Rutgers News

BIG EAST WEEK 10 PREVIEW: ALL 8 IN ACTION

Matchups should offer clarity to title race

By Raphielle Johnson

For the first time this season all eight Big East football teams will play on Saturday, and the four matchups will go a long way in determining the path that the title race takes. But the matchup with the most on the line will also be watched for reasons outside of football as Louisville (4-4, 2-1) heads east to take on West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) in a noon matinee (Big East Network). West Virginia was the choice of the Big 12 to be their 10th member with Louisville being the programs generally thought to be the second choice, but that motivation is more for the fans than the players or coaches. All directly involved in Saturday’s game understand what’s on the line: the winner remains in the thick of the Big East race while the loser will need a lot of help to snag the conference’s BCS bowl berth.

“You have to tell them that this is what you are going to walk into and this is what you have to be aware of,” Louisville head coach Charlie Strong said of the challenge that awaits in Morgantown. “Know this: they can’t come out of the stands. The game is played on the field and they can say whatever they want.”

That crowd will pose a serious test for freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has been sound from a decision-making standpoint for much of the season. Bridgewater has completed 63.3% of his passes on the season, and while he’s 9th in the Big East in passing yards per game Bridgewater has kept the Cardinals in games. What’s helped Louisville the last two weeks is their improvement running the football, which has taken some of the pressure off of Bridgewater. Backs Jeremy Wright and Victor Anderson have improved their production, and that will have to continue on the road against the West Virginia defense.

But if the Cardinals have to throw the football one would think that tight end Josh Chichester would figure prominently in the game plan. Two weeks ago Syracuse was able to expose the WVU secondary to the tune of four touchdown passes to their tight ends with Nick Provo catching three. That could happen once again given the athletic ability of Chichester, who’s been the second-best tight end in the conference to date. Louisville can also call upon receivers Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker for production, but the most important ally of the Cardinals may end up being the clock. If they can keep possession of the football the West Virginia passing attack won’t be on the field, and that would be a bonus.

“They have a good, experienced quarterback in Geno Smith,” said Strong. “You look at (Tavon) Austin and (Stedman) Bailey, guys who they can get the football to and guys who can make plays with the ball in their hands.”

That’s the challenge for the Louisville defense, which ranks among the best in the Big East as well as the nation. Led by linebacker Dexter Heyman, Louisville is first in the conference in both scoring and total defense, and they’ve performed well against both the pass and the run as well. West Virginia has a few options to turn to on the ground, with the quicker Dustin Garrison giving way to power back Shawne Alston in last week’s win at Rutgers that featured a snowstorm. And the wide receivers need little introduction, with three Mountaineers ranking among the top five in the Big East in receiving yards per game.

Vance Bedford’s defense will have to get after Smith and not allow him time to get comfortable in the pocket. Syracuse was able to get after the junior and as a result he had a long night in the Carrier Dome. If Greg Scruggs and the Louisville front four can win the battle in the trenches this becomes a tough game for West Virginia, who hasn’t always shown themselves to be the most physical team in that department. Dana Holgorsen’s team may be a product of the spread, but they’re going to have to show off the ability to play hard-nosed football against Louisville. Whether or not the Mountaineers can do so will be the deciding factor in the Big East race.

Pick: West Virginia 31-21

Noon (ESPNU): Syracuse (5-3, 1-2) at Connecticut (3-5, 1-2)

Many have referred to this game as the “Paul Pasqualoni Bowl” due to the first-year UConn head coach’s tenure at Syracuse, but that connection means nothing compared to both teams needing a win to retain any hope of getting back into the Big East race. Syracuse followed up their best game of the season with arguably their worst effort in a 27-10 loss at Louisville as the Cardinals won the battle at the point of attack all afternoon. But this could be a bounce-back week for Ryan Nassib and company as UConn’s defense has struggled to carry an offense that’s been poor for much of the year. The Huskies are 7th in the Big East in total defense, and while the rushing defense has been adequate the pass defense has not.

The linebackers were the players exposed in the Huskies’ loss at Pittsburgh, and that could be a problem given how much Syracuse depends on tight end Nick Provo in the passing game. With the wide receivers struggling to play consistent football Provo has been Syracuse’s most consistent threat, and running back Antwon Bailey had four straight games of 100 rushing yards or more before last weekend. Syracuse will move the football provided they take care of it, but will the Huskies? Johnny McEntee hasn’t threatened a defense through the air since their loss to Western Michigan, and it could be getting close to the point where fans get louder in calling for a change at the position.

Running back Lyle McCombs has been UConn’s most consistent offensive performer but the truth is that the redshirt freshman needs help. Whether or not he receives it will play a major role in the outcome not just on Saturday but throughout the remainder of the season. From BCS representative to home for the holidays? That’s a definite possibility given their struggles on offense, and UConn could find themselves needing to win out in order to go bowling after Saturday.

Pick: Syracuse 24-13

7 PM (ESPNU): Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0) at Pittsburgh (4-4, 2-1)

Two years ago at Heinz Field these two programs put on a show for the ages with the Big East title on the line, as Cincinnati won a nail biter in the snow. The stakes aren’t as high this time around but a Pittsburgh win would throw the Big East race into chaos. That became a lot tougher with the loss of running back Ray Graham, who tore his ACL in the Panthers’ win over Connecticut last week. Into his role steps senior Zach Brown, who transferred in from Wisconsin with the expectation being that he’d supplement Graham’s efforts. Brown’s got the experience and ability to get the job done, and head coach Todd Graham has some young backs he can call on as well.

But Pittsburgh’s hopes will ultimately come down to the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri, who has been inconsistent for much of the year. Sunseri set a Heinz Field record for passing yards in the win over UConn while also proving to be a threat on the ground. That will be tougher against an opportunistic Cincinnati defense led by linebacker JK Schaffer and defensive tackle Derek Wolfe, and the Bearcats lead the Big East in rushing defense. But they’re also 7th in the conference in pass defense, so the question on Saturday night could end up being whether or not Sunseri can win the game with his arm.

Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros has struggled at times as well, but he’s still got his star running back in senior Isaiah Pead. Pead is 3rd in the Big East in rushing yards per game, and he’s also a good receiver out of the backfield. The wide receivers are talented and tough to corral in the open field, which could be an issue for a Pitt secondary that sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to defending the pass. Defensive tackles Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein will need to control the interior if Pitt is to slow down a Cincinnati run game that’s tops in the conference in rushing offense, but overall it’s going to be a tough night for the defense. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair.

Pick: Cincinnati 38-31

7 PM (ESPN3): USF (4-3, 0-3) at Rutgers (5-3, 2-2)

Just one team in the Big East is winless in conference play, and the USF Bulls can only blame themselves for that distinction. Skip Holtz’s team has dropped close games to both Cincinnati and Connecticut, and their game at Rutgers looks to be another close contest as well. B.J. Daniels and the rest of the offense had a week off to fine-tune things, and even with Sterling Griffin likely out USF has enough tools to get the job done. But can they avoid shooting themselves in the foot? That’s the question for USF, and it goes for Rutgers as well following their four turnovers in last week’s loss to West Virginia.

The Scarlet Knights went into that game leading the nation in takeaways, only to have a turnover margin of minus-3 in the 41-31 defeat. Freshman quarterback Gary Nova is the player that Rutgers needs to keep track of when it comes to taking care of the football, as he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles in that loss. The play of running backs Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins could go a long way in that regard, as the more productive they are the less Rutgers has to lean on Nova. This matchup also provides a fun battle between the Rutgers wide receivers, led by Mohamed Sanu, and the USF secondary that some thought could be the best in school history when the season began.

To say the least neither unit has lived up to the preseason hype thus far in spite of occasional moments of brilliance (Sanu notwithstanding), and where the two teams sit in the bowl pecking order once the season ends will be determined by this matchup. Rutgers has been very good at forcing turnovers while USF is fourth in the Big East in turnover margin, and that could be a key in New Brunswick. But if Rutgers can’t run the ball consistently they could be in trouble despite playing at home.

Pick: Rutgers 21-20

WVU SUES BIG EAST; LEAGUE MOVES FORWARD

Marinatto given go-ahead to invite schools

By Raphielle Johnson

The never-ending saga that is the long-term stability of the Big East Conference moved a little closer to a solution on Tuesday as the 13 presidents gave commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to invite new members. The goal of the Big East is to get to 12 football members, with a couple of those institutions being “football-only” members. Three are expected to be full members of the conference, and there have been plenty of rumors in recent weeks about which schools are in line for the spots. Following the meeting at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, Commissioner Marinatto issued the following statement:

“We had a very productive meeting and were able to discuss the great progress we have made in the last few weeks regarding conference realignment.

“Our Presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the BIG EAST Conference. I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the BIG EAST. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our Conference is known for.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia yesterday, the Presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the Conference’s 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave. The Conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations.”

Obviously the other key aspect of his statement was the portion on the league’s response to West Virginia filing a lawsuit on Monday, with the hope being that they’ll be allowed to leave the conference for the Big 12 following this academic year as opposed to being subject to the 27-month notification period as written in the conference’s bylaws. The suit can be read here (.PDF file), and a very good explanation of the lawsuit and it’s validity was given by Brian Ewart of VUHoops.com.

The question now likely isn’t when the Mountaineers get to leave but rather how much this will cost them. Whether or not any of the parties involved want this to go to trial is debatable, especially if the Big 12 were to find themselves dragged into the litigation, but this doesn’t look to be a situation that will be solved immediately. It’s also relevant to both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, who cast their lot with the ACC, and could have an idea of what a possible settlement could look like should they attempt to take that route.

ACC commissioner John Swofford stated at the league’s basketball media day in Charlotte that the league is ready for the two schools whenever they can join, be it in 2012 or the expected 2014. But unlike the Big 12 their TV deals are in good shape with their current membership. Since the Big 12 signed their deals with a 10-member league in mind, dropping below that number (should Missouri actually move to the SEC) would cut the value of their contracts (the Big 12 was able to get ESPN and FOX to agree to paying as if the conference were still a 12-member league following the departures of Colorado and Nebraska).

These are definitely interesting times for the Big East, who will more than likely announce new members within the next week or so.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & NEW POWER POLL

Sunseri, Brown and Philpott honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tino Sunseri • Sr. • QB • Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Susneri completed 29 of 42 passes for a career-high 419 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 35-20 win against Connecticut, moving the Panthers into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. The yardage total ranks fourth in school history, is the highest by a Pitt player in eight years, and is the highest by a collegiate quarterback in Heinz Field history. Sunseri completed 69 percent of his passes and did not throw an interception to help the Panthers register 529 yards of offense — their most since the 2000 season.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Preston Brown • So. • LB • Louisville • Cincinnati, Ohio
Brown registered seven tackles and had two sacks to key Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, moving the Cardinals into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. Brown led a Cardinal defense that limited the Orange to season lows in points and yards (246) and didn’t yield a touchdown until there was 1:31 left in the game.
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Philpott • Sr. • K • Louisville • Atlanta, Ga.
Philpott scored nine points in Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, making field goals from 44 and 32 yards and connecting on all three of his PAT attempts. Philpott, who leads Louisville in scoring with 39 points, has made six of his last seven field goal attempts in the past three games and has made 8 of 12 on the season.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-10 win against Syracuse.
 
Darwin Cook • So. • LB • West Virginia • Cleveland, Ohio
Had a game-high 11 tackles with two pass breakups, including a key breakup on a fake field goal, in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Jarred Holley • Jr. • FS • Pittsburgh • Easton, Pa.
Had nine tackles and a sack in a 35-20 win against Connecticut.
 
Marquis Spruill • So. • LB • Syracuse • Hillside, N.J.
Had nine tackles with a sack and a forced fumble in a 27-10 loss at Louisville.
 
Shawne Alston • Jr. • RB • West Virginia • Hampton, Va.
Had 14 carries for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (last week: 1st)
The Bearcats (6-1, 2-0) had a bye last week, which allowed them to fine-tune some things while watching the rest of the Big East race shake out. This week brings a trip to Pittsburgh to take on a team that lost its best offensive player (Ray Graham) for the remainder of the season. Derek Wolfe, JK Schaffer and the rest of the Bearcat defense will need to focus a little more on the run, but at the very least they know they control their own destiny.

This week: at Pittsburgh (7 PM, ESPNU)

2. West Virginia (3rd)
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) once again got off to a slow start, but they were able to answer in the second half with 20 points while holding Rutgers scoreless in the 41-31 win. Shawne Alston took advantage of the bad weather to rush for more than 100 yards while Tavon Austin made an impact on the ground as well as in the passing game. This week brings about the test of a Louisville team that’s playing with confidence, so don’t be fooled by the early point spreads.

This week: Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)

3. Pittsburgh (5th)
The Panthers (4-4, 2-1) were solid in their win over Connecticut on Wednesday night, but the loss of Ray Graham is one that will play a major role in the remainder of their season. Wisconsin transfer Zach Brown takes over for the Big East’s leading rusher, and while he’s more than capable of fitting into the offense as both a runner and receiver it’s hard to fully replace what Graham brought to the table. That puts more on the shoulders of Tino Sunseri, who will need another solid performance in order to beat Cincinnati.

This week: Cincinnati (7 PM, ESPNU)

4. Louisville (7th)
The Cardinals (4-4, 2-1) fed off of the return of defensive back Anthony Conner and put forth their best showing of the season in beating Syracuse 27-10. Teddy Bridgewater made sound decisions with the football and one week after Jeremy Wright rushed for more than 100 yards it was Victor Anderson who got it done on the ground. But against West Virginia it will be the defense, that’s been very good for much of the season, under the microscope.

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

5. Rutgers (4th)
Eric LeGrand leading the team onto the field fired up Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) on Saturday, and they played very well in the first half against West Virginia. But critical mistakes in the second half spelled doom for the Scarlet Knights, who have now lost 17 straight in the series. They need to bounce back in quick order however, as a USF team that will likely be desperate for their first conference win visits. Gary Nova has to make sound decisions with the football in order for RU to be successful.

This week: USF (7 PM, ESPN3)

6. Syracuse (2nd)
One week after playing their best game of the season the Orange (5-3, 1-2) laid an egg at Louisville, falling 27-10 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate thanks to a late window-dressing score. Syracuse was able to muster only 246 yards of offense as the Cardinals got after Ryan Nassib while also short-circuiting the run game. Syracuse will need to be better if they’re to entertain any thoughts of getting back into the Big East race, beginning with this week at Connecticut.

This week: at Connecticut (Noon, ESPNU)

7. Connecticut (6th)
The Huskies (3-5, 1-2) lost at Pittsburgh 35-20, and given their first half offensive showing Paul Pasqualoni’s team is lucky the margin wasn’t wider. Johnny McEntee once again struggled to make plays through the air, an issue made tougher to solve given the lack of playmakers on the outside. UConn needs to help out Lyle McCombs, and the defense didn’t put up the best fight last week either. That could be an issue against Syracuse.

This week: Syracuse (Noon, ESPNU)

8. USF (8th)
The Bulls (4-3, 0-3) are second in the Big East in total offense and third in scoring offense, but they have no league wins to show for it. The bye week came at just the right time for Skip Holtz’s team, who needed to regroup in the worst way. USF is the most penalized team in the conference and they haven’t been anything to write home about in the red zone either. It’s the little things that cost teams conference games, and USF needs to get better at those if they’re to right the ship.

This week: at Rutgers (7 PM, ESPN3)

WVU WINS 17TH STRAIGHT OVER RUTGERS

Louisville brings Syracuse back to earth

By Raphielle Johnson

Rutgers went into Saturday’s matchup with #25 West Virginia looking to finally knock off the Mountaineers, who haven’t lost in the series since 1994. Things seemed to be falling into place for Greg Schiano’s team leading up to the game as well. Eric LeGrand was to lead the team onto the field, and a snowstorm that was expected to drop the first major snowfall of the season was expected to slow down the WVU passing game. But in a wild game that featured far more scoring that anyone would have anticipated, West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) made the necessary defensive adjustments at halftime, holding Rutgers scoreless as they came back to win 41-31 at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Eric LeGrand Leads His Rutgers Scarlet Knights On To The Field

Offensively the Mountaineers weren’t able to rely on their passing game as much as usual, but they made up for it by rushing for 210 yards on the afternoon. Fullback Shawne Alston, who saw limited carries leading up to Saturday, rushed for a team-best 110 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and Tavon Austin rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on two attempts. Alston’s first touchdown run went for 52 yards and gave WVU a 7-3 lead with 6:07 remaining in the first quarter. That lead would last for fewer than three minutes as Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) capitalized on a Mountaineer turnover and took the lead on a pass from Gary Nova to Mohamed Sanu.

But that reception would essentially be the highlight of the day for Sanu, who caught just five passes for 48 yards. West Virginia did a solid job of limiting the receiver who may be the early favorite for Big East Offensive Player of the Year, but there was also the matter of the Rutgers passing attack being out of sync for much of the afternoon. Nova completed just 18 of 46 passes on the day, and while he did have two touchdown passes there were also a pair of second half interceptions. Just as the case would be with any freshman quarterback, Nova at times struggled with the decision-making aspect of the position and Jeff Casteel’s defense was able to exploit that in the second half.

“We have to make better calls, and we have to make more plays,” said Schiano. “And we can’t make bad plays worse by turning the ball over.”

After Austin’s 80-yard touchdown run to give the Mountaineers a 14-10 lead the Scarlet Knights would answer with a 45-yard strike from Nova to Mark Harrison, and a pair of Jawan Jamison touchdown runs in the second quarter gave Rutgers a 31-21 lead at the half. West Virginia could have cut the lead before the break, but poor clock management in the final seconds led to a botched field goal attempt as time expired. Rutgers moved the ball extremely well in the first half, and their defense did a good job of containing the West Virginia attack outside of the two big runs. But after the break things bogged down offensively, with the Mountaineers closing to within three on an impressive 19-yard touchdown reception by Stedman Bailey.

Some will point to a failed fake field goal attempt on the Scarlet Knights’ first drive of the fourth quarter as a critical turning point, and while West Virginia would go down the field and score to take a 34-31 lead there was an opening for the trick play. Patrick Kivlehan’s pass to Brandon Coleman was broken up by Darwin Cook in the end zone, and the Mountaineers dodged a major bullet as a result. What killed Rutgers was a Nova fumble on the second play of the ensuing drive, setting up WVU at the Rutgers 37. Three plays later Smith and Austin would connect for the game’s final points on a 20-yard touchdown pass, with Rutgers’ final two drives ending on downs and an interception.

West Virginia converted just two of their 13 third down opportunities, but against the Big East’s best team in terms of turnovers forced they won the turnover battle with a margin of plus-3. That makes a world of difference on the road, especially when dealing with bad weather as well. Next up for the Mountaineers is a home game against Louisville while Rutgers hosts USF.

Louisville 27, Syracuse 10

Syracuse was presented with a great opportunity to build on the momentum gained last week in their emphatic win over West Virginia. But the Orange had a difficult time dealing with both prosperity and a Louisville team fired up by the return to the locker room of defensive back Anthony Conner. Conner, who broke his neck last week against Rutgers, surprised his teammates in the locker room before the game and that sparked a fire under Charlie Strong’s team. One of the key players given a boost was running back Victor Anderson, who rushed for a game-high 93 yards and a touchdown in Louisville’s 27-10 home win. The victory marks the first time since 2006 that Louisville (4-4, 2-1) has won back-to-back Big East games.

Teddy Bridgewater also played well for Louisville as he completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, setting the tone just over two minutes into the game on a 42-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker. With the Orange staggering out of the gate the Cardinals took full advantage, moving ahead 14-0 on Bridgewater’s two-yard pass to tight end Josh Chichester. Defensively the Cardinals limited Syracuse to 84 yards on the ground and made life tough on Ryan Nassib with three sacks and numerous quarterback pressures. It was a far cry from last week for Syracuse (5-3, 1-2), who seemed to be incapable of doing anything wrong at home.

“I’ve said it from the beginning that we have to build a foundation for this football team and we can be successful for a long period of time,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone. “I’m not going to use any excuses. Here we are in year three and it’s back and forth. To answer your question directly, we are an inconsistent football team who has to get better.”

Syracuse’s second drive of the second quarter earned them their first points of the game as Ross Krautman’s field goal from 34 yards out capping an 11-play, 61-yard drive. But that would be the most of consequence that the Orange could muster until the fourth quarter, and while neither team was particularly effective on offense in the third quarter it was Louisville who took a 17-3 lead early in the final quarter on a Chris Philpott field goal. And four minutes later Anderson, who former Cardinal Bilal Powell suggested be made “the face” of the program, essentially put the final nail in the coffin with a 61-yard touchdown run on an option toss from Bridgewater.

“It all comes from preparation,” said Bridgewater of the play. “Coach Watts does a great job of preparing me well. He just always says if you see cover zero and the safeties are matched up with the slots then the option is always the way to beat it.”

Another Philpott field goal with just under three minutes remaining made the score 27-3, and although Syracuse answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nassib to Jarrod West it was too little too late. Eight days after doing whatever they wanted the Orange were limited to 246 yards of offense, and their 12 penalties for 99 yards didn’t help matters either. Could Louisville be rounding into form at just the right time after a slow start? It’s definitely possible, and given what Connecticut accomplished last season after a slow start anything is possible in this wide-open league. The same goes for Syracuse, because while they aren’t in the best spot for making a run at the Big East title they still have games against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to play.

TWO LEAGUE GAMES ON SATURDAY SLATE

Key battle in New Brunswick highlights schedule

By Raphielle Johnson

With Pittsburgh beating Connecticut on Wednesday night the Panthers kept themselves in the top half of the Big East race. The question for Saturday is who else will do so, with both games featuring teams with one league defeat to their credit already. The game that will be under the spotlight is West Virginia (5-2, 1-1) heading north to take on a Rutgers (5-2, 2-1) team that could have taken control of the race last week (3:30 PM, ABC). But freshman quarterback Gary Nova was picked off three times in the 16-14 loss at Louisville, snapping the Scarlet Knights’ four-game win streak.

The Mountaineers don’t come in hot either as they were blown out at Syracuse last Friday night. West Virginia had another slow start, but unlike prior games the offense wasn’t able to flip the switch and there were multiple breakdowns in the secondary as well. Which team can bounce back in a critical contest to remain a game back of Cincinnati in the loss column? Given the state of the Big East anything can happen, but if history is to be the judge West Virginia has a major advantage in this matchup.

West Virginia has won the last 16 meetings in the series and for the most part the games haven’t been particularly close, with the Mountaineers holding a 32-4-2 series edge. Rutgers has been close in two of the last three meetings, including a 24-21 loss at home in 2009. But last year’s meeting, a 35-14 WVU win in Morgantown, featured Geno Smith throwing for 352 yards and a touchdown against a Rutgers pass defense that was more experienced than this current group. But led by corners David Rowe and Logan Ryan the Scarlet Knights have steadily improved against the pass, and if Smith isn’t smart with the football the league’s best pass defense can take advantage.

But the best way for teams to slow down the West Virginia offense is by way of the blitz, something that Syracuse did with great success last week. Smith had little time to throw the ball even in the shotgun, and that could once again be a problem. Rutgers is the Big East’s second-best team in terms of sacks with 24 through seven games, with defensive end Justin Francis and defensive tackle Scott Vallone being the leaders up front. Add in linebackers Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais and you’ve got a front seven that can run and get after opposing quarterbacks.

“Rutgers is the same type of team as Syracuse. They’re well-coached and they play hard,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen earlier this week. “The thing most impressive about their defense is how hard they play and how aggressive they are to attack the ball to get the ball out. They lead the nation in turnovers – they’ve got 25 of them.”

Turnovers will be critical for the Rutgers defense because it’s tough to see the offense being able to keep up with the Mountaineers in a shootout. But in wide receiver Mohamed Sanu the Scarlet Knights have one of the best offensive players in the Big East, and with 65 catches through seven games he’s by far the leading wide receiver. No matter what opposing teams have thrown at the junior he’s been able to get open, and in spite of the Mountaineers’ quality in the secondary he’s going to get his catches. The key to winning will be the other Rutgers skill position players, especially the running backs.

The Scarlet Knights have struggled mightily to run the football, ranking last in the Big East in rushing offense by a solid margin. But West Virginia has had its issues stopping the run as they’re last in the conference in rushing defense. And there’s no Chris Neild in the middle of the defensive line in Jeff Casteel’s 3-3-5, which has led to openings on the ground. Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins are the players that Greg Schiano will call on to run the ball, and they have the ability to make plays on the ground. How Rutgers does in this department will likely determine the outcome of the game.

“When we line up and get hit in the mouth, what are we going to do,” asked Holgorsen. “Last week, we didn’t do anything. This week, we need guys to step up and be the ones that are going to hit people back in the mouth. That’s called football.”

West Virginia brings plenty to the table at the skill positions, especially wide receiver with the likes of Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. But if Geno Smith doesn’t have the time needed to get them the football they can be neutralized. If Smith is picking himself up off the ground frequently Rutgers has a shot to beat the Mountaineers for the first time since the Doug Graber era. But if not it’s going to be more of the same at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Pick: West Virginia 31-23

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

The first of the two Big East games on Saturday matches teams who picked up their first conference win of the season last week, albeit in different ways. Syracuse put forth their best performance of the season in a 49-23 romp over West Virginia, but they need to have that game out of their systems when dealing with a young Louisville team that knocked off Rutgers last week. The key for the Cardinals was a running game that woke up to the tune of 187 yards, with Jeremy Wright leading the way with 108.
Wright’s effort was Louisville’s first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and if they can build off of that performance the Cardinals will be a tougher team to slow down.

Louisville ranks 7th in the Big East in passing offense and 8th in scoring offense, two areas that have been heavily influenced by their youth at quarterback in addition to the run game. Teddy Bridgewater has improved by the week under center, and he’s got some capable targets to throw to led by tight end Josh Chichester and wide receiver Josh Bellamy. But this will be a tough matchup for Bridgewater given how effective Scott Schafer’s defense was at getting to West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Chandler Jones made his return to the Syracuse defense and all he did was win Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Keon Lyn leads a secondary that’s improved in recent weeks despite still ranking last in the conference against the pass, made that much better by a front four that can get to quarterbacks in a hurry. Louisville’s offensive performance on Saturday likely rests on the shoulders of their offensive line, which has played better thanks in part to the return of center Mario Benavides. If the Cardinals can pick up blitzes and mix in the run there should be opportunities down the field for Bridgewater and his receivers. Whether or not he takes advantage will play a major role in the outcome.

As for the Syracuse offense, Ryan Nassib had his best game of the season with four touchdown passes and no interceptions in last week’s win. Nassib’s done a good job of taking care of the football as he’s thrown just four interceptions on the season, and in tight end Nick Provo he’s got the best in the Big East to throw to. Provo caught three touchdown passes against West Virginia, and while Vance Bedford’s defense will likely be more aware of the senior he’ll be able to make some plays for the Orange.

And there’s also senior running back Antwon Bailey, who has rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the last four games and ranks fourth in the Big East in rushing. But Louisville has done a good job in recent meetings of slowing down the Orange, and they’ve won the last two meetings in the series. The Cardinals have gotten after the Orange defensively, but this Syracuse group looks to be far better equipped to deal with Louisville than they have been the last two years.

“Pressure, man-to-man, running the football, pounding it,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone on what the Cards have done against them. “It’s not a secret. Those guys have done a good job of that and they’ve been able to beat us. We’ve been inconsistent in handling those things, so those are the challenges that we’re faced with.”

The game plan for Syracuse is pretty simple: run the ball effectively while turning Louisville into a one-dimensional team on the other side of the ball. The same can be said of the Cardinals, but given the experience it may be tougher for them to accomplish that.

Pick: Syracuse 20-14

SYRACUSE WHIPS WVU; CARDS UPSET RUTGERS

Cincinnati is league’s lone undefeated- for now

By Raphielle Johnson

“I would trade Air Force or Navy for Syracuse every day of the week in terms of the quality of the football program. No disrespect, but that’s just an observation I think most would agree with who understand football.”

- West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck on October 4, 2011

Not sure if this comment was placed on a bulletin board within the Syracuse locker room in the days leading up to Friday’s matchup with the Mountaineers, but things got ugly for the visitors in the Carrier Dome. Ryan Nassib accounted for five touchdowns (four passing) with three of his scoring passes going to tight end Nick Provo in the Orange’s 49-26 romp. With the win Syracuse (5-2, 1-1) earned their first Big East win of the season and also won consecutive games in the series for the first time since 2000 and 2001.

West Virginia (5-2, 1-1), who entered the game ranked 15th in the first BCS standings, could very well fall out of the Top 25 as a result of the lackluster effort. But Friday night was more about what Doug Marrone’s team did do in all phases as opposed to what West Virginia didn’t do. Syracuse put up a season-high 443 yards of offense while also posting their highest point total in the history of the series.

“We’ll go back and look at it, and I’m sure there are a lot of things that we need to improve on as we go forward in this season, but it’s always easier to do that after a win,” said Marrone. “We really haven’t accomplished anything besides winning a football game against a very good opponent.”

West Virginia once again got off to a slow start, but unlike prior games where the opposition wasn’t able to take advantage and score points Syracuse executed their game plan. On their second possession of the game Syracuse went 84 yards on 14 plays, capping the drive on a three-yard touchdown pass from Nassib to Provo. The Orange were able to keep the Mountaineer offense off the field, putting touchdowns on the board to boot. West Virginia answered with a 27-yard field goal from Tyler Bitancurt, but the Orange went down the field for another touchdown to make the score 14-3 on a Nassib 1-yard run with 10:13 left in the second quarter.

Geno Smith was able to connect with Stedman Bailey on a 64-yard touchdown pass that included some nifty footwork along the Syracuse sideline from Bailey, but Bitancurt hit the left upright to leave the score at 14-9. Then the Syracuse special teams got involved, landing a blow that staggered the Mountaineers. Dorian Graham returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, and even though WVU would score to cut the lead to 21-16 things were starting to become far too simple for the home team.

“It was a momentum booster,” said Graham of the return. “Keep pushing forward. Get the defense out there to give us a chance to stop them. Then the offense can come out and take it down for another score.”

Shawne Alston’s run from one yard out made the score 21-16 with 10:07 left in the third quarter, but the West Virginia offensive and defensive units could do nothing to keep the momentum. Syracuse scored the next 21 points, with two of the scores coming on passes to their tight ends. Both Provo and David Stevens would capitalize on WVU coverage breakdowns, with the wheel route along the sideline wide open against Jeff Casteel’s 3-3-5 scheme. Nassib’s five-yard pass to Provo with 11:29 left in the game made the score 42-16 and essentially shut the door on a Mountaineer comeback.

Smith, who threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns, also threw a pair of interceptions and had a hard time finding open receivers. Two reasons why: defensive coordinator Scott Schafer dialed up the pressure, and the Syracuse secondary did its job on the back end. Smith was sacked four times and knocked down on plenty other occasions throughout the night, with the return of defensive end Chandler Jones providing a boost to the Syracuse front four. But Jones wasn’t the lone spark as linebacker Siriki Diabate was all over the field as well.

“We have a passion for our defense and how we run it,” said Diabate. “All week long during practice, we worked on getting pressure on the quarterback. I think that is what we went out there and did today.”

Smith’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Bradley Starks cut the lead to 42-23 just two minutes after Syracuse’s score, but the Orange answered right back on the ground. Bailey broke a 50-yard run on the fourth play of the drive, and just a couple plays later provided the final points with a three-yard touchdown run. This was Bailey’s fourth consecutive game with at least 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, and backups Jerome Smith and Adonis Ameen-Moore also made contributions when spelling the senior. Syracuse controlled the game in all three phases, and as a result they find themselves right in the Big East title mix. As for West Virginia, they obviously remain a contender but they need to get a lot better in order to reach their goals.

“It’s been the same thing all year: we are not a very efficient football team,” said West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen. “We make some big plays, but we’re not efficient. We knew what they were going to do. We knew they were going to play a bunch of people up and blitz half the time. We have to do a better job of recognizing that.”

Louisville 16, Rutgers 14

Rutgers went into Friday night’s game as the Big East’s best team in terms of turnovers forced and turnover margin. Of course turnovers would tell the story in their game at Louisville, with three Gary Nova interceptions contributing to Louisville’s (3-4, 1-1) 16-14 victory at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville ended their three-game losing streak and Rutgers’ (5-2, 2-1) four-game win streak, and threw the Big East race for a loop as well.

Despite just 14 first downs on the night the Cardinals put forth a better offensive performance thanks to their improvement on the ground aided by some shoddy tackling by the visitors. In a matchup of the two worst rushing offenses in the Big East, Louisville gained 187 yards on 34 carries (5.5 yards per rush). Jeremy Wright led the way with 108 yards on 11 carries, with his 29-yard rush in the first quarter setting up the first touchdown of the game.

“Our goal coming into this game was just to beat Rutgers pressures,” said quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. “If we had a run play going one way and they sent pressure that way then we would just flip the play.”

Each of Rutgers’ first two possessions were ended on interceptions, the second of which set up Louisville on the Rutgers 38 yard line. And one play after Wright’s 29-yard rush Dominique Brown scored from one yard out to give the Cards a 7-0 lead with 7:41 remaining in the quarter. Rutgers looked to have an answer early in the second quarter, but the first of two San San Te missed field goals (this one from 31 yards out) squandered a 29-yard drive to the Louisville 14.

Te’s second miss was even worse, as he missed a 25-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive. But while the Scarlet Knight offense was leaving points on the field the defense kept them in the game, and the special teams gave Rutgers good field position late in the quarter by way of a blocked punt. On fourth and goal from the one with just two seconds left in the half it looked as if Greg Schiano would settle for a field goal to go into the locker room down 7-3. But he went for it, and Savon Huggins’ score tied things up at the break.

Louisville would gain some separation in the third quarter, with a Chris Philpott 52-yard field goal giving the home team a 10-7 lead after the first drive of the period. And after the defense forced a Rutgers punt, Louisville went 68 yards in seven plays to take a 16-7 lead on Bridgewater’s 18-yards pass to Michaelee Harris. Bridgewater didn’t have the best game from a statistical standpoint, throwing for just 122 yards and completing 10 of 18 passes, but he made solid decisions for much of the game.

“It was in the game plan, they played the coverage we wanted so we checked to the play,” said Harris. “He [Bridgewater] threw the ball up and somehow I came down with it.”

But that touchdown wouldn’t be the end of the game, as Rutgers fought back to make the score 16-14 on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Gary Nova to Mohamed Sanu with 14:10 remaining. Sanu had another solid outing for the Scarlet Knights, catching 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. On the season the junior’s caught 65 passes and may be the early frontrunner for Big East Offensive Player of the Year.

But that wouldn’t be enough as the Scarlet Knights couldn’t execute at a consistent level offensively. Savon Huggins led the team with 36 yards rushing on 10 carries and as a team Rutgers rushed for just 91 yards on 30 attempts. Turnovers and the ground game proved to be the difference, and the fact that turnover margin resulted in a Rutgers loss was a surprise given their success leading up to Friday night.

Rutgers hosts West Virginia and Louisville hosts Syracuse next weekend.

- Louisville defensive back Antony Conner suffers a broken neck but has feeling and movement in all of his extremities.

WEEK 8 BIG EAST PREVIEW

Three conference games on the slate

By Raphielle Johnson

Another week of realignment speculation gives way to Big East football, but whether or not the attention remains on the field this weekend will depend on whether or not the Board of Curators at the University of Missouri can make up their minds. But that’s a discussion for another time, especially with the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy up for grabs at the Carrier Dome (Friday 8 PM, ESPN). West Virginia (5-1, 1-0) heads north in search of some payback after their loss to Syracuse helped contribute to them not earning the Big East’s BCS berth. The Orange (4-2, 0-1) are also coming off of a bye week, and they find themselves with four wins despite injury issues and some consistency issues.

Consistency has been an issue for the Mountaineers as well, especially for an offense that has struggled with slow starts this season. Head coach Dana Holgorsen refuses to be seduced by WVU’s second half performances, and he’s let it be known that he isn’t thrilled with the offensive production. Could this be “coach speak” considering the fact that the Mountaineers average 40.8 points per game while leading the Big East in both total and passing offense by wide margins? Maybe so but it’s also an acknowledgement of the fact that it takes consistent excellence to win a championship, something the Mountaineers learned first-hand last year.

“Every game is a challenge – you have to get up for every game,” said Holgorsen earlier this week. “You have to play your best every game. Every game is going to present its own challenges. We’ll know what those challenges are this week, and we’re working hard to make sure that we accomplish what we’re set out to accomplish.”

Syracuse won last year’s meeting due in large part to West Virginia’s generosity with the football. Geno Smith threw three interceptions and the Orange scored nine points off turnovers in winning 19-14 in Morgantown, their first win on the road in the series since 2000 (and their first win over WVU since 2001). But Smith has shown a higher level of maturity when it comes to decision-making, as he’s thrown for 2,159 yards and 16 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Receivers such as Tavon Austin, Ivan McCartney and Stedman Bailey have been productive in the new offense, with all three ranking in the top four in the Big East in receiving yards per game.

Syracuse’s issue on defense has been their secondary, a unit that was inexperienced to start the season but has also had to deal with injuries to key safeties Phillip Thomas and Shamarko Thomas. Both are back and corner Keon Lyn has improved his play by the game, but this is a significant challenge for the Syracuse defensive backs. Will it help that they’ve already run into USC’s Robert Woods and Marquise Lee? That’s the hope.

“We’re healthy, and it will be a great challenge for us,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone. “They have a very good receiving corps. When they catch the football, they can take it to the end zone any time.”

WVU also ranks fourth in the conference in rushing offense, with the spread’s threat of the pass opening up lanes for Dustin Garrison and the other backs on the ground. Syracuse allows just over 104 yards per game on the ground, with hard-hitting linebackers Marquis Spruill and Dyshawn Davis ranking among the better linebackers in the Big East. They may be asked to do a little more in pass coverage by coordinator Scott Schafer but the athletic ability to do so is definitely there.

Syracuse won’t be looking to get into a shootout but that doesn’t mean their offense isn’t capable of putting points on the board, with quarterback Ryan Nassib third in the Big East in passing yards per game. Nassib’s thrown 11 touchdown passes and four interceptions, with his favored targets being receivers Alec Lemon and Van Chew and tight end Nick Provo. The issue for Syracuse in the passing game has been the consistency of their receivers, including Dorian Graham. When they step up and make plays the Orange look every bit the team that’s scored 33 points or more in three of their four wins. But they also need the offensive line to open up holes for senior running back Antwon Bailey.

Syracuse ranks 6th in rushing offense, a point of concern when considering the fact that they aren’t the most prolific passing team either. West Virginia’s defensive strength lies in the secondary, so the success that Syracuse has on the ground on Friday night could determine the outcome of the game. Their issues on the ground have also played a role in the red zone offense, a category in which the Orange are last in the Big East. By comparison West Virginia leads the Big East in red zone offense and is third in red zone defense. Syracuse’s chances of winning hinge on their ability to convert their opportunities in the red zone into touchdowns as opposed to field goals along with turnovers. But it’s tough to see Geno Smith and company being as reckless with the ball this time around.

Pick: West Virginia 34-21

Friday 8 PM (ESPN2) Rutgers (5-1, 2-0) at Louisville (2-4, 0-1)

They’ve finally come to a conclusion at Louisville, with head coach Charlie Strong deciding that offensive coordinator Mike Sanford would not return to the program. Shawn Watson will take over, and give the fact that he was already the quarterbacks coach maybe this works out well for the Cardinals. Watson’s already said that he’ll incorporate parts of the West Coast offense into the attack, which could be a positive for an offensive line that’s struggled for much of the season. The quick passes that tend to be a part of the West Coast attack should also help out freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has shown signs of growth despite the many offensive issues.

But the Cardinals are in for a tough battle on Friday night as they host arguably the hottest team in the Big East in Rutgers. Gary Nova has done well as the starting quarterback, moving the Scarlet Knights down the field in spite of a rushing attack that’s by far been the worst in the Big East. But Jawan Jamison rushed for 101 yards last week in the 21-20 win over Navy, and he’s been their best rusher this season. If Jamison can build on last week’s performance Rutgers can put forth a more balanced attack, and the same goes for their wide receivers outside of Mohamed Sanu.

Despite the extra attention Sanu still caught 10 passes for 100 yards, and on the season he’s caught 55 passes. It’s far easier said than done to keep the football out of his hands, but at some point guys such as Mark Harrison and Quron Pratt will be called upon to make big plays. While they’re definitely talented the Rutgers receiving corps hasn’t supported Sanu to the level that Greg Schiano needs them to if the Scarlet Knights are to win the Big East. But they’ve still won five of six games thanks to a defense that’s the best in the country at taking the ball away from opponents.

“If you watch their defense, they are going to bring pressure from the field, they are going to bring it from the boundary and bring it up the middle,” said Strong of the Rutgers defense. “They are hitting the quarterback and causing balls to pop out. They are hitting receivers and causing balls to pop up. They are a pressure defense and are playing really well.”

Defensive tackle Scott Vallone and linebackers Khaseem Greene and Steve Beauharnais have been in the middle of it all, and corner Logan Ryan picked off two passes in their emphatic win over Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago. To say the least it will become apparent early if the Cardinals have improved offensively, especially up front. The return of senior center Mario Benavides helps matters, but it may not be enough against Coach Schiano’s defense.

Pick: Rutgers 27-14

Saturday Noon (Big East Network): Cincinnati (5-1, 1-0) at USF (4-2, 0-2)

Cincinnati didn’t play their best football last week against Louisville, but they did enough to win the game 25-16. The same can’t be said for USF, who fell 16-10 at Connecticut and look to be in the midst of their annual October plunge. An interesting fact about the USF program is that for all their early-season success they’ve haven’t finished Big East play with a winning conference record since 2007. If Skip Holtz’s team wants to entertain any thoughts of being a factor in the Big East race this season they have to defend their home field against a team that has the conference’s best scoring offense, not to mention a defense that’s forced the second-most turnovers in the Big East.

Linebacker JK Schaffer has led the way for the Bearcats along with defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, who was outstanding against Louisville last weekend. USF hasn’t had trouble moving the football as they rank second in the conference in total offense, but they have failed to cash in on opportunities in the red zone as they’re tied for sixth in the Big East in red zone offense. B.J. Daniels got off to a hot start following the game at Notre Dame, but that could partially be attributed to the strength of schedule. On the season Daniels has completed 61.5% of his passes with eight touchdowns to just three interceptions. The decision-making has improved, but the time has come for the points to improve as well.

Cincinnati has put up points due in part to their schedule as well, with Zach Collaros not playing his best football in wins over Miami (Ohio) and Louisville. But the Bearcats have been able to account for that on the ground, with Isaiah Pead leading the league’s best rushing offense. Collaros ranks third in the conference in total offense, behind Geno Smith and Daniels, and his legs make the senior a dangerous player to defend when he’s on. But Cincinnati needs more from him through the air if they’re to both take advantage of a talented receiving corps (D.J. Woods, Anthony McClung and Kenbrell Thompkins) and contend for a Big East title. It’s going to be tough against a USF secondary that could make a case for being the best in the conference, especially one that should have a sense of desperation.

Desperation. That’s what the game will boil down to for USF, who all of a sudden finds themselves staring at an 0-3 league record. Cincinnati’s won the last two meetings in Tampa so there won’t be any reason for them to believe that they can’t win at Raymond James Stadium. The key for USF: red zone opportunities. If they cash in on their chances the Bulls have a very good chance of winning, but that goes out the window if they can’t. The defense will also need to force Collaros to win the game with his arm by taking away the run.

Pick: USF 34-31

Record: 30-14 (2-2 last week)

TELECONFERENCE ADDRESSES SOME ISSUES

Withdrawal fees conditionally doubled for football members

By Raphielle Johnson

Big East Conference commissioner John Marinatto held a teleconference this afternoon in hopes of answering some questions on the path the conference was headed. With the news last night that Missouri could well be on their way to applying to join the SEC, some wondered if that would speed up the Big East’s expansion timeline. According to Marinatto that won’t have an effect on how the Big East goes about identifying and inviting prospective members.

“Stay tuned (on time frame),” said Marinatto. “We’re not rushing ourselves to meet anyone’s deadline. The sooner, the better.”

One thing that the conference members did agree to in their conference on Monday night was the conditional raising of the league’s exit fee for football members from $5 million to $10 million (the basketball members will remain at $5 million). That fee increase will be triggered by the acceptance of an invitation to join the Big East by one institution (according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com this would stand for either Navy or Air Force; fee remains the same in the case that another school is the first to join), as opposed to when the league gets to its established goal of 12 football-playing members (the number is at six with Pittsburgh and Syracuse heading to the ACC and TCU going to the Big 12).

“This development is a significant step forward, as well as a positive demonstration and acknowledgement of the continued benefits of being in the BIG EAST Conference,” said Marinatto. “It sends a message to those institutions we are talking to about joining us. In addition, our members have given us their support to move towards a 12-team football model. Each of our member schools is behind this effort, and we are confident we can achieve it. We hope to have an announcement soon concerning new members.”

As for possible candidates Marinatto could not go into specifics or identify the schools that the Big East has had discussions with, but he did state that he was pleased with the candidates. Marinatto also stated that no invites have been handed out, which contradicts the Houston Chronicle’s report late Monday that the University of Houston received an invitation to join the conference.

“When the dust settles, we will emerge stronger than ever,” said Marinatto. “It’s our commitment to meet the standards to meet our BCS qualifications.”

The question of whether or not the new exit fee figure was considered to be “low” when compared to that of other conferences, Marinatto said, “I don’t think there’s a magic number to prevent schools from leaving a league.” In regards to whether or not the low fee was an issue, Marinatto also stated that the figure wasn’t an issue for the schools that he’s had discussions with.

The conference will communicate with the leaders of conferences in which prospective members currently reside, and Marinatto added that “I don’t think anyone will be blindsided or feel bushwhacked when the process is complete.”

No conferences have contacted the Big East about discussions with their members since the Big 12 inquired about TCU, and there is a chance that the football conference could consist of 14 teams in 2013. Marinatto stated that Pitt and Syracuse will be held to the 27-month notice even if the Big East has its 12-member configuration, and he would like for a possible football championship game to be played in New York City in hopes of having success similar to the basketball tournament.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Pead, Byron Jones and Brandon Jones honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Isaiah Pead • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Pead rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 25-16 win against Louisville in the Bearcats’ BIG EAST opener. Pead keyed Cincinnati’s comeback from a 16-7 halftime deficit by breaking free for a 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Bearcats the lead for good. Pead has rushed for 624 yards and eight touchdowns this season and ranks second in the BIG EAST in rushing at 104.0 yards per game.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Byron Jones • Fr. • CB • Connecticut • New Britain, Conn.
On a day when Connecticut was held without an offensive touchdown, Jones made the difference on the defensive end with a 10-yard fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to lift the Huskies to a 16-10 win against USF. Jones also had seven tackles as part of a defensive effort that held the Bulls’ offense, which had averaged better than 500 yards per game, to 339 yards and four turnovers.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Jones • Jr. • CB • Rutgers • Sicklerville, N.J.
Jones helped seal Rutgers’ 21-20 win against Navy when he blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter that would have given the Midshipmen the lead. It was the first blocked kick of the season for Jones and the fourth for Rutgers. Jones also had two tackles and an interception as the Scarlet Knights held Navy to season lows of 20 points and 303 yards.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had a career-high 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries in a 25-16 win against Louisville.

Lyle McCombs • Fr. • RB • Connecticut • Staten Island, N.Y.
Rushed for 130 yards on 32 carries in a 16-10 win against USF.

Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Had a career-high 14 tackles in a 21-20 win against Navy. Helped hold the nation’s leading rushing offense to 204 yards below its average.

Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Had 10 receptions for 100 yards in a 21-20 win against Navy. Moved into sixth place on the school’s career receptions chart (150).

Ryne Giddins • So. • DE • USF • Seffner, Fla.
Had career highs of 11 tackles, two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss with a forced fumble and a pass breakup in a 16-10 loss at Connecticut.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (last week: 1; Bye)
The Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0) return from their bye week ranked 15th in the first BCS standings, and there should be motivation to keep things rolling this week. West Virginia visits Syracuse on Friday night, and with that there’s the chance for Geno Smith and company to avenge last season’s defeat. But they’ll need to avoid the slow start if they’re to do so in the Carrier Dome.

This week: at Syracuse (Friday 8 PM, ESPN)

2. Cincinnati (2; beat Louisville 25-16)
It wasn’t pretty but the Bearcats (5-1, 1-0) woke up in the second half and beat Louisville 25-16 to retain possession of the Keg of Nails Trophy. Now they visit a USF team that should be borderline desperate to turn things around, but Cincinnati brings a vastly improved defense to the table. But like West Virginia, the Bearcats need better starts from Zach Collaros and the rest of the Cincinnati passing game.

This week: at USF (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

3. Rutgers (3; beat Navy 21-20)
Rutgers (5-1, 2-0) played well defensively, limiting the nation’s best rushing offense to 167 yards on the ground, not even half of Navy’s average per game. Gary Nova made some mistakes but played well in throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns while Jawan Jamison rushed for 101 yards in the win. Now comes the quick turnaround, with a trip to Louisville next up. Much will be learned about Rutgers’ chances of winning the Big East in how they handle this road trip.

This week: at Louisville (Friday 8 PM, ESPN2)

4. Syracuse (6; Bye)
Syracuse (4-2, 0-1) had the week off following their last-second win at Tulane, and now comes the task of retaining possession of the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy with West Virginia visiting on Friday night. The Orange can’t allow the game to become a shootout, but at the very least Ryan Nassib will need consistent play from receivers Van Chew, Alec Lemon and Dorian Graham if they’re to win.

This week: West Virginia (Friday 8 PM, ESPN)

5. Pittsburgh (4; lost 26-14 to Utah)
The reason why the Panthers (3-4, 1-1) stay put is that USF, a team they whipped two games ago, looked just as bad in their loss to Connecticut. Pitt’s passing game provided nothing on Saturday, and with Ray Graham getting just 15 touches that spelled disaster for the “High Octane” attack. At least the special teams (two touchdowns) showed up, but there’s a lot to work on with Connecticut next on the 26th.

This week: Bye

6. Connecticut (8; beat USF 16-10)
For the second consecutive season the Huskies (3-4, 1-1) beat USF without the benefit of an offensive touchdown. After two solid weeks throwing the football Johnny McEntee struggled, but Lyle McCombs came through with 130 yards rushing. If UConn’s going to entertain realistic thoughts of bowl eligibility they need more consistent play from the offense, and the defense needs to build on Saturday’s showing.

This week: Bye

7. USF (5; lost 16-10 at Connecticut)
The Bulls (4-2, 0-2) did more to shoot themselves in the foot on Saturday afternoon than anything, ultimately falling in a game that they were expected to win. All of a sudden the team many thought could contend finds itself in the conference cellar with Cincinnati visiting Raymond James Stadium. And if the Bulls want to at least finish with a winning league record they have to win. B.J. Daniels and the offense need to be more consistent in not only moving the football but scoring points. Disappointing start for Skip Holtz’s squad.

This week: Cincinnati (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

8. Louisville (7; lost 25-16 at Cincinnati)
The Cardinals (2-4, 0-1) are young offensively, and that’s been a big reason for their struggles. Where would this team be if not for their defense? Louisville held a 16-7 halftime lead thanks to the defense, which made things tougher than anticipated on Cincinnati. And after facing the second-best defense in the conference with regards to takeaways, Teddy Bridgewater and company will have to deal with the nation’s best this week.

This week: Rutgers (Friday 8 PM, ESPN2)

BEARCATS WIN UGLY, OTHERS NOT AS FORTUNATE

Cincinnati retains the Keg of Nails

By Raphielle Johnson

To say the least it wasn’t the prettiest day on the field for Big East teams, with many getting off to slow starts with a couple teams being unable to recover. Cincinnati (5-1, 1-0) didn’t get off to a good start themselves against Louisville at Paul Brown Stadium, going into the locker room at the half down 16-7 after the Cardinals returned an interception 63 yards with 30 seconds left in the second quarter. But Butch Jones’ team was able to bounce back offensively while their defense limited the Cardinals to 78 yards and seven first downs in the second half in their 25-16 win. The Bearcats retain possession of the Keg of Nails Trophy, picking up their fourth consecutive victory in the series.

“We have three rivalry games but this is really our rivalry,” said Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead, who rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown. “We don’t like Louisville and they don’t like us. There’s bad blood there.”

Cincinnati accounted for 330 yards of offense on the day, 91 yards below their season average, but it was their defense that kept the Bearcats within striking distance. Louisville (2-4, 0-1) performed well on defense themselves, which didn’t come as much of a surprise given the improvements made by defensive coordinator Vance Bedford. But their young offense couldn’t generate enough in the way of points or yards, although Louisville’s first two drives did result in Chris Philpott field goals. The Cardinals forced Cincinnati punts on the Bearcats’ first four possessions of the game, but the home team took the lead with 5:01 left in the half on a 26-yard pass from Zach Collaros to D.J. Woods.

Collaros had a quiet day by most standards as he completed 18 of 26 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown to go along with his interception late in the half. Philpott’s third field goal of the half made the score 9-7, but things got even better for the Cardinals as Cincinnati looked to regain the lead before the intermission. Mike Evans picked off a Collaros pass and ran it back 63 yards to push the lead out to nine, but those were the final points of the day for Louisville. On their second possession of the third quarter Cincinnati pulled to within two points as Collaros’ rush from one yard out made the score 16-14. Teddy Bridgewater and the rest of the Louisville offense couldn’t accomplish much of anything through the air or on the ground, and that would eventually cost them the lead.

Pead’s 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave the Bearcats a 22-16 lead, and Cincinnati would cap the scoring with 1:21 left on a Tony Miliano field goal from 21 yards out. Will Stein did return for the Cardinals but he completed just two of four passes for six yards. Quarterback is likely the least of Louisville’s concerns at this point in time; the fact that they’ve struggled so much running the football has been the biggest indictment of the Cardinals. The offensive line lacks experience and right now their best running back is Dominique Brown, who is a quarterback (although he may have to make a Michael Bush-like move to running back). Cincinnati has a lot to improve upon as well, most notably their third down conversions (4 for 14 on Saturday) and a passing game that could use some fine-tuning. But the defense is much improved since last season, and a big reason why Cincinnati is 5-1.

“Good teams find ways to win games when they don’t play their best,” said Jones. “In the second half we got Isaiah Pead in a little bit of a rhythm. I can’t say enough about our defense. They’ve been a rock of consistency for us and it showed today. Great team win.”

Utah 26, Pittsburgh 14

It was said before Saturday’s game against Utah that the Pittsburgh (3-4, 1-1) offensive staff wanted to get star running back Ray Graham 30 touches throughout the course of the game. And on a day in which both quarterbacks struggled mightily it would have been good for the Panthers to do so. But Graham finished with just 15 touches while Tino Sunseri and Trey Anderson attempted a combined 30 passes (completing nine with Anderson being picked off twice), and Utah shook off their slow start to win 26-14 in front of a disappointed crowd at Heinz Field. To their credit the Utes are among the best defenses in the Pac-12 against the run and Graham finished with 46 yards on 12 carries (21 came on one play), but there’s no excuse for the Big East’s leading rusher to only get 12 carries.

“They dominated us defensively and took Ray away,” said head coach Todd Graham. “They were dominating the line of scrimmage up front. Obviously, we want him to have more than 15 touches.”

Pitt finished the game with 120 yards of offense, but early on it didn’t seem as if they’d be made to pay for such production thanks to their defense and special teams. Colem Peterson put the Utes on the board first with 5:08 left in the first quarter on a field goal from 23 yards out, but Buddy Jackson answered with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Special teams would strike again just over two minutes later as Antwaun Reed scooped up a blocked punt and took it into the end zone from 10 yards out. Up 14-3 at the end of the first quarter, Pittsburgh simply needed their offense to get going but the Utes wouldn’t allow it. Utah’s front seven controlled the flow of play more and more as the game progressed, and by halftime they’d cut the margin to 14-13.

“The credit goes to the defense and I can’t say enough about how our defense played and our numbers were outstanding, 120 yards of total offense,” said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. “They played hard from start to finish (and) they played smart and did very good things.”

Two more Petersen field goals, with the second coming with 7:45 left in the game, gave the Utes a 19-14 lead that was nearly insurmountable with the way that Pittsburgh was playing offensively. Pitt may have sacked Jon Hays seven times but the Utes sacked Pittsburgh quarterbacks six times, but at least Utah had the productive John White IV. White rushed for 171 yards on 36 carries as Utah looked to relieve some of the pressure on the young Hays (making his second-ever start) by counting on their junior college transfer.

Pitt was unable to get enough time for their quarterbacks in the final minutes of the game, with defensive end Derrick Shelby picking off an Anderson pass with 1:12 remaining and returning it 21 yards for a touchdown. Shelby’s somersault into the end zone shut the door on any chances of a Pittsburgh comeback, and the Panthers are left with plenty of questions to answer in the 11 days leading up to their game against UConn.

“A game like that is frustrating but at the same time we can’t really dwell on it,” said free safety Andrew Taglianetti. “We have to bounce back. We have five conference games left and those are the big ones. We need to focus up and come back and finish strong.”

Rutgers 21, Navy 20

If not for cornerback Brandon Jones there’s a strong likelihood that Rutgers is sitting at 4-2 right now. Jones, who picked off a Navy pass in the first quarter, blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt with 4:43 remaining to preserve a 21-20 lead. And that would ultimately be the final score as Rutgers (5-1, 2-0) won their fourth consecutive game of the season. The Midshipmen were in good shape offensively on their first possession of the game, only to have Jones pick off a Kriss Proctor pass at the Rutgers 23-yard line. Gary Nova and the Scarlet Knight offense went right down the field, but a Savon Huggins fumble at the goal line turned the ball back over to the Midshipmen. Nova threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions, with Mohamed Sanu (10 catches, 100 yards) being the preferred target once again.

But it took awhile for things to get going offensively. Neither team would score in the first quarter, but Rutgers’ final possession of the period set the stage for a Jawan Jamison touchdown run from one yard out 32 seconds into the second quarter. Navy answered with a 12-play drive but a Steve Beauharnais tackle of Proctor for a loss of two on fourth and goal turned the ball over to the Scarlet Knights. Navy, who entered the game as the nation’s best rushing offense, rushed for 162 yards (less than half their average) on the afternoon as Rutgers did a solid job of fulfilling their assignments.

“All the defensive coaches did an incredible job of fighting through the game and making the adjustments,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. “And a great job by our kids to take what they were instructed to do during the game and make those changes.”

But it didn’t take long for the Midshipmen to get on the scoreboard as Chris Ferguson picked off Nova and returned it 16 yards to tie things up. Rutgers would have to give the ball up on downs on their next possession at the Navy 32, and it would take all of two plays for the Midshipmen to take the lead. Alexander Teich rushed for 14 yards, and Proctor followed that carry with a 54-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7. Proctor finished the game with 39 yards rushing on 15 carries while also throwing for 106 yards. But the leading rusher in the game was Rutgers’ Jawan Jamison, who rushed for 101 yards on 22 carries. Joe Martinek also chipped in for the Scarlet Knights with 44 yards on four carries, and as a team the Big East’s worst rushing offense accounted for 152 yards on the day.

After a Navy field goal made the score 17-7 early in the third quarter, Rutgers made their charge back into the game. Gary Nova connected with Quron Pratt from 10 yards out to cut the margin to three points with 3:28 left in the quarter, and his pass to Tim Wright with 12:57 left in the game made the score 21-17. Navy would cut the lead to one with 7:52 left on a Jon Teague 41-yard field goal, but that would be as close as they’d get thanks to the efforts of Brandon Jones. Coach Schiano didn’t want to even think about 2006 after the win, and it’s best for this young team to simply focus on the task at hand. Next up is a conference game at Louisville on Friday night.

Connecticut 16, USF 10

For the second consecutive season the USF (4-2, 0-2) Bulls found a way to lose to a Connecticut (3-4, 1-1) team that failed to score an offensive touchdown. Lyle McCombs rushed for 130 yards on 32 carries to lead the Huskies, who struggled passing the ball after two weeks of decent results. But their defense and kicker Dave Teggart did enough to keep the team within striking distance until halfway through the third quarter, with a Byron Jones fumble return providing the winning points. As for the Bulls, who weren’t consistent offensively, a season in which they were expected to contend for the Big East title could be at a crossroads in that regard.

“Offensively today, outside of the first drive and the opening drive of the second half, we couldn’t put anything together,” said USF head coach Skip Holtz. “At halftime, we only had about 75 yards. We moved the ball much better in the second half. This game is about two things, penalties and turnovers.”

USF lost 85 yards on nine penalties while UConn was penalized just three times, and the turnover margin of minus-2 didn’t help matters either. The first half was particularly ragged for both teams as the Huskies went into the locker room with a 6-3 lead thanks to a pair of Teggart field goals. USF came out of the locker room hot, going 75 yards on seven plays to take a 10-6 lead on B.J. Daniels 22-yard run. USF did a lot of their damage on that drive through the air, with Daniels hitting his receivers on quick passes and allowing them to make a play after the catch. But the Bulls soon went back to running the football, and while they did finish with 175 yards rushing the rhythm established in that scoring drive was lost.

UConn answered the USF scoring drive with one of their own, going 67 yards on eight plays to set up Teggart’s third field goal of the game. Two plays into USF’s next possession disaster would strike for the visitors as a pitch from Daniels to Darrell Scott was lost, only to be scooped up and taken into the end zone by Jones. That closed the scoring for the game as the UConn defense continued to make things tough on the Bulls when they weren’t killing themselves, and McCombs did enough to make up for a subpar passing attack. Due to their play in the non-conference portion of the schedule bowl eligibility was thrown into doubt for UConn, but a game like this is a step in the right direction despite it’s less than attactive nature.

“They were determined about not letting this game get away from them,” said UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni. “We talked last week about getting a lead in the third quarter and taking that lead into the fourth and finishing the game. We had a lead and they got that done tonight.”

Next Week’s Schedule

Rutgers at Louisville (Friday 8 PM, ESPN2)

West Virginia at Syracuse (Friday 8 PM, ESPN)

Cincinnati at USF (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

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