The Big East is often considered to be the Stepsister of the BCS family. Let's see what they have to offer this season:
Cincinnati: Down. The offense retuens 6 starters, and QB Collaros is certainly a more than capable replacement for QB Pike. This team should not have problemsscoring, though the o-line will need some work. The defense is where the huge problem is. only 5 palyers with starting experience return to a defense that was a siv at the end of the season. Help is needed up front. Add on the loss of HC Kelly, and the Bearcats do not repeat this season.
Connecticut: Up. This team played theough adversity last year, and did quite well. 8starters return on an offense that will have to improve it's point output. More depth may be needed. The defense returns 7 starters, and was the key last year. The secodary takes a hit, as deos the l-line, but depth is there. The big question for HC Edsell is can he get this team to play with the same emotion that they showed last year after the death of Jasper Howard.
Lousiville: Even. The Cards return 7 starters on an anemic offense that was held to 14 points or less 5 times last season. The o-line needs the most help, as it is inexperienced and thin. The defense returns 6 starters, but loses a lot of depth. Both tackle and safety positions get hit hard. New HC Strong has his work cut out for him if he wants the Cards to improve on their 4 win season of last year.
Pittsburgh: Down. Pitt simply loses too many players to contend this season. Only 4 starters return on offense. Pitt will be able to run the ball, but must find a new QB, some WR's and some o-line help. The defense returns starters, but gets hit hard on the line and in the secondary. The schedule is not much of a help, opening at Utah and hosting Miami (FL). Wanny will have to do his best coaching job for Pitt to contend this season.
Rutgers: Down. This team was a disapppintment last seasn. Losing 6 starters on offense will not help matters much. The defense returns 6 starters, but must replace the LB corps. The schedule is brutal, with games at Pitt, USF, Cincinnati and West Virginia, plus a home game against North Carolina. 7 wins looks about right for this team.
South Florida: Even. This would be a down, but we will give new HC Holtz the benefit of the doubt here. The offense returns 8 starters, and should be able to score points. They will have to because the defense only returns 4 starters, and also has depth issues, especially in the secondary. The schedule is no help at all. Games at Florida, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Miami (FL) do not make for a real pleasant away schedule. This team shold be fun to watch.
Syracuse: Up. The Orange may finally be turning the corner. 8 starters return on offense, and QB Nessib has some experience. The ground game should be good whith experienced RB's and an experienced o-line returning. The defense returns 10 starters, but gets hit depth wise at CB. This team is on the way up. They are "uspet special" defined. Do not count them as an automatic win.
West Virginia: Up. The favorites to win the Big East return 7 starters on offense, but must replace QB Brown. So far, that has not been easy. The ground game looks solid, with RB Devine returing and 4 o-linemen returning. The defense returns 8 players, but will need some help in the secondary. HC Stewart is going to have to step it up a notch with a new A.D. at the school. That means a Big East Championship. No less will be accepted.
Overall, the Big East is in a very precarious position. With rumors flying about the demise of the conference, the MWC's improvment, and some humiliating bowl losses recently, things do not look real good for this conference in 2010. With all of their contenders facing at least one difficult non-con opponent, we shall see just how good or bad this conference really is.
Cincinnati: Down. The offense retuens 6 starters, and QB Collaros is certainly a more than capable replacement for QB Pike. This team should not have problemsscoring, though the o-line will need some work. The defense is where the huge problem is. only 5 palyers with starting experience return to a defense that was a siv at the end of the season. Help is needed up front. Add on the loss of HC Kelly, and the Bearcats do not repeat this season.
Connecticut: Up. This team played theough adversity last year, and did quite well. 8starters return on an offense that will have to improve it's point output. More depth may be needed. The defense returns 7 starters, and was the key last year. The secodary takes a hit, as deos the l-line, but depth is there. The big question for HC Edsell is can he get this team to play with the same emotion that they showed last year after the death of Jasper Howard.
Lousiville: Even. The Cards return 7 starters on an anemic offense that was held to 14 points or less 5 times last season. The o-line needs the most help, as it is inexperienced and thin. The defense returns 6 starters, but loses a lot of depth. Both tackle and safety positions get hit hard. New HC Strong has his work cut out for him if he wants the Cards to improve on their 4 win season of last year.
Pittsburgh: Down. Pitt simply loses too many players to contend this season. Only 4 starters return on offense. Pitt will be able to run the ball, but must find a new QB, some WR's and some o-line help. The defense returns starters, but gets hit hard on the line and in the secondary. The schedule is not much of a help, opening at Utah and hosting Miami (FL). Wanny will have to do his best coaching job for Pitt to contend this season.
Rutgers: Down. This team was a disapppintment last seasn. Losing 6 starters on offense will not help matters much. The defense returns 6 starters, but must replace the LB corps. The schedule is brutal, with games at Pitt, USF, Cincinnati and West Virginia, plus a home game against North Carolina. 7 wins looks about right for this team.
South Florida: Even. This would be a down, but we will give new HC Holtz the benefit of the doubt here. The offense returns 8 starters, and should be able to score points. They will have to because the defense only returns 4 starters, and also has depth issues, especially in the secondary. The schedule is no help at all. Games at Florida, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Miami (FL) do not make for a real pleasant away schedule. This team shold be fun to watch.
Syracuse: Up. The Orange may finally be turning the corner. 8 starters return on offense, and QB Nessib has some experience. The ground game should be good whith experienced RB's and an experienced o-line returning. The defense returns 10 starters, but gets hit depth wise at CB. This team is on the way up. They are "uspet special" defined. Do not count them as an automatic win.
West Virginia: Up. The favorites to win the Big East return 7 starters on offense, but must replace QB Brown. So far, that has not been easy. The ground game looks solid, with RB Devine returing and 4 o-linemen returning. The defense returns 8 players, but will need some help in the secondary. HC Stewart is going to have to step it up a notch with a new A.D. at the school. That means a Big East Championship. No less will be accepted.
Overall, the Big East is in a very precarious position. With rumors flying about the demise of the conference, the MWC's improvment, and some humiliating bowl losses recently, things do not look real good for this conference in 2010. With all of their contenders facing at least one difficult non-con opponent, we shall see just how good or bad this conference really is.
