Big East Conference
Conference Rank: #6
Bowl Teams: 7
Conference Champ: West Virginia
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Grothe-QB-USF
Defensive Player of the Year: George Selvie-DE-USF
Coach of the Year: Jim Leavitt-USF
Conference Forecast: It’s hard to compare the Big East against the other 5 BCS schools because they only have 8 teams. Many challenged whether the Big East champ should still get an automatic BCS Bowl bid after they lost Miami, BC, and VT to the ACC a few years ago, but since then they have actually proven to be much better than expected. I think WV is a Nat Champ contender again and that USF will also be very good, but after that that I just see a bunch of decent teams and Syracuse. In many ways I think the Big East is as good as the ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-10, but I rank them as the weakest of the BCS schools because there’s really not much depth at all this season.
Predicted Standings (Note: (#,#) = conference rec; #,# = regular season rec; [#,#] = final rec)
1. West Virginia (6-1) 11-1 [11-2]
2. USF (6-1) 11-1 [12-1]
3. Pittsburgh (4-3) 9-3 [10-3]
4. Rutgers (3-4) 8-4 [8-5]
5. Louisville (3-4) 7-5 [8-5]
6. Connecticut (3-4) 7-5 [7-6]
7. Cincinnati (3-4) 7-6 [8-6]
8. Syracuse (0-7) 2-10
Team Notes and Predictions
West Virginia (6-1) 11-1 [11-2]
Finish: 1st
Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl
Forecast: Obviously WV took a major hit when “Coach Rod” left for Michigan and they return only 12 starters. Still, they get back Pat White and Noel Devine and the offense should be just about as explosive and tough to stop. While I think they’ll eventually miss Rich Rodriguez dearly, I don’t think they’ll miss a beat in Bill Stewart’s first year, and they may even finally get through the regular season undefeated. I see them starting 10-0 before losing to Pitt again, but I think they’ll rebound with a win over USF to win the conference. I have them losing to Mizzu in the Fiesta Bowl.
USF (6-1) 11-1 [12-1]
Finish: 2nd
Bowl Game: Sun Bowl
Forecast: South Florida got labeled “overrated” after they lost 3 straight following their rise to #2 last season, and they probably were, but they are no fluke. USF is for real and I think Jim Leavitt will have his best team in 2008. I see them starting the year 11-0, but their cold weather issues are also for real, and I see them losing their last game of the year at WV and that will keep them out of the BCS. I have them beating Cal in the Sun Bowl.
Pittsburgh (4-3) 9-3 [10-3]
Finish: 3rd
Bowl Game: Gator Bowl
Forecast: Pitt shocked WV in the final game of the regular season last year and I believe that win will turn out to be a prelude of things to come. They lose only 13 lettermen and return 15 starters. They will have the best defense in the conference and I expect Pitt to be one of the most improved teams in the country in the Wannstash’s 4th season and get to their first bowl game since 2004. I have them beating UNC in the Gator Bowl.
Rutgers (3-4) 8-4 [8-5]
Finish: 4th
Bowl Game: Papa John’s Bowl
Forecast: No doubt Rutgers will have a hard time replacing Ray Rice but I think Greg Schiano has built a program that will stay relevant for years. Rutgers has gotten a lot from their special teams in the last few years and this year they lose their special teams coach and must replace Jeremy Ito, who was both the kicker and punter. Still, they have 15 starters coming back and I expect they’ll be solid again and reach a 4th straight bowl. I have them losing to Ole Miss in the Papa John’s Bowl.
Louisville (3-4) 7-5 [8-5]
Finish: 5th
Bowl Game: Meineke Bowl
Forecast: Louisville went into last year ranked in the top 10 and needless to say things did not go well in Steve Kragthorpe’s first year. This season they return only 9 starters, lose 3 year starter QB Brian Brohm, their top running back, their top 4 receivers, their kicker, and their leading tackler. Clearly nothing is expected from this team but I actually expect them to be surprisingly decent and get back to a bowl after a one year absence. I have them beating Air Force in the Meineke Bowl.
Connecticut (3-4) 7-5 [7-6]
Finish: 6th
Bowl Game: International Bowl
Forecast: UConn was one of the surprise teams in the country last year but they came out on the right end of a lot of close games. This year they return 17 starters and should be just as good, if not better, but I expect a drop due to a reversal of fortune in close games and a tougher schedule. I see them starting 4-0 before losing 5 of their last 8 but I think they’ll get to a second straight bowl. I have them losing to Bowling Green in the International Bowl.
Cincinnati (3-4) 7-6 [8-6]
Finish: 7th
Bowl Game: St. Pete Bowl
Forecast: Cincinnati became a solid program under Mark Dantonio and last season they won 10 games in Brian Kelly’s first year. Cinci stayed very healthy last year and had great luck with turnovers which helped them exceed anyone’s expectations. This year they return only 12 starters and I expect a drop off but I still see them getting to a 3rd straight bowl game. I have them beating UCF in the St. Pete Bowl.
Syracuse (0-7) 2-10
Finish: 8th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Syracuse took a step back to pathetic last season in Greg Robinson’s 3rd year. They have 14 starters back but they still don’t have the talent. I believe they’ll once again be among the worst teams in the land and will go winless in the Big East, with their only 2 wins of the season coming against Akron and Northeastern.
Big Games on the Schedule
Sun, August 31st
Kentucky @ Louisville (Big rivalry even in football)
Sat, September 6th
USF @ UCF (Battle of new Florida powerhouses)
Fri, September 12th
Kansas @ USF (Both teams were #2 at one point last year)
Thu, October 2nd
Pitt @ USF (First big test for Pitt)
Sat, October 4th
Rut @ WV (Rutgers has never won at WV)
Thu, October 23rd
Aub @ WV (One of the bigger non-con games of the season)
Thu, October 31st
USF @ Cin (Could be the first cold weather game of the year for USF)
Sat, November 1st
Louisville @ Cuse (Last year Cuse pulled off shocking upset)
Pitt @ ND (This should be an interesting matchup)
Sat, November 11th
WV @ Louisville (In 9 games, these 2 teams have totaled average of over 60 pts)
Fri, November 28th
WV @ Pitt (Pitt’s shocking win kept WV out of the Nat Champ last year)
Sat, December 6th
Pitt @ Conn (Could end up being huge game in the Big East)
USF @ WV (Could be game between pair of undefeated teams)
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