Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and West Virginia won as expected last week, but it wasn't quite as easy as the experts predicted.All three clubs were heavy favorites between 17 and 21 points, yet only Pittsburgh won easily. PItt was the only one of the trio that didn't almost lose. The Panthers disposed of depleted Syracuse 37-10, but Cincinnati and West Virginia had a lot more difficulty.
The Bearcats outlasted a resilient UConn club 47-45, while the Mountaineers held off Louisville 17-9.
Last week's results shows that the league remains divided into three tiers: the best (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh), the worst (Louisville, Syracuse) and everyone else (South Florida, West Virginia, UConn and Rutgers).
While the top and the bottom of the league is pretty well set, it should be interesting to see how the middle four teams shake out in the next few weeks. It will start Thursday when USF visits Rutgers.
Unfortunately, we have to wait another four weeks for the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh contest.
Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week
1. What do you know, the Big East ain't so bad after all
After starting the season with no teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Big East has half of its league in the BCS Top 25 rankings. That's even one more than the mighty SEC. Cincinnati is No. 5, but needs some help to get a shot at the BCS title game, while Pittsburgh is No. 12, South Florida No. 24 and West Virginia No. 25.
2. Syracuse will be the Big East's most improved team – in 2010
They have to be, right? There will be nowhere to go but up for the Orange. The latest debacle was Saturday's 37-10 loss at Pittsburgh. In the Orange's four Big East losses, they have not come closer than two touchdowns. Last week, they had three players suspended and a fourth – star WR Mike Williams – quit the team. Saturday, they lost starting SS Max Suter and TE Cody Catalina to season-ending injuries and they only took 55 scholarship players to Pitt.
3. Where did the O go for the "Muntaineers"?
In West Virginia's last two games, the Mountaineers have been held to 19 points in a loss at South Florida and 17 points in a win against Louisville. The significance is it marked the third time in 22 games under Coach Bill Stewart the Mountaineers had scored 20 or fewer points in consecutive games. By comparison, WVU only had back-to-back games with 20 points or less three times in the last 76 games of former Coach Rich Rodriguez's tenure at West Virginia.
4. Are there chinks showing in Cincinnati's armor?
In Cincinnati's 9-0 start, the Bearcats' offense – whether Tony Pike or Zach Collaros played quarterback – has been absolutely dynamite. However, it does appear the blueprint for at least keeping it close against UC is out there. Fresno State, in a 28-20 loss to UC, rushed for 290 yards. UConn rushed for 201 in Saturday's two-point loss. Those are the only two games this season the Bearcats have allowed more than 200 yards rushing – and not coincidentally the only two games they have not won by double figures.
Re-Tweeting Week 10
Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.
1. Cincinnati: The Zach Pack is growing. UConn the latest to believe that Cincinnati is better off with Collaros at QB
2. Pittsburgh: Since ending West Virginia's 2007 national title hopes, the Panthers have won 18 of their past 23 contests
3. South Florida: The not-ready-for-prime-time Bulls visit Rutgers hoping to end an 0-5 streak in ESPN Thursday night games
4. West Virginia: The Mountaineers have been outgained in their past three games, but still managed to win two of them
5. Rutgers: Freshman Tom Savage makes his first start vs. USF, looking to extend Scarlet Knights' three-game winning streak vs. the Bulls
6. UConn: The Huskies' perseverance is amazing, but they have lost their last three games by a total of 10 points
7. Louisville: Coming close counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and my Big East rankings. UL moves up one spot after hanging at WVU
8. Syracuse: The Orange and Cardinals will settle this once and for all Saturday: who is the league's worst team?
Follow Brett McMurphy on Twitter at twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill Stewart has had his fun and now should stepp aside and let WVU hire a REAL D-1 coach. Bill Thakns for the memories now be a man of your word and step down. It is already time.
UCONN'S UNSINKABLE KIDS: Brett, you wrote a great little piece on UCONN, and now you place them in the middle tier...of the Big East! When the difference between a 9-0, and where they are, is a total of 15 points, I think that UCONN is a top-notch team! Their losses have been so outright competitive (and doggone entertaining, to boot) that if I were able to vote, I would vote them in the top 25 of the COUNTRY, regardless of their record! Hard luck aside, this team is top 25 on character alone! To date, these Unsinkable Kids have to be the college football story of the year; regardless of ther record! Any voting sports journalists out there?
Ive been a WV fan and supporter since the mid-50s. I realized early on we have a great number of fickle fans.
This is by far fun and competitive conference. Every year any team can step up and win it.
Here is how I see itfinishing for the top 4:
PITT 11-1 (7-0)
UC 11-1 (6-1)
USF 9-3 (5-2)
WVU 8-4 (4-3)