Big East Power Rankings Week 9

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

1. Cincinnati Bearcats 7-0, (3-0): Last week: Win vs. Louisville 41-10 - Instead of taking the conservative route, like most offenses would do with their back-up quarterback starting, Cincinnati played aggressive with Zach Collaros under center and took advantage of his running ability. He rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries last week, which helped opened the running game. On shotgun formations the Louisville defense was conscious of Collaros and had to account for his legs, so on handoffs the Cardinals were a little slower to react to when a running back got the carry. It’s a different look Cincinnati can bring when their back up is playing. Sophomore Isaiah Pead ran for two touchdowns including a 67-yard run on a draw play. But Collaros was also impressive through the air completing 15-of-17 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving core also had a fantastic game led by Marshwan Gilyard who caught four balls for 82 yards and a touchdown. Junior Armon Binns continues to step up as the team’s number two wide out and as scoring threat, he made a tremendous touchdown catch in the back of the end zone and finished the game 75 yards. Binns has reeled in 12 catches and four touchdowns in the last three games and has made a handful of tough catches look easy. His development is an important component for the offense to take the next step and take some heat of Gilyard who’s constantly seeing double-teams.

Up next: At Syracuse - Another game without Tony Pike shouldn’t be a problem...the offense hasn’t missed a beat so far and it won’t be the Orange defense that takes them out of rhythm. It’s important for the Bearcat defense to have another big game. The defensive line has been playing well and did a lot of disrupting in their previous two games versus Louisville and South Florida, expect more of the same against a banged up offensive line. Andre Revels is playing like an all-conference linebacker; he will be a key to shut down the Syracuse running game.

Prediction: Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 14

2. Pittsburgh 7-1, (4-0): Last week: Win vs. South Florida 41-14 - Why have the Panthers moved up a spot? Their route of USF is part of it, but in terms of the big picture the answer is quarterback Bill Stull. Talks have to start for Stull as conference player of the year–he’s thrown for 1, 654 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions and against South Florida he starting out completing his first 11 passes and completed 72 percent of his passes. He’s no longer a liability; Stull is playing like a star. When their quarterback is on top of his game this offense is dangerous. With his 111 yards from this weekend freshman running back Dion Lewis eclipsed the century mark once again, bringing his season total to 1,029. He ranks second in the nation in rushing, Lewis isn’t just the freshman of the year in the conference, he’s the most dynamic newcomer in the country. Against the Bulls they played a perfect game–was it a one time thing or just the start to an incredible run?

Up Next: Idle

3. West Virginia 6-1, (2-0): Last week: Win vs. Connecticut 28-24 - The 56-yard touchdown run that saved the day by Noel Devine is all you need to see to know what an amazing running back he is. When he burst down the sideline it looked as if he would be pushed out of bounds at around the 30-yard line, but remarkably he kept his balance and his feet from touching the sideline, and eventually took it to the house for a score. Playing a close game at home against the Huskies isn’t something to panic about; they’re a gritty football team. But overall Pittsburgh has been playing better football, close calls aren’t a problem-but getting quarterback Jarrett Brown in sync is.

Up next: At South Florida - This is certainly a game West Virginia has to be eerie of. First of all, recent history. The Bulls have taken two of the last three from the Mountaineers and are one of the only defensive units that thrive at stopping mobile quarterbacks and lateral runners. If Brown doesn’t play a crisp game, it will be another close call for West Virginia. There will be a lot of pressure on the defense to stop South Florida’s duel-threat quarterback, B.J. Daniels–they may force him to throw a little bit more then he would like but he’s got the arm for big plays.

Prediction: West Virginia 27, South Florida 23

4. South Florida Bulls 5-2, (1-2): Last week: Lost at Pittsburgh 41-10 - The Bulls are sputtering. The last two years this football team has collapsed down the stretch and after back-to-back losses including a spanking in Heinz Field there’s panic. There is a lot of worry when this defense, what is supposed to be the backbone of the team, is dominated for 486 yards, 214 on which came on the ground. At this point they can’t recruit a giant nose-tackle to solve their woes, it’s time for the staff to make adjustments and utilize their athleticism in a different way. Offensively, this team is expected to struggle a little bit. With a freshman quarterback and inconsistent receivers it was bound to happen, however they can’t let up or it’s going to be three mid-season collapses in a row.

Up Next: West Virginia - This is perfect timing. With the team moral low, what better way to boost it back up again than with a big home win? And the West Virginia is a good match-up for them. Even though they struggle against the run, they have the hard nose tacklers to limit Devine from running over people and the speed to contain him on the outside. A lot of pressure for senior George Selvie to step up, he hasn’t been himself lately. But the Bulls won’t win this game unless a receiver steps up, the quarterback can’t just run the offense alone. Will this be the game Carlton Mitchell or Sterling Griffin breaks out?

Prediction: West Virginia 27, South Florida 23

5.Connecticut 4-3, (1-2): Last week: Lose at West Virginia 24-28 - No shame in losing the way they did to West Virginia last week...a tough loss for an emotionally charged unit. Right before Devine made his legendary run, Connecticut had a magical touchdown score of their own. After a fumble recovered on an interception return allowed the Huskies to retain possession, quarterback Cody Endres hit Marcus Easley from his own 12-yard linea cross midfield that the wide out took the rest of the way for the score. It was a magical moment in a game that had a lot more meaning than just a win or a loss. The Huskies remain at the same spot despite a loss.

Up Next: Rutgers - It will be another emotional scene in Storrs as the football team returns to play their first home game since the death of teammate Jasper Howard. This very big game for Connecticut. A loss would put them in a position where they will have to fight for bowl-eligibility but a win could propel them to have a shot for a better bowl game. The offense has looked more and more balanced each week, and against Rutgers, expect plenty of deep balls again. What gives the Huskies the edge is their defense. Other than stellar backs Lewis and Devine, Connecticut hasn’t had trouble stopping anybody and they will be geared up to stop the run and make the freshman quarterback beat them.

Prediction: Connecticut 25, Rutgers 17

6. Rutgers 5-2, (0-2): Last week: Win at Army 27-10: A win is a win; even if comes against one of the worst teams in college football. Rutgers dominated this contest, more than the score will even tell you. The triple-option was no problem to defend and any time Army had an opportunity to take advantage, the Cadets would shoot themselves in the foot with a fumble or a dropped pass. There’s not a whole lot to learn about Rutgers from this game. Joe Martinek rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Up Next: At Connecticut - This is a chance for Rutgers to prove themselves. They have no signature wins, unless you count the victory at Maryland (you shouldn’t) and this is a big game. It’s a big game because they come in as heavy underdogs to a team that’s not that much more talented then they are. But all the things that Rutgers does to hurt themselves like committing too many penalties, sloppy quarterback play or inconsistent tackling...Connecticut does well. Both teams run the ball pretty well and can defend it too, so the key to the game is who is a better through the air. Does Tom Savage finally break out in a conference game?

Prediction: Connecticut 25, Rutgers 17

7. Syracuse 3-4, (0-2): Last week: Win vs. Akron 28-14 - Finally this team blocks for their talented tailback. Delone Carter broke free for 170 yard rushing and three touchdowns and was given the opportunity to do what he does best. He’s one of the toughest backs to take down on first contact; the problem is that contact usually comes behind the line of scrimmage. It’s great for Carter and Syracuse fans to see what the former Mr. Ohio can do when he has the chance. Mike Williams was suspended for violating team rules, but sophomore receiver Marcus Sales stepped up with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker Derrell Smith continues to have a tremendous season. Against Akron he recorded three tackles for a loss including two sacks, and was in on forcing a fumble. He leads the team 64 tackles and 10 for a loss; he’s been one of the most improved players on this defense over the last two years. Special note in the game, Dashan Miller of Akron who set a school record of 191 kickoff return yards, on four returns.

Up Next: Cincinnati - The Biletnikoff semifinalist, Williams, will be back for the game versus Cincinnati and boy do they need him. The only way Syracuse pulls off the upset is if quarterback Greg Paulus limits his turnovers and gets Williams the ball. The secondary has been spotty to say the least, so they catch a break not facing Pike. The defensive line has been playing well and they might give Collaros a challenge. Defensive tackle Arthur Jones has been hungry for a big win on a big stage.

Prediction: Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 14

8. Louisville 2-5, (0-3): Last week: Lost at Cincinnati 10-41 - No surprise that this team was spanked on the road. There’s a lot to be concerned about. The secondary has been horrific all season, the offensive line is in shambles and the running game has all but vanished.

Up Next: Arkansas State - This game is the season. Coming into the year it was expected the Cardinals would finish at or near the bottom of the division and loss here would be truly rock bottom. They already manhandled Indiana State in their opener and took care of Southern Miss, but they cannot lose to the 2-4 Red Wolves out of the Sun Belt. Running back Victor Anderson will likely get the ball a lot in this game, and versus a poor run defense it should mean good things for Louisville.

Prediction: Louisville 36, Arkansas State 20

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Photos Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh, USF Athletics Communications, Tom Ciszak Rutgers Athletics

On Location: USF 34, Syracuse 20

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON

First quarter: The start of the game resembled something out of a pee wee football league—five turnovers in the first four minutes. The game of hot potato was sparked when USF defensive tackle Terrell McClain forced a fumble by Syracuse running back Delone Carter on the third play of the game. Just moments later, on South Florida’s first play from scrimmage, quarterback B.J. Daniels mishandled a snap that was recovered by Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones to give the Orange possession right back. Just four plays after that, safety Nate Allen stepped in front of a Greg Paulus pass for an interception. Remarkably, the two teams would exchange possessions once more—on back-to-back plays Syracuse and South Florida would turn the ball over by way of a fumble. It was South Florida that finally ended the turnover trend by capping off an eight-play, 62-yard drive with a Mike Ford 26-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. Syracuse would also get on the board before the opening quarter was complete, as a 54-yard reception by senior wide receiver Mike Williams set up an a 40-yard field goal by Ryan Lichtenstein.
Score: South Florida 7, Syracuse 3

Second quarter: The Orange started off strong in the second quarter, particularly Paulus. Behind some good play-calling and solid blocking, Syracuse took advantage of South Florida’s aggressiveness, running two quarterback draws for first downs, as well as a key third-down conversion on a screen pass. They also got other receivers into the mix as sophomore Marcus Sales and freshman Alec Lemon each made a grab. Unfortunately for Syracuse, they stalled and settled for their second field goal of the game. With neither team doing much on the ground, Syracuse took to the air…and Paulus threw his second interception. Deep in his own territory, the former Duke basketball player overthrew his intended target by about five yards, floating the pass right into the hands of USF’s senior cornerback Jerome Murphy. It didn’t take long for the Bulls to capitalize, as two plays later Daniels eluded a gang of blitzers and found Carlton Mitchell wide open in the middle of the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown. Syracuse did regain some momentum right before the half. While it appeared South Florida was trying to just run out the clock, a fumble forced by the hard hit of linebacker Derrell Smith put the ‘Cuse back in business. A double-teamed Williams was able to jump over a pair of South Florida defenders to nab his seventh catch of the half in the corner of the end zone for the Orange’s first touchdown of the day.
Score: South Florida 14, Syracuse 13

Third quarter: South Florida didn’t waste any time coming out of the locker room. On the first play of the third quarter, Daniels connected for the second time with Mitchell for a score, this time from 85 yards out. On the ensuing drive, Syracuse took the ball all the way to the South Florida 21-yard line. However, the Orange were still searching for a running game. As a result, Paulus was forced to convert one too many third and long situations, and he was intercepted by freshman cornerback Kayvon Webster. The South Florida defensive line, led by ends George Selvie and Craig Marshall, were pressuring the Syracuse signal caller all quarter—these were not unforced errors. After Ford’s second rushing touchdown, another Bulls’ defensive lineman made a big play. As a gang of would-be tacklers took down Paulus, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul intercepted a batted pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. It was the final nail in the coffin for Syracuse.
Score: South Florida 34, Syracuse 13

Fourth quarter: Syracuse added one more touchdown before the final whistle to make the score respectable. Once again, it was Williams making an incredible catch in the end zone, this time going across the middle in heavy traffic. On the play, Paulus was pressured as he was all day, escaping the pass rush before finding his go-to target. South Florida did their best to milk the clock and hang onto their lead.
Final Score: South Florida 34, Syracuse 20

The Turning Point: The third quarter featured several turning points for South Florida, but the big play was the 85-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Mitchell. With one-on-one coverage, Mitchell was able to escape from Syracuse cornerback and Florida native Kevyn Scott on a go route down the sideline, which Mitchell credits to film work.

“As soon as I took off he turned his hips,” Mitchell said after the game. “He was peeking, so I knew if I turned a certain way I could get him kind of turned around a little bit. Then I just took off. It’s all about film work and knowing how the opponents play.” After making the catch, Mitchell and the rest of the offense celebrated down the field while the rest of the Bulls did the same on the sidelines. “It helped both our defense and our offense. After that, things just starting rolling,” the 6’ 4” wide out said of his tone-setting play.

Final Analysis: South Florida won this game upfront with their dominant defensive line. The unit is deep and athletic, and Syracuse was unable to prevent them from getting into the backfield. They shut down the run when they needed to—the Orange ran for only 75 yards on the ground. In the first half, McClain was breaking through the line so often it was as if he knew the snap count—in addition to the forced fumble, the junior recorded a sack and on a couple of other occasions, he forced Paulus to hurry his throws. Sophomore tackle Keith McCaskill recorded a sack from his inside position, while Marshall was in the mix too, hurrying Paulus on more than one occasion. Selvie, the two-time All-American, makes his teammates better just being on the field with all of the attention he receives. The junior Marshall recognizes the advantage of having such a deep unit.

“Everybody has something that they can do at certain times in the game,” Marshall said of the line’s depth. “Also, it’s good to be able to rotate people and make sure the next person is going to play with the same amount of energy all game long.” South Florida did what they do best; the defense was aggressive and capitalized on their edge in athleticism by forcing turnovers. They forced seven of them in all, including five interceptions. Allen had two and led the team with eight tackles. The defense had Paulus on his heels for 60 minutes, which was the game plan according to Marshall, “Coach told us they have a big offensive line, so we have to use our athletic ability. We tried to use our speed to our advantage. We wanted to have Paulus run and see what he was all about.”

Paulus never backed down. He took chances and gave his receivers chances to make plays, often resulting in big plays for the Orange…as well as the Bulls. More than once, he threw the ball up for grabs when he should have taken a sack or better yet, found the stands with the pigskin. But that’s how Paulus plays and for this season, headman Doug Marrone appears willing to take the bad with the good.

The beneficiary of Paulus’ gunslinger mentality was Williams, who turned in an All-American caliber performance. His two touchdown catches were highlight-reel worthy and he was consistent throughout the game. He finished the contest with 186 yards on 13 catches, but it wasn’t just big plays—Williams came through on third downs and displayed the ability to make plays after the catch. Williams is quietly becoming a star wide out in the league; unfortunately for the home crowd, his 23rd game in a row with a catch didn’t come with a victory.

Instead, Daniels won his second start, throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. In addition to his cannon arm and athletic ability running the football, the freshman played wise beyond his years, something which was no accident.

“Coach [Jim Leavitt] always told me a good quarterback focuses on not making mistakes,” Daniels said afterwards. “It’s not just making all the big plays. It’s doing the little things and doing the smart things.”

Mitchell caught both of Daniels’ touchdown passes and finished the game with six catches for 189 yards. After a bye week, South Florida will look to remain unblemished as they take on the highly-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats in a battle of undefeateds.

Photos Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications, Syracuse University Athletics

Big East: Week 5 Preview

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

West Virginia 38, Colorado 20

Get ready for a Buffalo beat down. Three weeks ago when Colorado faced Toledo, the Buffaloes could not stop the run or the pass allowing 624 yards in the loss, including two 100-yard rushers. They could not defend the mobile quarterback Aaron Opelt, so don’t expect them to have any less trouble containing Jarrett Brown. Despite coming off of a four-interception game against Auburn, the turnover bug won’t bite the Mountaineers this week. Expect a big game from Brown and look for him to hit receivers Alric Arnett and Jock Sanders for a couple of long pass plays early.

Pittsburgh 26, Louisville 14

Both teams come into this contest off a loss. The Pittsburgh defense has been in shambles, especially the secondary. They gave up a ton of yards through the air last week against NC State and looked overmatched blowing a 14-point lead. However, don’t worry about the unit in this one. Expect cornerback Aaron Berry to have a bounce back game. Defensive end Mick Williams is coming off a performance in which he had 4.5 tackles for a loss, combined with Greg Romeus, gives them a powerful defensive line. The Panther’s D will have their strongest performance yet this Friday under the lights leading the way for the victory.

South Florida 22, Syracuse 14

It’s the prototypical sandwich game. After last week’s inspiring victory over instate goliath Florida State in Tallahassee, the USF Bulls might be looking ahead to their game next week against conference favorite Cincinnati. However, a trip to the Carrier Dome resides between the team’s two biggest games of the early season. From top to bottom, it’s clear Syracuse isn’t as talented as the Bulls, but there are a couple reasons why they’ll hang around. Arthur Jones and brother Chandler Jones have been relentless up front and linebacker Derrell Smith has been a sure tackler and outstanding on run blitzes. Syracuse receiver Mike Williams is a game changer, he’s always in the mix on any Syracuse scoring drive. Williams is tall and has fantastic hands. What makes him even more difficult to defend is how many different routes he can run. He’s not a one trick pony. The problem for the Orange is that none of the names mentioned can help protect the quarterback. If South Florida’s defensive line can dominate in the trenches against a good FSU offensive line what are they going to do against Syracuse? The answer is easy…manhandle them. The crowed may be in favor of the Orange, but the field turf won’t be. Players like Craig Marshall and George Selvie are explosive and will take advantage. They and the rest of the deep defensive line will be in the face of quarterback Greg Paulus all game long. The only way Syracuse pulls off the upset is if their secondary can limit their mistakes and force a couple of key interceptions by freshman B.J. Daniels. But don’t count on it. Bank on Daniels being the leading rusher in the game and South Florida pulling out a fifth straight victory.

Cincinnati 45, Miami (Ohio) 26

It’s the battle for the victory a bell, a rivalry trophy that has not been secured by Miami since 2005 and don’t expect that to change this Saturday. Even though the Bearcats put up a ton of yards against Fresno State last week their offense stalled a bit. Don’t expect that to happen against a Red Hawks defense that has been struggling against the pass. Tony Pike and Cincinnati win in a rout.

Photo Courtesy of WVU Sports Communication

Big East: Week Three Preview

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

If you can imagine the college football season as an academic year, then week three is like mid-term week in the first semester. This Saturday will tell us whole lot about where some Big East teams stack up against the rest of the country, and how good they could be in 2009. Let’s take a look at the syllabus and see which tests are slated for this weekend:

Philosophy: If a team plays well but doesn’t get a win, do they still get any love? After just two games there has been more optimism and attention around the Syracuse football program then there has been in the past two or three years. But the ‘Cuse are 0-2 and are not earning any bowl births with moral victories. This week they play their third straight Big Ten opponent hosting Northwestern at the Carrier Dome.

The Prediction: Syracuse 26, Northwestern 21 - Head coach Doug Marrone gets his first win. The star of the game will be senior defensive tackle Arthur Jones with his first breakout game of the season.

History: A Cincinnati football team has not played a road game against a Pac-10 opponent since 1976, a win over Arizona State. Playing a road game across the country can sometimes take a toll on a team and sway the game one way or another. This week the Bearcats play at Oregon State, and as well as the 'Cats' defense played in week one at Rutgers, they didn’t have to defend a dynamic player like Jacquizz Rodgers.

The Prediction: Cincinnati 41, Oregon State 30 – Expect to see Tony Pike early and often. The Bearcats will jump out to a fast start and never relinquish the lead. Oregon State has had some offensive line troubles, which could allow Cincinnati seniors Curtis Young and Ricardo Matthews to have big days pressuring the quarterback.

Geography: The Mountaineers have been on a groove against the SEC, representing the Big East against what is widely considered the top conference in the country. In the past four seasons they’ve gone 4-0 including a win over Auburn last year, 35-17. The game will be a test for the WVU offense playing against a very talented and athletic Tiger defense. Watch for the play quarterback Jarrett Brown, he’s athletic like Patrick White but can be the winner that White was?

The Prediction: Auburn 21, West Virginia 16 - Both of these teams are underrated and the speed alone is a reason to watch. In the end, the Tigers’ home crowed and better defensive play propels them to a win as WVU fails to capture the South.

Nautical Studies: Pittsburgh has won comfortably in their first two games. However, the Navy triple-option can always throw a team off guard and translate into an upset. This will be the third straight year these two schools have squared-up, the road team has won each battle so far.

The Prediction: Pittsburgh 28, Navy 20 - I just have a feeling that Navy will keep it close, I don’t know if it’s because the Panthers have a history of playing to their competition or the scare that the Midshipmen delivered in Columbus. For the second straight week I have high expectations for Pittsburgh receiver Jonathon Baldwin to have a big game, he will not disappoint.

Psychology: Talk about a Freudian slip-up. Last week Connecticut collapsed and lost on a safety by ways of a hold in the end zone. Can UConn recover from blowing a 10-point second-half lead to North Carolina? They’re going to have to bounce back at Baylor without their starting quarterback Zach Frazer. this is a good test for this blitz-burg defense against a star in the making—Baylor sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III. The offense will need someone to lean on.

Prediction: Baylor 23, Connecticut 14 - It’s another bad match-up for the Huskies. The offense has not shown that they can do anything consistently. A turnover or two lead to a couple of easy Baylor scores.

Architecture: How can Louisville rebuild their program? For starters, not losing to Kentucky again. A loss would make it three wins in a row for the Wildcats, something that has not happened since the two schools starting playing regularly in 1994. How well Lexington native and Cardinal quarterback Justin Burke plays will be the key in this one. Keep this match-up on your radar: (CB) Trevard Lindley, Kentucky vs. (WR) Doug Beaumont, Louisville.

Prediction: Kentucky 27, Louisville 13 - A real underrated rivalry game. I’m seeing big things for quarterback Mike Hartline.

Recess: It will be walk in the park for Rutgers and South Florida. Rutgers tries to make it two in row hosting Sun Belt foe Florida International, while the Bulls play Charleston-Southern. Remember them? They lost to Florida 62-3.

Prediction: South Florida 48, Charleston Southern 6 - Start planning for next week and the team’s trip to Tallahassee.

Prediction: Rutgers 33, Florida International 14 - Next week at Maryland is a road game that could swing the Scarlet Knights’ season. This is will be just a tune-up for the Terps.

Last week: 7-0; Season: 14-0

Photo Courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics & University of Pittsburgh

Big East - Week Two Preview

By CHRSTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

This week’s theme for the Big East is re-matches–four teams are playing out of conference opponents that they played a year ago. For Connecticut, Syracuse and West Virginia it’s an opportunity to avenge losses. Still, with conference play weeks away, the majority of this Saturday’s games will be tune-ups.

West Virginia 32, East Carolina 21: There’s no doubt the Mountaineers will be looking for revenge this week at home after last year‘s beat down at East Carolina. Motivation and Morgantown aside, Noel Devine will be too much for the Pirates defense in the end. East Carolina’s offense, led by senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney, will put up some points…but not another upset.

North Carolina 23, Connecticut 14: It’s no secret that Connecticut has an aggressive rushing attack led by sophomore Jordan Todman. But the Tar Heels will be gearing up to stop the run and force Huskies quarterback Zach Frazer to beat them, and he won’t. North Carolina has some quarterback questions themselves, but their talented defenders will secure victory in East Hartford.

Penn State 36, Syracuse 20: It’s nice to see this rivalry renewed—it’s just too bad it comes during the dark days of Syracuse football. Sure, there were some positives from last week’s loss to Minnesota but the same problems on the offensive line and a lack of offensive skill players leaves them with little chance of seeing the light in Happy Valley. Watch how Syracuse’s defensive line plays against the fifth-ranked team in the country, especially pro prospect Arthur Jones and the new kid on the block, true freshman Brandon Sharpe. If they are able to hang around in this one, it will be the Orange’s defense that allows them to do so.

Pittsburgh 32, Buffalo 14: The match-up between Buffalo wide-out Naaman Roosevelt and Pittsburgh’s Aaron Berry will be more compelling then the actual game. Last season Roosevelt finished with more receptions than Michael Crabtree, more yards than Jeremy Maclin, and more touchdowns than Marshawn Gilyard. This will be a great battle between two pro prospects. Player Spotlight: With Jonathan Baldwin’s size, how can he not have a big game in Buffalo?

South Florida 28, Western Kentucky 7: The Hilltoppers are currently on a nine-game losing streak and haven’t defeated a FBS school since 2007. The Bulls could drop the ball, look ahead, or not show up and still win this week. Freshman Watch: Lindsey Lamar is a speedy all-purpose back who sees action both as a running back and receiver. A breakout game versus Western Kentucky is not out of the question.

Cincinnati 64, SE Missouri State 14: And you thought Cincinnati looked good last week? Yikes, this one will get ugly.

Rutgers 38, Howard 7: This is a good chance for Rutgers to get last week’s loss out of their heads and out of the minds of the Scarlet Knights faithful. A blowout win is always the best way to turn the page. True freshman quarterback Tom Savage makes his debut as a starter.

Last Week’s Record: 7-0 (kind of, I had Cincinnati only winning by three)

Photos Courtesy of WVU Sports Communication

College Football Insiders Preview: Big East

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - Big East Insider

It may not possess the talent pool of the SEC, school recognition of the Big Ten, or National Championship contenders of the Big 12, but the Big East isn’t the cream-puff conference that many in the college football world believe them to be. Whether it’s the rapidly developing programs, the top of the line post-season record, or recent success in its BCS appearances, the Big East has established itself as a football conference to be reckoned with. The competitiveness and depth of the league has made for an exciting conference race down the stretch each year, and 2009 should be no different.

The Favorites: South Florida & West Virginia: This season, a legitimate case can be made for five different teams winning the conference. But when the two deepest and most athletic teams meet in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on October 30th, it should determine who wins the conference title. Losing Pat White is more than just a setback for West Virginia—not only did they lose their leading passer, scorer, and the two-time Offensive Conference Player of the Year (2007, 2006), they lost the face of the program and the undisputed team leader. The good thing is that White’s former backup, Jarrett Brown, has not only won both games he started in his career, but has never a lost a game in which he entered with the lead. Even though the senior doesn’t bring the security Pat White did at quarterback, he does instill some confidence because of his mobility, which makes him a more than capable fit in West Virginia’s system. Running back Noel Devine put together a sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,289 yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Between his big play ability and the athleticism of returning wide receivers Alric Arnett and Jock Sanders, West Virginia has the offensive firepower to win a conference title. The Mountaineers also return six starters from a defense that held opponents to only 17.0 points a game, the best in the conference led by a strong defensive line. South Florida has captured the attention of the nation for two consecutive seasons by breaking into the top 10 in the polls. However they haven’t been able to maintain that momentum past mid-October, collapsing down the stretch each time including losing four of their last five in 2008. What will it take this year for the Bulls to break free from this pattern of feeling, but not overcoming the pressure? Discipline, discipline, discipline. From being the most penalized (111) team in the league to the ill-advised throws made by Matt Grothe, South Florida has given away games and wasted red-zone opportunities far too often in recent seasons. The key again this year offensively rests on the shoulders of Grothe, who must curb his interceptions (18 touchdowns, 14 interceptions in 2009). His mobility and arm strength make him both a Unitas Award and Big East POY candidate. Helping Grothe is an athletic group of running backs (led by Mike Ford) and wide outs (Jessie Hester, Dontavia Bogan, A.J. Love and Carlton Mitchell). The defense contains star athletes, again led by defensive end George Selvie, the conference sack leader in 2007, as well as defensive backs Jerome Murphy and Nate Allen.

The Contenders: Cincinnati & Pittsburgh: Last year’s champion Cincinnati brings back what might be the most proven quarterback in the conference, (Tony Pike), the top wide-receiver (Mardy Gilyard) and a solid rushing tandem (John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey). However, on the other side other ball, the Bearcats only return one starter and are very unproven at linebacker. Pittsburgh must be mentioned as one of the candidates to win to the conference because of a returning defense that was outstanding in the second-half of last season. Led by junior defensive end Greg Romeus, who has the most sacks of any returning player in the conference (he finished third in 2008), and second-team All Big East cornerback Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh returns seven defensive starters. But the quarterback play last year for the Panthers was simply awful. Both quarterbacks Bill Stull and Pat Bostick are sure to make it difficult for the Panthers to win games against tough defenses and after losing superstar half-back LeSean McCoy, they may have to rely too much on freshman running backs Dion Lewis and Chris Burns for offensive punch.

The Sleeper: Rutgers: If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that the Scarlet Knights have an offensive line that can bring them to the promised land in Miami (site of the Orange Bowl). Returning all five starters from last season, Anthony Davis leads a colossal front-five that will undoubtedly give running backs Kordell Young, Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek the space they need for a strong ground attack. What Rutgers does lose is their quarterback Mike Teel and stud wide-receiver Kenny Britt, as well as speedster Tiquan Underwood. They do return Tim Brown who caught 27 balls for 565 yards, and will rely on highly touted recruiting classes of the past two years. The Knights may not have the meat and potatoes front like West Virginia, or the talented South Florida secondary, but they do return spectacular tackling linebacker Ryan D’Imperio and very solid cornerback Devin McCourty on defense. In such a compact conference, the schedule for Rutgers works heavily in their favor. Not only do they play four conference home games, which only half the teams in the league do, but by far their toughest conference games are at home. If they are in the driver’s seat down the stretch, home field advantage in games versus South Florida and West Virginia late in the season could be enough to squeeze them into the Orange Bowl.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati) vs. QB Matt Grothe (South Florida) vs. RB Noel Devine (West Virginia): Bearcat quarterback Tony Pike threw for 2,407 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He is projected to surpass those numbers this year since he is expected to start from the get-go. Cincinnati’s offense scheme gives Pike the opportunity to put up some serious stats, and having the best wide receiver in the conference (Mardy Gilyard) doesn’t hurt either. Matt Grothe’s mobility and cannon arm are sure to put up top passing/rushing numbers in the conference. If he keeps his interceptions to a minimum and his Bulls are competing for a Big East title, don’t be surprised if Grothe becomes the favorite for the award. Noel Devine’s sophomore season wasn’t a slump, but seemed a bit that way because the expectations were so high. With Pat White gone, look for offensive attention to shift toward Devine. His numbers last year were excellent as he averaged 99.2 yards a game. More touchdown conversions will equal a better chance for the offensive player award.

Honorable Mention: QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia), RB Victor Anderson (Louisville), RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut), RB Mike Ford (South Florida), WR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)

Defensive Player of the Year: DE George Selvie (South Florida) vs. DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh): When healthy, George Selvie is an All-American. His junior year was a bit if a disappointment as he had to deal with a foot injury and constant double-(and triple-) teams from opponents. But this year, with a more experienced line and a clean bill of health, Selvie is likely to return to his dominant form. His sack numbers should once again reach double-digits. Selvie isn’t just a tremendous pass rusher but relentless at stopping the run. Out of Pittsburgh is Greg Romeus who, like Selvie, is a strong pass rusher. The big man racked up 7.5 sacks last year and the second team all-conference selection is likely to have another strong season for the Panthers. He should compete with Selvie for the conference sack lead.

Honorable Mention: DT Arthur Jones (Syracuse), LB Scott Lutrus (Connecticut), LB Ryan D'Imperio (Rutgers), CB Aaron Berry (Pittsburgh), FS Nate Allen (South Florida)

Breakout Seasons: RB Delone Carter (Syracuse) & WR Jessie Hester (South Florida): Plagued with injures for the past two seasons, Delone Carter has barely seen the field since his freshman season in 2006. In his short career, Carter was able to raise eyebrows in upstate New York despite a lack of touches and a less than impressive offensive line. In the eight games that he was the lead ball carrier as a freshman, Carter rushed for 664 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He’s shown a nose for the first down marker and, occasionally, the ability to take over drives. With an improving O-Line and a new offensive scheme, don’t be surprised to see Carter among the conference leaders in yards and touchdowns. This could be the year the Bulls get that complete season from a wide-out as senior Jessie Hester returns as the team’s leader in receptions (54) and yards (579). Hester is a skillful player and came along very nicely down the stretch while the rest of the team struggled. In the past, USF has mixed and matched their pass targets so much that it has been difficult for one player to break out…that will change this season.

Best Pro Prospect: Arthur Jones, Syracuse: He isn’t Warren Sapp. He isn’t Kevin Williams. He isn’t Tommie Harris. He’s just Art Jones, which is pretty darn good. It is difficult to compare the 291-pound defensive tackle to past greats at his position. He isn’t the widest, but plugs in holes. He isn’t the fastest, but finds a way to catch runners up-field. He isn’t the most explosive, but constantly disrupts the quarterback. Jones is constantly making an impact when he is on the field, and his tackling skills will have him playing football at the next level. The fifth-year senior gives opposing quarterbacks fits, and he’s also an aggressive run stopper, one who recorded a total of 20.5 tackles for a loss in his past two seasons despite being the main focus of the opposing offensive line each week. But what makes Jones such a valuable prospect is his versatility. He can be a pass rushing tackle in a 4-3 or a more focused run stopper—he has tremendous discipline and is scarcely out of position. His combination of quickness and stoutness gives him the ability to perhaps play the outside in a 3-4 scheme. Either way, Jones will find a spot on an NFL team and make an impact. He is coming off shoulder surgery, but coaches have stated that his rehab has gone splendidly. If there is a reason to watch any Syracuse football games this season, it’s to watch Jones thrive in the attacking defense the new coaching staff has implemented.

College Football Insiders’ Picks:

Conference Champion: South Florida: Winning out in a three-team tiebreaker and heading to the Orange Bowl for the first time in school history will be South Florida. Unlike season’s past, the Bulls will finally live up to all the pre-season hype. The system tweaking by newly hired offensive (Mike Canales) and defensive coordinators (David Blackwell/Joe Tresey) will make the difference in 2009.

Offensive Player of the Year: Noel Devine, West Virginia: The explosive back will be among the leaders in all-purpose yards by the season’s end. Look for him to vastly improve his touchdown mark of four from a year ago.

Defensive Player of the Year: George Selvie, South Florida: George Selvie looks to become only the second Big East player to win two defensive player of the year awards (Corey Moore of Virginia Tech won in 1998 & 1999). If it wasn’t for injures Selvie might be in a NFL camp right now. Needless to say, he is a pro prospect that will flourish in his senior campaign.

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communication, University of Pittsburgh, USF Athletics Communications

LIVE! CFI Radio: THE TAILGATE Show

THE TAILGATE SHOW - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2008

***Click to Listen to THE TAILGATE Show***

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EASTERN

Game of the Week:
#2 Oklahoma @ #9 Oklahoma St.

Join College Football Insiders Co-Founder Daniel Mogollon every Friday. Special Guests Auburn CB JERRAUD POWERS, BC WR BRANDON ROBINSON, Syracuse DT ARTHUR JONES, OU alum DARI NOWKHAH of ESPN & BILL HAISTEN of the Tulsa World, who covers Oklahoma St. football.

Photo Credit: Syracuse University Athletics

Big East Week in Review

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON -
BIG EAST INSIDER

The Mets are collapsing, the Yankees are fighting for third place and the Jets lost to the Pats...again. Now you can add the starts to Rutgers’ and Syracuse’s seasons to the list of how bad it is to be a sports fan in the New York/Jersey area. With a new movie premiere (The Express) and a renewed rivalry, the spotlight shined on Syracuse and it didn't look good.

The Orange took on Penn State this week in a game that junior defensive tackle Arthur Jones said, “is the biggest of our season, so far”.

On the second play of the game, Jones recovered a fumble in Penn State territory. Syracuse then returned the favor, giving the ball back when tailback Curtis Brinkley couldn't field a backward pass from Cameron Dantley. On the very next play, PSU’s Darryl Clark hit receiver Jordan Norwood for a 55-yard touchdown across the middle and the Nittany Lions never looked back.

Norwood finished the game with five receptions for 113 yards. He and fellow wide out Deon Butler caught two first half touchdowns. Butler snagged seven passes for 110 yards. Quarterbacks Clark and Pat Devlin shared a lot of the snaps, and both threw for over 100 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Syracuse, who relies on their running game's productivity, was only able to muster up 49 total rushing yards. Their passing game was non-existent and the Orange only converted two of seventeen third downs. The woes continued for beleaguered coach, Greg Robinson, who looked more frustrated and befuddled than ever in the 55-13 loss.

On a side note, the Carrier Dome faithful brutally booed Penn State and Joe Paterno for running up the score in the second quarter. Up 35-0 with 45 seconds left in the half, Penn State used their timeouts to stop the clock to get the ball back for another score. The timeouts were a questionable decision and in fact, Penn State fumbled the punt and gave Syracuse the ball with great field position. Because the Orange cannot do anything right, the teams ended up swapping field goals.

Rutgers was beaten on the big play multiple times in their 44-12 loss to North Carolina—their defensive backs are still trying to find where Brandon Tate is lined up. The Scarlet Knight’s quarterback, Ryan Teel, threw three interceptions and was ineffective all night, failing to convert on any third downs the entire game. With a performance like that, Rutgers had little chance to win. T.J Yates looked dominant at times, throwing for 221 yards and three touchdown passes. Rutgers’ third quarter resembled something from the pre-Greg Schiano era. The Scarlet Knights are desperate for a victory this week at Navy.

The boys from the “Constitution State” were the tri-state saviors. Connecticut’s tailback Donald Brown is off to a hot start, making himself a top candidate for Big East Player of the Year. In UConn's 49-10 destruction of Virginia, Brown led all ball carriers with 206 yards and three touchdowns. Brown's 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his eighth of the season, ranking him second in the nation, one behind Michigan State's Javon Ringer. The junior tailback was the star of the game, rushing for 10.3 yards a carry and snagging five passes for 32 yards.

The Huskies dominated from the outset, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions. UConn signal caller Tyler Lorenzen was very efficient, completing 13 of his 15 passes, while the Huskies’ defense shut down the run from the beginning and was able to force two interceptions. With last week's escape at Temple and this week’s blowout over Virginia, Connecticut is 3-0 and quietly have become a contender to win the conference. With a home game versus Baylor and three straight road games, keep Connecticut and Donald Brown on your radar and see if they can make a major push.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS RADIO: BIG EAST PREVIEW

Jam-packed show for all you Big East die-hards & college football fans! You will not want to miss our Big East Preview Show. Will anyone challenge the Mountaineers? Can Rutgers rebound? Does Dave Wannstedt finally lead Pittsburgh to a bowl game? Hosts Rodney Towe & Daniel Mogollon answer your question and makes predictions.

Special Guest Appearances Include:
* Syracuse stud defensive tackle Arthur Jones who recorded 17.5 tackles for a loss as a sophomore
* FoxSports.com Richard Cirminiello joins us to provide expert analysis
* College Football Insiders Analyst Brian Vornberg highlights impact freshman

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