CINCINNATI -- Since the Big East Conference was reconfigured in 2005, West Virginia has been the league's bell cow. The Mountaineers have won or shared two of the four league titles.Entering this season, West Virginia's 22-6 record in Big East play was a whopping five games better than the next best league team. Nobody had done it better -- or even came close.
But times, they are a changin'.
It started last season with Cincinnati winning its first league title and the Bearcats are on pace for a second consecutive title this season.
Friday, West Virginia visits Cincinnati and the national television audience can watch how these programs are heading in different directions.
In their last five games, the Mountaineers' once-vaunted running game is averaging 160 yards rushing. By comparison, Cincinnati is averaging 179 yards rushing in the same span.
And there isn't a hotter quarterback in the country than Cincinnati's Zach Collaros. Also, Tony Pike should play against a West Virginia pass defense that is the league's third-worst.
Yet there are subtle concerns for the Bearcats. Last week, Cincinnati's defense was shredded for 45 points by UConn. Now, the Bearcats face a team that has dominated them; West Virginia owns a 14-2-1 advantage against the Bearcats and has never lost in Cincinnati. Yet the Mountaineers are still nine-point underdogs?
It seems the folks in Vegas are begging you to take WVU and the points. No thanks, I'll take the much better Bearcats, who romp over the Mountaineers and cover.
With Thursday night's Rutgers rout of South Florida, I've now hit nine of my last 13 against the spread, including last week's perfect 3-0 record, as I threaten to -- gasp -- climb above .500.
On to the remaining games:
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Cincinnati fans will be rooting for Notre Dame. It's not that they want a fellow Big East member to lose, it's just they're scared to death of the Brian Kelly to Notre Dame rumors. And another loss by Charlie Weis certainly won't quiet the speculation. Sorry Cincinnati fans -- and sorry, Charlie -- the Panthers remain on a roll offensively and defensively and cover the 6 1/2 points.
Syracuse at Louisville: The Basement Bowl. The Big East's version of the Repus Bowl (that's Super Bowl backwards). Call it whatever you wish, but it's Syracuse and Louisville: a tremendous matchup in basketball, but a loser-is-in-last-place matchup in football. This week, Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe admitted that UL fans don't like him, but asked the fans to still come out and support the players. If Kragthorpe can stop a two-game slide against the depleted Orange, they might like him a little bit more. Nah, you're right, they probably won't, but UL wins and covers the 7 1/2.
About Last Night: Another easy Thursday night winner. On my Twitter page Thursday I posted: "Tonight, Rutgers' home field & Tim Brown too much for USF, playing w/out WR Carlton Mitchell."
Last Week: 3-0 (straight up); 3-0 (against the spread)
Season: 44-9 (83 percent) (straight up); 20-22-1 (47.6 percent) (against the spread)
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
As a USF alumnus I have to admit the following....
CJL has reached his ceiling and he can do no more for USF except ruin what he worked so hard to create. The past three season's they have shown a propensity for the big dramatic win and the mid-season collapse. They have shown great intensity against Auburn, WVU and FSU and "flatline" play.
A new coach is needed....different kids same problems, how else would you call it?
I don't know whether Leavitt is a good coach or not,but he sure acts like a peckerhead on the sidelines
THE BIG EAST MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE REPLAY OFFICIAL WHO REVERSED THE ON-FIELD CALL OF A FUMBLE AND CALLED IT A TOUCHDOWN FOR CINCINNATI. THE OFFICIAL EITHER HAS A CINCINNATI BIAS OR IS TOTALLY INCOMPETENT. IN EITHER CASE, HE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FIRED. I CALL UPON ALL WEST VIRGINIA FANS TO BOYCOTT THE BIG EAST UNTIL IT TAKES APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST THIS OFFICIAL. THERE IS NO POINT IN WATCHING BIG EAST EVENTS IF THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW SUCH BLATENT INJUSTICE TO CONTINUE. EVERY TV SPORTSCASTER AND EVEN THE CINCINNATI PLAYERS WERE SHOCKED BY THE STUPIDITY OF THE OFFICIAL.
GET YOU A COACH W..V... HE SHOULD HAVE ON 4th AND 8 GONE FOR THE FIELD GOAL... I SAID IT THEN THEY LOST... IT SHOWED AT THE END... COACHING LOST THAT GAME NOT THE PLAYERS. YOUNG PLAYERS IF YOU ARE THINKING OF W.V. TO COMMIT TO DON'T... NO COACHING..
Refs gave cinc a td in 2nd quarter