A hard-fought, well-played game would show the country the Big East can play. A sloppy, turnover-plagued game would confirm the nation’s doubts about the strength of the league.
If recent history is any indication, this game could be ugly. During these teams' last two meetings, they have combined for more than 1,600 yards and 16 turnovers. That is not a recipe for respect.
This game should be a terrific battle. If you are around Thursday night, don’t miss this one. South Florida has a fast, aggressive defense, and Cincinnati has a high-powered spread offense. This year, the Bulls have created 16 turnovers, while Cincinnati has only lost the ball three times (the fewest in college football). Meanwhile, South Florida is currently fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.4 points per game. Cincinnati counters with the nation’s third-ranked offense, averaging 42 points per game.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that Cincinnati and South Florida are not classic Big East schools. These two teams are legit.
Connecticut 21 (3-2, 0-1 Big East): 21
Pittsburgh (5-1, 2-0): 24
This game was an old school Big East battle, as both teams took the fight to the trenches. No one “uglies up” a game better than UConn. Ultimately, it was Pitt’s offensive linemen that proved to be the difference. Their strong play allowed the Panthers to rush for 221 yards and throw for another 268. Pitt ended the game strong, scoring on each of its last four possessions.
For UConn, it was a standard game against good competition. It seems like the Huskies just cannot finish games strong. They started out well, seemed to have the game in control, and let it slip away. UConn led 21-6 with less than five minutes to play in the third quarter. All the Huskies needed to do to get a win was get a few first downs and play solid defense. Neither happened. Instead, after taking this late lead, the Huskies did not pick up a single first down for the rest of the game. The defense also collapsed late.
In both of UConn’s losses this season, they have blown fourth-quarter leads. The talent is there, but the Huskies need to learn to close the deal.
West Virginia (4-1, 1-0): 34
Syracuse (2-4, 0-2): 13
Several NFL scouts were in attendance to watch, among others, Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus. Unfortunately for Paulus, he did little to impress. In fact, the former Duke point guard was benched at halftime in favor of sophomore Ryan Nassib. Instead of improving, it seems like Paulus is regressing. It might be time for the Orange to give Nassib a start or two. They aren’t going anywhere this year, so there is little harm.
West Virginia continues to look good. On the road against an inferior opponent, the Mountaineers battled hard and made quick work of the ‘Cuse. If not for a six turnover game at Auburn, West Virginia would be undefeated. With Cincinnati, South Florida, Pitt, and WVU, the Big East is still a four-team race.
Texas Southern: 0
Rutgers (4-1, 0-1): 42
Rutgers’ record is not reflective of its ability. This is a team with a lot of holes. After opening the season by getting embarrassed by Cincinnati, the Scarlet Knights have run off four straight victories against very poor competition. Next Friday, Rutgers hosts Pittsburgh. Then we will get to see if the Knights have improved since their opener. Until they prove otherwise, consider Rutgers a second-tier Big East team.
Southern Mississippi: 23
Louisville (2-3, 0-1): 25
This is Louisville’s fist victory over a Division I team in almost a year. Better late than never. The Cardinals have a long way to go, but this is a win they can feel proud of.
What we learned
1. Pitt’s offensive line is very good, while its defensive line has not played up to its potential.
2. UConn still has not learned how to finish games.
3. West Virginia acts like it wants to be taken seriously.
Respect Barometer
Again this week, it is a case of nothing lost, but nothing gained for the Big East. The conference still has two teams ranked in the AP Top 25 (Cincinnati and South Florida) and two others (Pitt and West Virginia) on the cusp (26th and 28th, respectively).
Next week, the conference has two nationally televised games. No. 8 Cincinnati will face No. 21 South Florida on Thursday night, while Pittsburgh squares off against Rutgers on Friday. These games could go a long way in determining how the conference is viewed this season.
