the first half by stripping the ball from an Irish runner at the USF 4-yard line — a fumble that was recovered by the Bulls for a 96-yard touchdown. He added a fourth-quarter interception that denied Notre Dame’s comeback bid.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tavon Austin • Jr. • WR • West Virginia • Baltimore, Md
Austin broke open West Virginia’s 34-13 win against Marshall with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 27-13 lead late in the third quarter. Austin finished with 190 all-purpose yards against the Thundering Herd with 119 yards on two kickoff returns and 46 yards on three punt returns.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Lyle McCombs • RFr. • RB • Connecticut • Staten Island, N.Y.
Rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in his collegiate debut in a 35-3 win against Fordham.

Chas Alecxih • Sr. • DT • Pittsburgh • Lancaster, Pa.
Had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 31-16 win against Buffalo.

Maikon Bonani • Jr. • K • USF • Lake Wales, Fla.
Scored 11 points, including field goals of 49, 17 and 36 yards, in a 23-20 win at No. 16/18 Notre Dame.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 20 of 28 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-29 overtime win against Wake Forest.

Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 26 of 35 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-13 win against Marshall.

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