South Florida News

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)

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & NEW POWER POLL

Collaros, Jones and Graham honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zach Collaros • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati • Steubenville, Ohio
Collaros accounted for 410 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a 37-34 win at USF, moving Cincinnati into sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST standings and making the Bearcats bowl eligible. He completed 26 of 41 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns (6, 21, 30) and rushed for 21 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Collaros engineered a 70-yard drive in the last 1:27 of the fourth quarter, capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Bearcats the come-from-behind win.
 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chandler Jones • Sr. • DE • Syracuse • Endicott, N.Y.
Jones had six tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 19 yards, and one pass breakup in Syracuse’s 49-23 win against No. 11/14 West Virginia. Jones led a defensive front that limited the Mountaineers to 70 rushing yards and had four sacks as the Orange defeated their highest-ranked opponent since a 50-42, triple-overtime win against No. 8 Virginia Tech in 2002.
 

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dorian Graham • Sr. • WR • Syracuse • Plantation, Fla.
Graham returned a second-quarter kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to help Syracuse to a 21-9 halftime lead on its way to a 49-23 win against No 11/14 West Virginia. Graham’s touchdown came after the Mountaineers had closed to within five midway through the second quarter. He finished with a game-high 181 all-purpose yards and had a team-high 66 receiving yards on five catches.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had a team-high eight tackles and a fumble recovery in a 37-34 win at USF.
 
Jeremy Wright • So. • RB • Louisville • Clermont, Fla.
Rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt, in a 16-14 win against Rutgers.
 
B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Completed 31 of 48 passes for a school-record 409 yards with three touchdowns in a 37-34 loss to Cincinnati.
 
Ryan Nassib • Sr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 24 of 32 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns with one rushing TD in a 49-23 win against No. 11/14 West Virginia.
 
Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in a 49-23 loss at Syracuse. Registered his fifth straight game with at least 100 receiving yards.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0; last week 2nd)
The team in the driver’s seat in the Big East (if anyone can hold such a distinction at this point) sits atop the power poll thanks to their 37-34 win at USF. Zach Collaros accounted for more than 400 yards of offense and Isaiah Pead had more than 100 yards of offense in the win. But the Cincinnati defense was able to come up with four turnovers, making up for allowing B.J. Daniels to throw for over 400 yards.

This week: Bye

2. Syracuse (5-2, 1-1; last week 4th)
The Orange had the most impressive win of league play thus far, blowing out West Virginia and controlling the game in all three phases. Ryan Nassib threw for four touchdown passes while Antwon Bailey rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown for the fourth consecutive game. And Scott Schafer’s defense attacked the Mountaineers, making life uncomfortable for Geno Smith all night.

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

3. West Virginia (5-2, 1-1; last week 1st)
Talk about a bad impression to make on national television. West Virginia’s lines were unable to handle Syracuse’s physicality on both sides of the football, and the staff was out-coached with numerous mistakes leading to the Orange’s highest point total in series history. The good news for WVU is that this race is wide-open, so a win a Rutgers will likely get them headed in the right direction.

This week: at Rutgers (Saturday 3:30 PM, Big East Network)

4. Rutgers (5-2, 2-1; last week 3rd)
Gary Nova had the worst game of his young career on Friday night as he threw three interceptions in the 16-14 loss at Louisville. But even more troubling for the Scarlet Knights were their issues running the football, putting up 91 yards with an average of three yards per carry. Rutgers doesn’t need a “star” to take over, but if they’re to win the Big East the ground game has to improve.

This week: West Virginia (Saturday 3:30 PM, Big East Network)

5. Pittsburgh (3-4, 1-1; last week 5th)
Having a couple extra days off couldn’t have come at a better time for the Panthers, who were dreadful on offense in their loss to Utah. Tino Sunseri will be the guy for Pittsburgh on Wednesday night against UConn, and maybe the Huskies’ pass defense is just what Sunseri needs to get going. But at the very least Pitt needs to get Ray Graham the football. Just 15 touches in the Utah loss? Not good.

This week: Connecticut (Wednesday 8 PM, ESPN)

6. Connecticut (3-4, 1-1; last week 6th)
UConn was able to do just enough on defense and special teams to beat USF a couple weeks ago, but one has to think that Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator George DeLeone spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to kickstart the offense. Running back Lyle McCombs needs a sidekick and quarterback Johnny McEntee reverted to early season form after solid outings against Western Michigan and West Virginia.

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

7. Louisville (3-4, 1-1; last week 8th)
The Cardinals won the turnover battle on Friday night, picking off Gary Nova three times in their 16-14 win. But the biggest development may have been the 187 yards on the ground, including Jeremy Wright rushing for 108. If the Cardinals can supplement Teddy Bridgewater with a solid rushing attack the hopes of bowl eligibility will remain alive.

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

8. USF (4-3, 0-3; last week 7th)
For the second straight game the Bulls did more to shoot themselves in the foot, committing 10 penalties (109 yards lost) and turning the ball over four times (three lost fumbles) in the 37-34 loss to Cincinnati. It’s pretty simple for the Bulls at this point: use the bye week to turn things around or watch this season plummet beyond the point of bowl eligibility. Leaders such as B.J. Daniels will be tested in the next two weeks.

This week: Bye

BEARCATS WIN THRILLER IN TAMPA

Collaros’ TD run the difference

By Raphielle Johnson

All the Cincinnati Bearcats needed to do in order to take over first place in the Big East after a wild Friday night was win at USF. True to the form of the conference that was much easier said than done but thanks to a Zach Collaros quarterback draw with 15 seconds remaining the Bearcats got it done. With the 37-34 win Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0) also becomes the conference’s first bowl-eligible team, while also handing USF a loss that means the first 0-3 start to league play in their history as a Big East member.

Collaros threw a pair of interceptions but still put forth a solid game, completing 26 of 41 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for two more scores. USF’s B.J. Daniels also put up numbers as he threw for 409 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 54 yards rushing. But the penalties and turnovers at the worst possible times did in the Bulls, who were called for five personal foul penalties throughout the course of the game.

“Right now, I’m probably thinking a lot more about the missed opportunities today than the big picture,” said USF head coach Skip Holtz. “We had some opportunities on both sides of the ball that we couldn’t capitalize on.”

Cincinnati’s first two possessions ended without points thanks to a missed Tony Miliano field goal and the first of Collaros’ two interceptions. USF would convert that turnover into points, going 80 yards on 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead on Daniels’ 14-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Griffin. Griffin, who entered the game as the Bulls’ leading receiver on the season, would be lost in the second half to an ankle injury. But the Bulls would still be able to move the football through the air, with Deonte Welch adding five receptions for a team-high 130 yards and nine players other than Griffin catching a pass.

The Bearcats would answer with an impressive drive of their own, going 71 yards in 10 plays to tie the score at 7 with 2:21 left in the quarter on an Isaiah Pead six-yard touchdown reception. After the defense forced a quick USF punt early in the second quarter the Bearcats put together another 10-play drive, this time calling on Miliano to give them the lead. Offensively the second quarter was quiet, with the teams going scoreless until a Maikon Bonani field goal from 20 yards out as time expired to tie the score at 10. In the second quarter the two teams accounted for a combined six first downs, 2-for-11 on third down and seven rushing yards.

But a quiet first half would give way to a riveting final 30 minutes, beginning with USF’s first drive of the half. The Bulls would go 88 yards on 12 plays, taking a 17-10 lead on a Demetris Murray one-yard run. But Cincinnati wouldn’t need long to tie things up, with Collaros hitting Adrien Robinson with a 21-yard strike with 7:33 left in the quarter. After a Bonani field goal and the USF defense forcing a punt the special teams took over for the home team. Victor Marc returned the Pat O’Donnell punt 40 yards to the Cincinnati 17, setting up a two-play drive to make the score 27-17. That’s how the quarter ended, and the fans in Tampa had reason to believe that the Bulls would snap out of their funk.

But that’s not how things would go for USF as Cincinnati would score three touchdowns in the final quarter. Collaros’ three-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter cut the USF lead to three points, and after the Bearcat defense forced a punt the visitors were able to claim the lead. Collaros’ 30-yard touchdown pass to Alex Chisum capped a nine-play, 81-yard drive to give the Bearcats a 30-27 lead. USF blocked Tony Miliano’s extra point attempt, but a Devan Drane interception would end the subsequent drive. USF’s defense responded by getting their first stop of the quarter, setting up the drive that would culminate in a 10-yard pass from Daniels to Andre Davis to make the score 34-30 with 1:27 remaining.

Collaros and company would answer through the air, with passes of 33 yards to Kenbrell Thompkins and 21 yards to Anthony McClung moving Cincinnati into the red zone. And on the play following a USF pass interference penalty Collaros scored on a two-yard run to make the score 37-34 with 12 seconds remaining. USF would run two plays but were unable to take a shot at the end zone, dropping their record to 0-3 in Big East play.

“I did not sell the team on the losses [Friday night] in the conference,” remarked Holtz. “We told the team to take it one play at a time and to go out there and compete for the guy on your left and the guy on your right.”

Cincinnati will remain alone in first place for at least the next two weeks as they’ve got a bye in advance of a game at Pittsburgh on November 5th. USF is off next week as well, with their next game being at Rutgers on the same day. But things will be much easier for the Bearcats during the bye, because while there’s plenty to work on it’s easier to do so when the team is confident. Cincinnati did their job by not stubbing their toe, and in the Big East that could be the most convincing statement a team needs to make.

“The mark of good football team is they go on the road and find ways to win,” said Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. Simple enough.

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)

BIG EAST WEEK 7 PREVIEW: BACK TO THE FIELD

Keg of Nails on the line in Cincinnati

By Raphielle Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick: Cincinnati -13.5 (34-17)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick: Connecticut +7.5 (USF 27-23)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick: Pittsburgh -6.5 (31-24)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick: Rutgers -3.5 (24-20)

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

Season: 28-12 (18-18 ATS)

TCU LIKELY HEADED TO THE BIG 12

Horned Frogs unlikely to play a game in Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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