Big Ten - Week 2 Preview

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

USC @ Ohio St. -
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Notre Dame @ Michigan - Click to Read Preview

Central Michigan at Michigan State: Quarterback Dan LeFevour (18-for-31, 108 yards, one interception) was abysmal as the Chippewas lost to Arizona, 19-6. Watch him try to get back to potential while he squares off against the Spartans’ quarterbacking duo, Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins. This will be a better barometer of the Spartans’ defense as well.
MSU 31, CMU 9

Syracuse at Penn State: Constant disrupter defensive tackle Jared Odrick was certainly the standout last week for Penn State, with the silver going to Daryll Clark (29-for-40, 355 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) and the bronze to Derick Moye, who stepped up big in the receiving corps (6 catches, 138 yards, touchdown). Look for much-improved run blocking this week (they better!) and the front seven forcing Syracuse’s Greg Paulus to make bounce passes through his earhole.
Penn State 37, Syracuse 9

Iowa at Iowa State: Which is worse: last week against FCS Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes 1) were outgained 354 to 329 in total yards, 2) gave up 270 yards passing, 3) managed only 87 yards rushing, or 4) needed two blocked field goals to steal the win at home? That defense better more inspired, and the Hawkeyes must find a patchwork solution to their vacant rushing attack.
(Only because Iowa can’t start with an almost loss and then a loss)
Iowa 20, Iowa State 17

Purdue at Oregon: Do I dare set-up for the upset of the week? Disarray in Eugene, the loss of their starting running back for the season, and Purdue looking very strong out of the gate (52-31 over Toledo)? No. Purdue will not have an answer for quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in front of the Duck faithful.
Oregon 27, Purdue 14

Fresno State at Wisconsin: The home-and-home series returns to Camp Randall, where Northern Illinois almost stole one late from the Badgers. Call this one the Battle of the Bulge as Fresno State pounded the ball for 310 yards rushing and a 7.9 average versus the Zach Brown/John Clay tank brigade. If Clay healed this week, the Badgers will out-bruise in a close one.
Wisconsin 21, Fresno State 16

Air Force at Minnesota: The good–Adam Weber to Eric Decker looks like the passer-receiver combo of the conference. The bad–besides dedicating themselves to a physical rushing attack, the Gophers mustered only 112 yards rushing. The ugly–they almost lost to a team (Syracuse) with a point guard starting at quarterback and face an Air Force squad that put up 474 yards rushing last week. Home/Stadium-opening delight as Minnesota plays host outdoors to Air Force and squeaks by.
Minnesota 21, Air Force 20

Western Michigan at Indiana: Will the real Tim Hiller please stand up? Hopefully for the Hoosiers, he won’t do so this week. Will the real Ben Chappell please stand up? The Indiana quarterback threw for 326 yards on 27-for-36 passing and one touchdown. If that’s for real, then Indiana might be OK in the pistol.
Indiana 24, Western Michigan 21

Eastern Michigan at Northwestern: Coach Pat Fitzgerald has his team off to a good start as they easily handled Towson last week, 47-14. Eastern Michigan brings former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English back to the conference. English’s debut wasn’t pretty, as his squad dropped a 27-14 decision to Army. Pssst–Coach Fitz…run-the-football. Central Michigan’s defense gave away real estate in fire-sale fashion, giving up 300 yards to the Black Knights.
Northwestern 33, Eastern Michigan 10

Illinois St at Illinois: As I picked Illinois as a potential contender for the Big Ten title (which of course is still in hand notwithstanding the drubbing handed out by Missouri last week in St. Louis), I now stand on shaky ground in understanding what to expect this week. It’s against Illinois State, who gave up almost 400 yards to Eastern Illinois last week and managed 20 yards rushing? Oh…
Illinois 56, Illinois State 3

Photos Courtesy of Robert Barclay/Central Michigan, University of Minnesota Athletic Communications

Big East Week One Review

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

Best game: This one wins by default–considering the week consisted of mostly blowouts, Minnesota’s overtime victory over Syracuse was by far the most competitive contest. Greg Paulus played a sound game under center in his collegiate football debut, going 19-for-31 with a touchdown, a strike which found a wide-open Mike Williams late in the first quarter. More impressive was how he and the Syracuse team responded after the first snap of the game sailed over Paulus’ head and was recovered by Minnesota deep in Orange territory. Despite renewed spirit and improved play, the story didn’t have a happy ending: it was Paulus’ interception, thrown in the team’s first series in overtime, which led to the Gophers’ 23-20 victory. The turning point of the game was Syracuse’s inability to move the ball on offense after halftime. They did not score any points and only managed a total of 38 yards in their six second-half possessions.

Team of the week: It was about midway through the first quarter when Cincinnati emerged as the conference favorite once again. Getting ahead of ourselves? Perhaps, but the Bearcats looked that good in their manhandling of Rutgers in a 47-15 romp. Quarterback Tony Pike was perfect on the team’s first drive, leading them 81 yards down the field for a touchdown. He and the Cats never looked back. Pike finished the game with 362 yards passing and three touchdowns. The offense was running on all cylinders, from the line to the wide-outs. Most impressive were Marshwan Gilyard, who pulled down eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore D.J Woods, who posted a career-high 71 receiving yards and made an outstanding reaching grab to set up the team’s first touchdown. For a defense that had a ton of question marks, Cincinnati made a lot big plays against the run and picked off three Rutgers passes. Senior Aaron Webster had one of those interceptions and laid the hit of the week on Rutgers receiver Tim Brown. It’s way too early to crown anyone just yet, but Cincinnati couldn’t have started their quest in more impressive fashion.

Laying an egg: For Rutgers, the season opener was a chance to start off a promising season with a conference victory while they unveiled their newly-renovated stadium…but they were flat-out humiliated. The team looked unprepared and out-coached—on the opening drive the Scarlet Knights’ defense played like they had never seen a no-huddle offense before. The quarterback play was just awful and the offensive line, the unit that was supposed to be the most stable on the team, didn’t provide space for the running backs to shine. It was an all-around disaster.

Freshman Watch: Pittsburgh isn’t ready to anoint Dion Lewis the next LeSean McCoy just yet, although the 5’ 8” tailback surely looked like an all-conference player in week one, propelling the Panthers to a 38-3 victory over Youngstown State. On 20 carriers he rushed for 129 yards and his two touchdowns in the first half put the Penguins away early.

The one bright spot for Rutgers in week one was the play of freshman Mohamed Sano. The 6’ 2” receiver showed good hands and size and caught a couple of tough throws in traffic. The freshman from New Jersey finished with ten total catches for 101 yards. Sano also caught a two-point conversion thrown from fellow freshman, quarterback Tom Savage. This glimpse into the future of Rutgers’ offense was the lone positive in the game for the Knights.

Best player you never heard of: Last year, Connecticut defensive end Lindsey Witten was limited because the Huskies rotated their defensive ends. Now the team is relying on the senior to step up, and he didn’t disappoint in the team’s opener—he was a playmaker, recording two sacks and a safety in Connecticut’s 23-16 win. Expect him to be among the conference’s sack leaders by year’s end.

Photo Courtesy of the University of Cincinnati

Big East Week One Preview

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON

Week one in the Big East-on the slate are mostly pre-season games for the conference’s best, a new era begins for Syracuse, and two conference contenders face off on Monday in an early season battle.

Minnesota 31, Syracuse 21

Head Coach Doug Marrone and quarterback Greg Paulus make their Syracuse debuts. With the spotlight on the Carrier Dome for probably the only time this season, expect a strong effort from the Orange. Unfortunately their offensive line isn’t looking strong and if they get into a shoot-out versus Gopher quarterback Adam Weber, the ‘Cuse are in trouble. Player Spotlight: When Mike Holmes played cornerback he showed skills playing the ball as well athleticism, but he was pushed around by bigger receivers. The speedy junior makes his first start at free-safety for the Orange.

Connecticut 35, Ohio 14

Sure, opening the year on the road is always tough but there is no upset alert here. Ohio doesn’t have the athletes to win this game and aren’t exactly an intimidating MAC team. The Huskies are breaking in a new quarterback and running back, so count on a strong UConn defense to lead the way to victory. Head Coach Randy Edsall has yet to lose versus a MAC opponent (7-0).

South Florida 51, Wofford 10

The Bulls usually start of the season strong, lighting up the scoreboard against lower-level competition. It’s important that the USF receivers display ability and execution as they are a young group. Matt Grothe is likely to outscore Wofford and their wacky formations by himself—this game won’t be close.

Louisville 41, Indiana State 21

This is a good game for the quarterbacks to get in sync before the schedule gets tough for the Cardinals. Don't be surprised to see more than one quarterback, with Justin Burke getting the starting nod. Player Spotlight: Cards wide receiver Doug Beaumont is going to have a big opener—consider it the opening act for his break-out season.

Pittsburgh 28, Youngstown State 3

Anything but a blowout for Pittsburgh would be a disappointment. The Panthers are debuting two new top freshman tailbacks, Dion Lewis and Ray Graham, and both have been raved about all summer. But it’s their defense that gives this group of Penguins no chance in Pittsburgh.

West Virginia 32, Liberty 14

It might as well be the New York Liberty visiting Mountaineer Stadium—this is nothing more than a tune-up for the Mountaineers’ rematch versus East Carolina next week. Jarrett Brown begins his campaign as the new leader at WVU.

Cincinnati 26, Rutgers 23

Are you ready for some football? That’s right, some Monday Afternoon Football—Big East style. Cincinnati begins their quest to defend the conference crown but it won’t be an easy task, especially for a season opener. They’ll be relying on a completely new defense and there’s no telling how they’ll respond in a nasty environment. The Scarlet Knights offense is likely to start out slowly, breaking in a new quarterback, but the points will come—they have skill players. But in the end, it will be Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard leading the Bearcats’ late rally.

Photos Courtesy of WVU Sports Communication & UConn Athletic Communications

'CUSE HIRES NFL ASSISTANT

Syracuse has hired New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone as its next head coach, Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting. Ralph Mancini and Ross Mandel of the NFL Draft Bible give their take:

Mancini's Take: Marrone has always been a highly-regarded assistant coach both as an offensive-line coach for the Jets and as an offensive coordinator for the Saints. Marrone, of course, wasn't actually calling the plays in 'Nawlins, but the fact that he's worked directly under a quality offensive mind like Sean Payton is a big plus. You can be sure the new coach will bring a more wide-open attack to Syracuse, which will be well suited to the Carrier Dome. To be ultimately successful, Marrone has to establish relationships with northeast recruits, which is something that former head man, Greg Robinson, failed miserably in doing.

Mandel's Take: Syracuse is lucky they found someone to take the job, much less a guy who actually wanted it. Yes, it's a positive that Marrone has been working for the offensive mind of Sean Payton...Orange fans can only hope his play calling is better than his former boss's. Marrone went to SU, and has been around the block as an assistant--he even had a cup of coffee with the Jets as an assistant in the early 2000s--but he's never been a head coach and to me, his hire is a matter of beggars not being choosers. Syracuse couldn't get a bigger name, nor could they get someone with prior experience so they settled for a rah-rah alum. That being said, there's no way Marrone can be anything but an improvement over Robinson, who was nothing less than a total disaster.

Photo Credit: Syracuse University Athletics

LISTEN NOW! CFI Radio: CFI Weekly

CFI WEEKLY - MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2008

The latest on the BCS, what a playoff mess might look like, the worst year ever in Michigan, the worst four years ever at Syracuse and a welcome back to the Miami Hurricanes. Plus a look back at Week 12 and ahead to Week 13.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Head Coach Butch Jones, Central Michigan
Christopher Mogollon, Big East Insider
(On Location from Syrcause on the
Greg Robinson Firing)
Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald

Click to Listen to Monday's Show

Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

This Date in College Football History

Nov. 17, 1956: At Archbold Stadium, Syracuse beats Colgate 61-7. Orange halfback Jim Brown (1995 College Football Hall of Fame inductee) sets an NCAA-record for points by an individual player in a single game by scoring six touchdowns and kicking seven extra points for 43 points.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Senior Spotlight: FB Tony Fiammetta, Syracuse

A jack-of-all-trades, Fiammetta is a versatile weapon who can play fullback, H-Back and even a little tight end. The senior isn’t known for rushing the football – he had just three carries as a junior and four so far this season – but is an invaluable member of the Syracuse offensive attack. Under new offensive coordinator Mitch Browning, the Orange have been productive running the football. Fiammetta may not be the classic in-the-box, battering ram-type of lead blocker, but he gets the job done and possesses more athleticism than the average fullback. Tailback Curtis Brinkley is having a breakout season – his 1,060 yards rank second in the Big East – and Fiammetta has played a major role, clearing many a path for him. While much of his production does not make it into the stat sheet, Fiammetta has recorded 14 receptions this season, including his first career touchdown two weeks ago in the team’s 28-21 upset over the Louisville Cardinals in the Carrier Dome.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Syracuse University Athletics)

On Location: Rutgers 35, Syracuse 17

By JOHN GARRETT - RUTGERS BEAT REPORTER

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter to Syracuse, Rutgers’ hopes of a bowl bid were looking as bleak as the rainy New Jersey sky.
But the resurgent Scarlet Knights settled down, started moving the ball, and forgot about the two big plays that burned them early.

Rutgers (4-5, 3-2 in Big East play) quickly capitalized when quarterback Mike Teel found Tiquan Underwood for a 5-yard TD pass with 9:29 remaining in the second quarter to make the score 14-7. With the Knights still trailing, Teel stepped up in veteran fashion, going 9-for-12 after an early interception, and connected with Kenny Britt for a 16-yard touchdown with 4:54 to go in the half.

“We were down 14-0 and not a lot of good things were happening,” head coach Greg Schiano said. “We had a lot to overcome. We didn’t feel like today was particularly our day. We just needed to keep going.

“What happens to football players and coaches is you get a little anxious. There is no play that scores 14 points; you can only go one-at-a-time. We needed to do that, it’s a long game, so it’s easy to lose sight of that when you fall behind.”

After Britt’s score, Rutgers now had a clean slate with the game knotted at 14 and momentum now on their side.

The Knights’ defense held Curtis Brinkley to 8 yards on five carries in the first half, and eventually snapped his streak of five straight 100-yard rushing games.
Other than the two early plays for the Orange – an 82-yard touchdown run by Doug Houge, and a Da’Mon Merkerson recovery of a blocked punt in the end zone – Syracuse (2-7, 1-4 in Big East play) found themselves limited to 168 total yards, with only 35 coming via the passing game. Brinkley ended his day with 67 yards on 18 carries, while quarterback Cameron Dantley went 3-of-12 passing for 19 yards before leaving in the third quarter due to a leg injury.

Mission accomplished for the Knights’ defense.

Early in the third quarter, defensive back Zaire Kitchen sacked Dantley and forced a fumble for the second week in a row. After a Ryan D’Imperio recovery, the offense, which still had some unfinished business, went right to work.

Teel, who ended his day 26-for-36 throwing the football, with 276 yards through the air, hit Dennis Campbell to give the Knights the ball at the 1-yard line. After the great field position Kordell Young, who was named Big East Offensive player of the Week after finishing with 143-yards rushing, punched it in for the go-ahead score as Rutgers went up 21-14.

“I was happy today that we ran the football better,” Schiano said. “There were times in that game… the ball was wet, it was raining pretty hard, the wet football just scares you out of doing some things. So the fact that we were able to run it better is a positive.”

Joe Martinek sealed the deal for Rutgers when he lined up in – what would a football game be these days without it – Wildcat formation and took the direct snap 45-yards down the sideline, increasing the lead to 28-14.

After another Teel-to-Underwood connection in the fourth quarter made the score 35-17, the Knights were thinking about South Florida, not only for the climate change, but as their next opponent.

Photo Credit: Tom Ciszak, Rutgers Athletics

On Location: Syracuse 28, Louisville 21

SYRACUSE, NY – On Legends Day at the Carrier Dome, it was Orange running back Curtis Brinkley who stole the show, rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown in Syracuse’s surprising 28-21 victory over Louisville. Brinkley set the Syracuse single-season record by rushing for over 100-yards in five consecutive games. The senior averaged 5.0 yards per carry and was exuberant after his team’s win. Brinkley rushed for 166 yards, giving him 899 yards on the season, fourth in the conference. He has become tremendous in short yardage situations, and his leap over the pile knotted the score at seven in the first quarter. Brinkley took to the air twice in critical spots for the Orange—once for a touchdown and another for a key first down as they were in unfamiliar territory, milking the clock late in the game.

“One thing I really like about Brinkley is how he responds to first contact,” said Don McPherson, who was honored at the Carrier Dome for being a member of the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2008. “He really does explode through tackles. You can’t arm-tackle him to bring him down and he changes directions off of tackles as well.”

The Syracuse offensive line had arguably their best game of the season. Led by guard Ryan Durand, the unit was strong throughout the game as the offense was able to run the ball at will, posting a total of 207 rushing yards. Freshman Antwan Bailey rushed for his first career touchdown on a 39-yard scoring scamper in the second quarter.

Syracuse quarterback Cameron Dantley was effective enough, throwing for two touchdowns, both off of play action. On his first touchdown pass, Dantley was able to show off his arm strength, hitting wide out Da’Mon Merkerson for a 38-yard touchdown. Senior fullback Tony Fiammetta caught his first touchdown pass of his career late in the fourth quarter to give the Orange a two-touchdown cushion. Fiametta also delivered a key block on a screen pass to Doug Hogue that went for 39 yards.

“Fiametta has proven with his play (he is one of the top fullbacks). If you want to know how good a fullback is, you really have to watch him, because they’ll make blocks on plays where you don’t really know how important he was,” McPherson said of the Syracuse fullback. “He’s almost like the sixth or seventh lineman when you count the tight end.”

The Louisville offense was less than impressive. Although he was the victim of several dropped passes, Hunter Cantwell was shaky all night. He finished with 214 yards but struggled on third downs. The Cardinals missed a big opportunity when wide receiver Troy Pascley dropped a pass that would have easily led to a score. Instead, Louisville had to punt the ball.

It looked like the Cardinals had caught a break when Syracuse return man Bruce Williams muffed a punt that was recovered by Louisville. However, the Cardinals gave the ball right back when Syracuse defensive end Jared Kimmel forced a fumble. Louisville finished the game with two turnovers and eight penalties that resulted in a loss of 81 yards.

The Orange must have headman Steve Kragthorpe’s number—this is the second straight year that Syracuse has defeated Louisville.

The performance on Saturday may not have been a flashback to the 1987 season when McPherson led the then Orangemen to an 11-0-1 season. McPherson, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy, won both the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Award that season. The win did mark Syracuse’s first conference home win since 2006 against Connecticut.

Photo Credit: Syracuse University Athletics

Inside the Big East - Week Eight

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON -
BIG EAST INSIDER

Both Louisville and South Florida took care of business as home this week.

No. 19 South Florida defeated Syracuse 45-13 despite a rough first half. South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe was able to orchestrate drives all game with his arm and legs, finishing with 248 yards passing and three total touchdowns. His two touchdown passes to sophomore wide receiver A.J. Love and senior Taurus Johnson in the third quarter put the game away. Two more Bulls, Carlton Mitchell and Benjamin Williams, were standouts—each caught three balls for over 60 yards.

Grothe rushed for a season high 72 yards and added his third rushing touchdown of the year. The Bulls’ offense was highly efficient in the second half and their offensive line was dominant, allowing very little pressure from the Syracuse D-Line.

With this loss, the Syracuse Orange have clinched their fourth straight non-winning season. The SU offense was able to run the ball very well in the first half, as running back Curtis Brinkley finished with 112 yards and two touchdowns. This was the fourth straight 100-yard game for Brinkley. But in the second half, the Syracuse offense was inept, unable to convert a single first down in the fourth quarter and finishing with seven total yards in the second half. Quarterback Cameron Dantley was less than impressive, finishing the game with only 129 yards passing, but with limited protection it was difficult for the junior to establish any rhythm.

Now that Syracuse is 1-6 the only news that awaits Orange fans is when Coach Greg Robinson will be fired. With this loss, Robinson falls to 2-22 in Big East games.

Louisville’s running game dominated in their 42-23 victory over Middle Tennessee State. After a lackluster first half, the Cardinals broke out in the second on the shoulders of running backs Victor Anderson and Brock Bolen. The freshman Anderson rushed for 161 yards including a career high 88-yard touchdown run. This was the freshman’s third 100-yard game of the year. Bolen was even stronger around the goal line, as the short-yardage back rushed for three touchdowns. Quarterback Hunter Cantwell came out throwing but was not very successful--his two interceptions kept MTSU around until the third quarter.

The Cardinals defense took over after halftime. They allowed a total of -11 yards on Middle Tennessee State’s first five possessions of the second half. Linebacker Chris Campa led all Cardinals with seven tackles.

No. 23 Pittsburgh crushed Navy, 42-21, and extended their winning steak to five. The Panthers’ offense was rolling from the first snap, scoring 35 points in the first half. Running back LeSean McCoy continued to run the ball well, racking up a season high 156 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore star averaged 8.7 yards a carry and caught two balls for 46 yards. Quarterback Bill Stull did throw two interceptions but for the most part, he was efficient and his 255 yards passing were nearly a season high. Wide receiver Jonathon Baldwin has become a playmaker for the Panthers. The freshman caught three balls including a 60-yard bomb late in the game, and his 101 yards receiving yards were a career high. But it was the defense that was most impressive--the Navy offense finished with 194 rushing yards, 119 yards less than their season average.

Q & A: Floyd Little, Syracuse

Floyd Little played for Syracuse University from 1964-66, when he was a three-time All American.

CFI: Tell us about your decision to go to Syracuse.

LITTLE: Well, it wasn't a difficult decision having the opportunity to meet Ernie Davis for the first time in person, sit down in your living room and chat with your sisters and your mom and talk about the success he's had as a Heisman winner, number one draft choice for Cleveland and signing a long-term (pro) contract and it could happen to you. That's pretty simple.

CFI: So Ernie played a big role in you becoming an Orangeman?

LITTLE: Yeah he was a real tremendous influence. I had been recruited by 46 other colleges and one guy that recruited me was General McCarthy for the Army. When Ernie came in and sat down with me for five minutes, I was convinced.

CFI: What did it mean to you and to America when he won the Heisman trophy?

LITTLE: I think being the first African American to win the Heisman trophy when you didn't have the fanfare that you have today. They have already decided who they thought would be the Heisman winner before the season started and back in those days, an African American wasn't even considered. So for Ernie to win the Heisman trophy when all the guys from Army, Navy and Notre Dame were winning every year…it's an accomplishment that is significant.

CFI: Growing up as a kid, who was your childhood idol?

LITTLE: Jim Brown was Ernie's idol and mine. Everybody that played running back was a Jim Brown fan. We all were Cleveland Brown fans and Jim Brown was the guy that really brought football into our living room. We all watched him, wanted to know how Jim Brown did. Both Ernie and I were Jim Brown fans.

CFI: What did wearing the number 44 mean?

LITTLE: In my freshman year we played six games on the freshman schedule and we were undefeated and people started comparing me to Ernie. “We have another Ernie Davis. We have another Jim Brown,” people said. My sophomore year when we played against Kansas and Gale Sayers' team came to town, I scored five touchdowns everybody starts screaming, “We have another Ernie Davis, we have another Jim Brown”. Then, and only then, did I notice that I was being compared with two great athletes from Syracuse and now I had to hold up my end of the deal and continue to perform at a high level.

CFI: Do you think it's a good thing they retired the number 44 or did you prefer the tradition of passing it along?

LITTLE: I have mixed emotions, because I had to help recruit my replacement, Michael Owens, who came on as a 44 and then after him Rob Conrad. Then they thought it was time to retire it for good, but they used it to recruit great players. I had mixed emotions because I enjoyed having the opportunity to pass it on, but you can't do that today. Yeah, they recruit people to continue the tradition, so yes I had mixed emotions. But the fact that it has been retired now for going on three years…I'm glad to go back to the Dome and see that number 44 hanging up in the rafters.

CFI: Tell us about the movie THE EXPRESS (pictured), the Ernie Davis story.

LITTLE: It's unbelievable. I mean, during the premiere everyone stood up and clapped. It is just unbelievable.

For more on the Ernie Davis Story, in theatres now; visit http://www.theexpressmovie.com/

Big East Preview - Week 5

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

In their first four games the Syracuse defense hasn't proven they can stop anyone, even allowing 21 points and 293 passing yards last week versus Northeastern. They have had trouble tackling, putting pressure on the quarterback and defending on passing downs. This week the Panthers look to start off conference play with a victory in the Carrier Dome—with good receivers and a star running back they shouldn't have too much trouble. LeSean McCoy has not had a break out game yet but still ranks fourth in the conference with 242 yards. Pittsburgh’s backup tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling rushed for 221 yards last time he played in the Carrier Dome in 2006. Syracuse cornerbacks Mike Holmes, Nico Scott and Da'Mon Merkerson have been very shaky and still learning the position, so expect Pittsburgh receivers Oderick Turner and Derek Kinder to be open and put up a lot of receiving yards. The Syracuse rushing attack of Curtis Brinkley, Delone Carter and Doug Houge should be able to carry on the success from last week. Brinkley, who is second in the conference in yards, is healthy and having himself a great senior season. If the Orange can run the ball early it will set up the play action pass and allow quarterback Cameron Dantley to roll out, which is when he is most effective. This week Syracuse AD Darryl Gross stated this week that he has not seen any obvious progress from the football team since coach Greg Robinson has taken over—it will be interesting to see if this has any effect on how the ‘Cuse come out and play.

Both West Virginia and Rutgers are on losing steaks and have must win games on Saturday at home. West Virginia has lost two-in-a-row and look to get a victory in Morgantown versus rival Marshall. It is no secret the Mountaineers’ rushing attack is their bread and butter, Quarterback Pat White and running back Noel Devine should be able to run all over their Conference USA opponent. Last season when these instate rivals matched up White rushed for 125 yards and threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Devine touched the ball five times and rushed for 76 yards with two touchdowns. It will be important for West Virginia to improve in their efficiency, they were pitiful on third downs in their losses at East Carolina and Colorado. Rutgers welcomes Morgan State with open arms, desperate for a win. The winless Knights gave the ball to their freshman tailback Jourdan Brooks last week and will do the same on Saturday. If Rutgers needs a score they should not have trouble passing the ball, Morgan State just does not have the ability to shut down Kenny Britt, who ranks third in the conference with 21 receptions or Tiquan Underwood. What to watch for is the defensive shuffling by Rutgers and how the fans will react to Quarterback Mike Teel. Head Coach Greg Schiano said he has been very disappointed with his defense and will try different players and looks in this game. Teel was caught on camera last week punching a teammate and is off to a bad start with one touchdown and six interceptions, if he and offense are off to a bad start they will hear it from the Rutgers faithful. Nevertheless, both West Virginia and Rutgers will probably get their much needed victories before meeting up next week in Morgantown.

South Florida and Cincinnati are favorites to win on the road this week but will be tested in their respected match-ups. The USF Bulls had scares on the road already this season and will face off at North Carolina State, who are fresh off of their overtime upset of East Carolina. When South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe plays well his team usually wins, Grothe leads the conference in passing yards and touchdown passes despite throwing none last week. Expect South Florida to throw the ball and wide out Taurus Johnson to have a bounce back game. Because of an injury to Russell Wilson, Harrison Beck will start at quarterback for the Wolfpack. Beck was not effective in his last two games against Clemson and East Carolina. Cincinnati will visit Akron at the Rubber Bowl this Saturday. Watch for how quarterback Tony Pike performs in his only second start. The Zips offense has been good led by quarterback Chris Jacquemain who has thrown for 960 yards and seven touchdowns in four games.

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.

Big East - Week One

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

Week One Standouts

Donald Brown, Connecticut: With junior Andre Dixon sidelined with an ankle injury, Donald Brown took the bulk of the carries in the Huskies 35-3 win over Hofstra. Dixon finished the game with 146 yards and four first half touchdowns. It was the seventh 100-yard game in Brown's career and his 23 carries were the fourth most he has ever registered in a game.

Dustin Grutza, Cincinnati: Grutza took his first snap in almost a year on Thursday night after losing his job to Ben Mauk. Grutza was efficient and made Bearcat fans forget about his past misfortunes with a four touchdown game. Grutza threw for 296 yards and completed 75% of his passes including a 47-yard completion to Marshwan Gilyard. Grutza also rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown in the 40-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Alric Arnett, West Virginia: Pat White started where he left off, throwing five touchdowns and rushing for 63 yards in the 48-21 win over Villanova. Two of those touchdown passes were caught by junior receiver Alric Arnett. West Virginia has lacked a big play receiver and with four catches for 70 yards, the speedster might be just what the Mountaineers are looking for. Arnett's two touchdown catches included one in traffic and a 34 yard over the shoulder grab.

South Florida Defense: The Bulls held Tennessee-Martin to a total of 97 yards in their 56-7 victory. South Florida's defense did not allow a single point (The Skyhawks scored their only touchdown on a fumble recovery) and recorded a total of eight tackles for a loss. Tennessee-Martin could not run or pass the ball, converting just one of fourteen third down conversions. Senior linebacker Tyrone Mckenzie led the team with five tackles and a sack. Sophomore linebacker Sabbath Joseph also recorded five tackles. George Selvie did not have a sack but was putting on pressure all day long.

Laying an egg

During the off season, Pittsburgh was the sexy selection of the conference. They were all over people's sleeper boards and even broke into the Coaches Poll at number 25. Their opener versus Bowling Green was going according to plan as Dave Wannstedt and his Panthers held a two touchdown lead midway through the second quarter. However, the story of the game quickly became Pittsburgh's turnovers and inability to rush the football--they were held to just 46 yards on the ground over the final three quarters. Star running back LeSean McCoy finished the game with 71 yards and a touchdown but was not able to break any big runs later in the game. Pittsburgh’s final five offensive possessions resulted in two fumbles, a missed field goal, a turnover on downs and an interception thrown by quarterback Billy Stull. The Panthers out-gained Bowling Green and Stull was moderately efficient, but Pittsburgh was just unable to recover from their three fumbles and Falcons quarterback Tyler Sheehan's rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. This is the first time Pittsburgh has ever lost an opener against a MAC school; not a great start to what was supposed to be a promising season.

The expectations for Syracuse this season were beyond low. Not only did everyone in college football have them slated to finish last in the conference, but the Orange were ranked in several magazines as the worst BCS school in the country. Syracuse's performance in the second half at Northwestern proved many of these projections correct. The first half between the two communications schools looked like an opener between two conference cellar-dwellers. But in the second half, the Wildcats took control of the ground and the game. Running Back Tyrell Sutton was able to run all over Syracuse finishing with 144 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. On defense the Orange looked lost and many times out of position. Senior strong safety A.J Brown finished the game with 11 tackles. Linebacker Derrell Smith played his first game at the position and finished with an interception and seven tackles. Syracuse's passing game was inept--no big plays or consistent completions while Andrew Robinson was held to only 103 yards through the air. With few playmakers and nearly no depth the Orange’s 30-10 loss is just the beginning of a long season in upstate New York.

Hunter Cantwell and Louisville didn't get the start they wanted, getting blown out 27-2 blowout against in-state rival Kentucky. Cantwell, ranked the 5th best senior quarterback prospect by the NFL Draft Bible, threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter and was held to only 152 yards in the game. To be fair, Cantwell was pressured for most of the game and didn't have much time to complete many big passes. Sophomore wideout Doug Beaumont showed some nice hands in the game, catching nine balls for 77 yards. Louisville had only one impressive drive which ended in a blocked field goal.

Photo Credit: University of South Florida

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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CFI: THE BIG EAST REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

THURSDAY NIGHT SCARE
Pat White's 50-yard touchdown run kept his team alive for a BCS game and himself alive in the race for the Heisman. After jumping out to an early lead, White's fumbles propelled Brian Brohm and Louisville to an erase a 17-point deficit and tie the game late in the fourth quarter. White started off sharp, throwing both his touchdown passes in the first quarter in crucial red zone opportunities. He finished with 181 yards passing and despite the fumbles White was excellent on the ground rushing for 147 yards. Steve Slaton was held in check finishing with only 60 yards rushing. Darius Reynaud caught six balls for a total of 79 yards including both first quarter touchdowns. Brohm finished the game throwing for 345 yards and two touchdown passes. He hooked up with Harry Douglas seven times for 98 yards and Mario Urrutia three times for 54 yards, including a touchdown. Gary Stripling didn't do much running the football but he led the team with eight receptions for 105 yards, and was a key contributor in setting up scores. Even though West Virginia allowed 345 passing yards, they did force four key turnovers. Senior defensive backs Eric Wicks and Antonio Lewis intercepted two of Brohm's passes to help give West Virginia a 38-31 win.

THE MAUK SHOW
It seems each Big East Cinderella loses their slipper every week, first it was South Florida and now it's the Huskies who fell as the victim. Cincinnati is one more Connecticut loss from controlling their own destiny to a BIG EAST title and a BCS bowl game. The Bearcats dominated this game and never gave the Huskies a chance. Ben Mauk was awesome throwing for three touchdowns and running for one. He finished the game with a total of 288 yards and contributed to every score in the 27-3 win. Dominick Goodman had his third 100-yard game putting up 127 yards on eight catches including a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The defense was dominant, holding the Huskies to a total of 22 rushing yards, their lowest total all year. Sophomore Andre Dixon was held to only 35 yards on 12 carries. D-lineman Adam Hoppel returned a huge interception inside Connecticut territory to set up a score.

BLOWOUT CITY
South Florida came into the Carrier Dome focused and won in blowout fashion 41-10 on parents weekend. Matt Grothe had a bounce back game throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, taking advantage of a slow defense rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown rushing. Overall the ground game of the Bulls could not be stopped. Freshman Mike Ford used his speed and strength to rush for a career high 134 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow freshman back Aston Samuels rushed for 101 yards on just two carries, his 75 yard run setup a Bulls score. Meanwhile the Syracuse running game was dreadful finishing with a total of 15 yards, embarrassing. The game started with a fumble by Max Suter and the Bulls never looked back. In Cameron Dantley's first career start, he threw for 276 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Mike Williams shined in the loss catching eight balls for 99 yards including the team’s only touchdown.

Army was no match for a Rutgers team desperate for a win. Ray Rice finished the game with 243 yards, a school record, and two touchdowns. This is Rice's fifth 100- yard performance in a row and seventh of the year, which is also a school record. The Knights were all about running the football, as they finished with a total of three completed passes for 42 yards. Freshman Mason Robinson rushed for a career high 82 yards. It did not help Army that they turned the ball over five times.

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communications

CFI: BLOW OUT CITY IN THE BIG EAST PART I & II

BY CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

September 9 (8:00 – ESPN2) * Rutgers 5-4 (2-3) @ Army 3-6 – This is a must win game for the Scarlet Knights after losing two straight conference games since their upset over South Florida. Army has been spanked three times in a row and in all three games their defense has given up at least 30 points. Rutgers should be able to pass the ball fairly easily, as Tiquan Underwood is likely to have another big game. The receiver leads the conference in receptions with 59 and has six games with a 100 yards receiving or more. He is with out a doubt a playmaker, having caught six touchdowns, which is tied for fourth in the conference. Sophomores Kenny Britt and Tim Brown are also dangerous speedsters. Britt has come along nicely this season catching 39 balls for 829 yards, including a career-high eight receptions in a loss to Connecticut last week. Army does not have much of an offense, they are ranked 116th in college football, and their season-high in points is 23 in a loss to Central Michigan.

Key Match-Up: Ray Rice vs. Army Run Defense – Rice leads the conference in rushing and is ranked eighth in the country, having racking up 1257 yards. He is a scoring machine, getting into the end zone 14 times this year, which ranks sixth in the country. Rice has six 100-yard games, including his 181-yard performance against South Florida. Army has been dreadful defending the run giving up 100-plus yards on the ground to every team they have played this year, which includes Rhode Island. Their most recent game was a joke allowing 437 yards and two touchdowns on the ground versus Air Force.


September 10 (12:00 – ESPN 360/Gameplan) * South Florida 6-3 (1-3) @ Syracuse 2-7 (1-3) – South Florida has a lot of frustration coming into this game losing three in a row and going from number two in the country to unranked, with emotional Jim Leavitt pumping up his troops, don't be surprised if this one is a blowout. Syracuse lost a very tough game last week at Pittsburgh and find themselves lost for points, as their offense is ranked 113th in the country averaging 16.6 points a game. The Orange are getting productivity from their wide receivers every game with sophomore Mike Williams leading in the team in touchdowns and ranking ninth in the conference with 37 receptions. Captain Taj Smith has racked up 607 yards so far this season averaging 18.4 yards a catch. Syracuse might play around with their quarterbacks, using both Andrew Robinson and Cameron Dantley to try to get as much offensive production as possible. Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins lead the conference in passes defended, making up a fierce secondary. Watch out for the pass rushers in this game, George Selvie leads the conference with 13.5. Last year’s leader in sacks, Jameel McClain, hasn't had the same success this year as last year, but can still be dangerous.

Key Match up: Matt Grothe vs. SU Rush Defense – Grothe leads the team in rushing yards with 625, averaging 4.3 yards a carry. He scores plenty using his feet with seven touchdowns. The problem for Syracuse is they have been unable to stop any team’s rushing attack, especially clubs with a running quarterback. This year against Washington, Illinois, and West Virginia, the SU run defense looked very slow and couldn't bring down the opposing team’s athletic signal caller. Grothe was great last year versus the 'Cuse, as the freshman threw for 364 yards and rushed for 45 more.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI: THE BIG EAST REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER J. MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER


TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: RUTGERS

After taking a 14-0 lead, Syracuse thought they a chance to pull off another upset victory, but a couple of Ray Rice runs and a blocked punt and the Orange were back to their losing ways. Rutgers moved the ball all game especially in the third quarter when they scored 17 points. Rice rushed for a season-high 196 yards and three touchdowns, adding four receptions for 29 yards. Mike Teel shook off an early interception by Ben Maljovec and finished the game throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Kevin Britt had a season-high six receptions and a career-high 176 yards. The punt block in the second quarter that led to a one-yard touchdown really turned the game over the Knights. It was nice to see the Orange actually have some sort of rushing game as the banged up Curtis Brinkley had a season-high as well, rushing for 98 yards and 6.1 yards per carry. As the fourth quarter started, Rutgers scored two quick touchdowns and took a 38-14 lead, which was the same score when the clocked reach zero. Senior tight end Jawad Nesheiwat had a great game catching a season-high four balls for 81 yards.

South Florida continued their undefeated season with a blowout victory over instate rival Central Florida 64-12. USF was so dominant, holding UCF to only 145 total yards, 2-for-15 on third downs and one touchdown, while forcing three turnovers. Matt Grothe bounced back with a much stronger performance throwing for 212 yards and rushing for 100 yards. Grothe rushed for a touchdown and threw one in the second quarter to put the game away, hitting Taurus Johnson for a nine-yard touchdown. Johnson had six receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Mike Ford was again a contributor rushing for 39 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.

WORST LOSS: PART I

Cincinnati was undefeated going into their rivalry game versus struggling Louisville but could not keep up with Brian Brohm and that Cardinal passing offense. Brohm put up tremendous numbers once again throwing for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Cincinnati took a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter when Brian Brohm led an 83-yard drive that ended on a touchdown reception by Patrick Carter to tie the game. The big play that gave the Cardinals the lead for good was a 51-yard catch by superstar Harry Douglas, which set up the three-yard touchdown run by Anthony Allen. The Louisville defense as usual gave up plenty of passing yards, and a total of 460 yards. Junior receiver Dominick Goodman had a season-high eleven catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, but it was not enough this week, as the Louisville defense forced two fumbles and two interceptions. Juniors Richard Raglin and Chris Vaughn were the culprits picking off a pass from Ben Mauk and Tony Pike. Mauk did throw for 324 yards and three touchdowns but the Bearcats had too many turnovers and couldn't keep Brohm out of the end zone.

WORST LOSS: PART II

Pittsburgh made it four straight loses in an overtime thriller in Heinz field 38-35. LeSean McCoy continues to dominate rushing for 165 yards. The freshman rushed for three touchdowns for the second time this year and gave Pittsburgh the lead in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard run, but Navy came back, nailing a field goal to force overtime. The inexperienced defense had more trouble stopping Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada than the announcers had trouble pronouncing his name. Kaheaku-Enhada rushed for 122 yards his season-high and a touchdown. He also passed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-tying 25-yard pass touchdown on the first play in overtime. Freshman Pat Bostick started at quarterback for Pitt and completed 20 out of 28 passes but mostly threw short passes, as Pittsburgh really couldn't get any big pass plays. In the second overtime down three, the Panthers were at the Navy nine-yard line and couldn't punch it in. After two short runs and an incomplete pass they were forced to make a decision -- either go for the win or settle for the tie. From the two-yard line, they called a play for Bostick to make a tough touch pass in the corner of the end zone to Darrell Strong, which was easily batted away.

OH SO CLOSE

The Huskies were riding an undefeated season as well and some experts thought a win at Virginia would give Connecticut a spot in the polls. Connecticut couldn't really get their offense rolling, as Tyler Lorenzen was held to only 176 yards, his second worst total this season. He did lead a clutch touchdown drive to open up the second half, which he finished with a six-yard touchdown pass to Steve Brouse. Andre Dixon rushed for 63 yards on 14 carries. Connecticut took the lead with about ten minutes left in the game, but Virginia took back the lead 17-16 with a field goal by Chris Gould. Virginia’s Jameel Sewell finished the game throwing for 149 yards and rushing for 66.

CFI: THE BIG EAST REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER J. MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

Best Win: Cincinnati

Cincinnati continued to roll with a huge victory at Rutgers. It was the defense (forced four turnovers) that swung momentum over to the Bearcats -- late in the third quarter, following a Cincinnati touchdown, they forced Mike Teel into a interception that led to a touchdown and then again at the end of the game with the Knights driving an interception with 54 seconds remaining sealed the victory. The clutch interceptions by Haruki Nakamura (pictured) and Andre Revels pushed the Bearcats to a 5-0. The Cincinnati defense proved a lot on Saturday. In addition to the turnovers, after an interception by Ben Mauk they held Rutgers to a field goal after Rutgers had first and goal from the seven, which helped Cincy to a 28-23 win. Mauk finished the game with 257 passing yards and three touchdowns including two in an 19 second span to end the third quarter. He hit Marshawn Gilyard five times for 97 yards, including a big 31-yard pass play to set up a score. Tailback Greg Moore rushed for 60 yards on only 14 carries.

Worst Loss: Louisville

It looked like it couldn't get worse for the Cardinals, until the Ute's come into your stadium and put up 44 points. Brian Brohm as usual put up another stellar performance throwing for 467 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Neither Harry Douglas or Mario Urrutia played but senior Patrick Carter picked up the slack catching nine balls for 154 yards. But it didn't matter because the defense continues to look softer than ever. Not only can’t they stop the pass, but now cannot stop the run either. Darrell Mack had a season-high 163 yards rushing with three touchdowns averaging 5.3 yards a carry. Quarterback Brian Johnson finished the game with 312 yards and a touchdown while completing 24/31 of his passes, before the game, his season high was 181 yards against Utah State just to give you perspective on how bad this Louisville defense is. Utah finished with 29 first downs and a total of 582 yards.

A Close Second: Rutgers

Even though it was only their first conference loss, the program was hit hard with their second straight home losses. Rutgers’ season is not over -- they can still rally and pull off a conference title but being unable to finish games at home takes a toll on your team. Mike Teel threw for 334 yards but three interceptions -- something he cannot do in two weeks versus South Florida. The big story was Ray Rice and his 2.3 yards per carry -- if Rice isn’t running Rutgers isn’t winning.

Business as Usual: South Florida & Syracuse

South Florida remains undefeated and they find themselves ranked fifth in both polls despite a sloppy 35-23 victory at Florida Atlantic. Quarterback Matt Grothe struggled in the beginning of the game but stepped up in the second half throwing for 122 yards and rushing for 120. The big play in this game came with about four minutes left in the third quarter and the score tied, Grothe faked the hand off and then rushed the ball himself for a 32-yard touchdown. Tailback Benjamin Williams put the game away with a 54-yard touchdown run in which it appeared he juked the entire FAU defense. He finished the game with 186 yards and four touchdowns, all season highs. Trae Williams continue to make plays on defense with a interception in the game.

After their win at Louisville, Syracuse quickly is back to their losing ways -- getting blown-out by West Virginia at the Dome 55-14. The game was close early but a crazy interception for a touchdown by D-Lineman Keilen Dykes gave West Virginia a 21-7 lead and they never looked back. Pat White finished the game with 148 yards passing and 89 yards rushing for two touchdowns. West Virginia dominated nearly every part of the game, rushing for a total of 251 yards, with ten different players getting a carry. The 55 points they put up was the most by an opponent in the history of the Carrier Dome. The defense held Syracuse to 108 passing yards and forced three turnovers. The one bright spot on the side of the Orange was freshman Mike Holmes who got a lot time on defense and returning kicks, he finished with 118 returning yards in just three chances. Coach Rich Rodriguez earned his 100th career win at WVU…Greg Robinson is 94 behind stuck on six.

Freshman Spotlight: Marcus Barnett

The passing offense of Cincinnati has been clicking since the first game of the season and their young receiving core is a big reason why, regardless of who is under center. Marcus Barnett leads the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, as this freshman is quickly making a statement. Barnett leads the conference with six receiving touchdowns and has a pair of two-touchdown games against Marshall and San Diego State. He is seventh in the conference in receiving yards and forth in receptions per game. Barnett had a great game in the team’s big victory at Rutgers catching six balls for 74 yards and a touchdown. Barnett has a knack for the big play -- including an 80-yarder. He should continue to put great numbers against the struggling Louisville defense.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI PREVIEW: THE BIG EAST

BY CHRISTOPHER J. MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

12:00 * ESPN Regional * West Virginia 4-1 (0-1) @ Syracuse 1-4 (0-1): It's the battle for the Schwartzwalder Trophy at the Carrier Dome but don't expect the trophy to leave the West Virginia sideline. Syracuse's offense has been terrible, with no rushing attack to speak of and they hardly ever giving any protection for the quarterback, which is why their offense is in the bottom ten of the nation. The offensive line for Syracuse is in trouble again, having already allowed 22 sacks – the worst in conference and now they face the conference leader in sacks with 17 this year lead by Johnny Dingle and Marc Magro. Heisman hopeful Steve Slaton should have another big rushing performance at the Dome. Syracuse has not beaten West Virginia since 2001.

Key Match Up: Pat White vs. Syracuse linebackers - Last year when these two schools met, it was the Patrick White show. White rushed for a whopping 247 yards and four touchdowns single handily scoring more than the 'Cuse. White averaged 16.5 yards a carry including touchdown runs of 69 yards and 50 yards. South Florida's speed on defense forced White to make tough throws, this week White can just tuck it and run. He is a game time decision.

3:30 * ESPNU * South Florida 4-0 (1-0) @ Florida Atlantic 3-2 (2-0): Last week it was pandemonium in Tampa after a huge victory over West Virginia which put the Bulls 6th in the AP poll, now they have a test of not looking ahead. Florida Atlantic is having a good year so far -- they are over five hundred and have victories over Minnesota and road win over North Texas. FAU is a passing team that has not developed a running game and they have struggled avoiding big runs as well. Keep an eye on South Florida running back Mike Ford who has rushed 212 yards averaging 5.6 yards per carry. This freshman has big play written all over him.

Key Match Up: Rusty Smith vs. South Florida Pass Defense - The Owls pass the ball, sophomore quarterback Rusty Smith has thrown nine touchdowns and only two interceptions, a big improvement over last years numbers. Smith threw for 466 yards in their victory over the Gophers. Now he has to face by far his toughest test, the speed and quickness of a Bulls defense that has only allowed three touchdowns through the air. If that’s not enough they put tremendous pressure on their opponents led by George Selvie who leads the conference with nine sacks already.

8:00 * ESPN2 * Cincinnati 5-0 (0-0) @ Rutgers 3-1 (0-0): This is the Big East opener for each school and could be a swing game for both teams to maybe a conference championship. Rutgers were heavy favorites if you would have looked at this game in the summer but after a disappointing home loss to Maryland and the surge of the Cincinnati passing game -- the match up has a whole new flavor. Last week, Rutgers struggled to stop the run and hold on to the football (three turnovers). Ray Rice was held to his season low of 97 rushing yards and one touchdown -- he will be facing a tough run defense, who held Oregon State to only 36 rushing yards. Linebacker Andre Revels leads the team in tackles. Keep your eye on Tiquan Underwood, who leads the team in receptions and yards, he has big play capability and could make the Piscataway crowd go crazy.

Key Match up: Ben Mauk vs. Rutgers Secondary - It is no secret that the Bearcats rely on their passing game for big chunks of yardage. Ben Mauk leads the charge with nine touchdowns in four games, he is also second in conference in pass efficiency completing 70.0 percent of his passes. Marcus Barnett has been the go to receiver for the team with 22 receptions and five touchdowns. In addition, watch for tight end Connor Barwin, the junior has 14 receptions for 196 yards with two touchdowns. Rutgers does have some players on defense like linebacker Kevin Malast with 34 tackles this season, he is very aggressive and can drop back to help the secondary too. Defensive back Courtney Greene is a tremendous tackler, you could see some huge hits come from this junior.