http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3265145


Here's the ranking based on what we know, and what we don't:

1. West Virginia Mountaineers
What we know: With the entire offensive line back, along with White and Noel Devine, the Mountaineers can again have a high-powered offense.
What we don't know: WVU runs a 3-3-5 stack defense, and four of the five players in the secondary must be replaced. The Mountaineers also lost two of three up front.
How the Mountaineers can win the Big East: Keep the offense moving forward and reload the defense. Oh, and beat Pitt.

Big East Spring Primer

Take a quick look at the position battles, coaching changes and other key factors to pay attention to during spring practices around the Big East. Heather Dinich
2. USF Bulls
What we know: The defense will be powered by junior defensive end George Selvie, who led the nation in tackles for loss (31.5) and was second nationally in sacks (14.5).
What we don't know: How will the defense adjust to the loss of assistant head coach and defensive line coach Dan McCarney?
How the Bulls can win the Big East: On the right shoulder of Matt Grothe.

3. Louisville Cardinals
What we know: The Cardinals have strong depth at running back with Brock Bolen and George Stripling. They should be productive behind center Eric Wood, who has started 37 straight games, and offensive tackle George Bussey.
What we don't know: If the defense will rebound in 2008. The linebacker position is completely depleted, and the defensive staff has a new look with former Michigan coordinator Ron English at the helm.
How the Cardinals can win the Big East: Louisville has to take advantage of its eight home games and get back to playing sound defense.

4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
What we know: The Scarlet Knights had a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers last season -- and three of those four players are back. Three of four starters return to a secondary that ranked fifth nationally in pass defense.
What we don't know: The offensive line will be missing three starters from the group that paved the way for Ray Rice. How quickly will their replacements adjust?
How the Scarlet Knights can win the Big East: Keep quarterback Mike Teel healthy. There was a noticeable difference in his game after he hurt his thumb in the third game of the season, and his backups are unproven.

5. Cincinnati Bearcats
What we know: Gone is quarterback Ben Mauk, but 16 starters return, including Kevin Huber, the nation's top punter, and standout defenders Mike Mickens (six interceptions) and Terrill Byrd (eight sacks).
What we don't know: Who will take over at quarterback.
How the Bearcats can win the Big East: Continue to adhere to coach Brian Kelly's philosophies and develop consistency at quarterback quickly.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers
What we know: Two of the best players at their respective positions return in linebacker Scott McKillop, who led the country in tackles, and tailback LeSean McCoy, the leading freshman rusher in the country with 110.7 yards per game.
What we don't know: The Panthers haven't been an effective passing team because of the inexperience. Can this year's quarterback change that, and who will it be?
How the Panthers can win the Big East: Find the balanced offense that was missing last year and play the same stingy defense.

7. Connecticut Huskies
What we know: The Huskies will be able to run the ball with juniors Donald Brown and Andre Dixon -- the team's top two rushers -- back.
What we don't know: Will the receivers be more of a passing threat and can the team sustain its momentum from its share of the 2007 Big East title?
How the Huskies can win the Big East: Road wins at South Florida, Rutgers and Louisville would help.

8. Syracuse Orange
What we know: After winning just two games last season and only seven total in his first three years, coach Greg Robinson needs a miracle season to save his job.
What we don't know: How on earth the Orange can dramatically and quickly improve upon their 2007 rankings in total offense (No. 114) and total defense (No. 111).
How the Orange can win the Big East: Start with a coaching change.

RUTGERS WINS IT ALL BY A LANDSLIDE!!!!

:ncaabbs: :ncaabbs:

Pitt has to do better than 6th or Wanny is gone. Also 3 seems a little high for louisville.

I have a feeling that Pitt will end up being the team to beat when it's all said and done. Unless Wannstedt gets in the way.

Cincy at 5th, come on...that's what happens when you let a girl do a mans job. Obviously she didn't research what Grutza did last season or Demetrius Jones from ND.

UCbball21 Wrote:Cincy at 5th, come on...that's what happens when you let a girl do a mans job. Obviously she didn't research what Grutza did last season or Demetrius Jones from ND.

Obviously, these guys are on crack. They think Rice is coming back for RU. Maybe I'm the one on the moon, did he change his mind?

what was she smoking?

Are you sure this wasn't for the 2007 season??

No it was this coming season. But where are is it saying that Ray Rice is coming back?

UCbball21 Wrote:Cincy at 5th, come on...that's what happens when you let a girl do a mans job. Obviously she didn't research what Grutza did last season or Demetrius Jones from ND.

Will Jones have to sit out this year too, or does last year count?

mattsarz Wrote:No it was this coming season. But where are is it saying that Ray Rice is coming back?

Didn't really say it, but seems to imply as much:

Quote:The offensive line will be missing three starters from the group that paved the way for Ray Rice. How quickly will their replacements adjust?

Maybe I'm mistaken.

UConn should definitely finish in 6th place, at worst, in conference. Expect Pitt to finally get to a bowl game (and consequently finish in the top 1/2 of the Big East if they steal a win at UConn or Cincy) and Cincy to finish in the Top 3.

Louisville at #3 is interesting-they can get to a bowl game but I doubt they finish ahead of the bearcats, at the very least.

Honestly 1-7 is so close right now you can arrange the teams in any order, so long WVU is in the Top 3. That's how deep the Big East will be. As an aside, I thouroughly expect UConn to beat both ACC team on our schedule to avenge our embarrassing 2nd half showing at the Meinke Car Care Bowl. Remember, we had a ten point lead at the break before our offense, particularly Lorenzen, collapsed. If Zach Frazer (highly touted transfer from Notre Dame that was impressive last year in practice) can step up to the plate, UConn will be tough for anyone to beat...except for the WVU team that beat us and Oklahoma into a coma. WVU owes us a bad game!

UCONN won't finish 7th in the league. USF gonna get hit losing two top CBs. Cincy gonna lose their QB so there will be a drop off. People understood how good Mauck is. Pitt is still debatable. UCONN returns almost the entire team.

Demetrius Jones is a far better athlete than Mauk, and with 16 starters returning their will be no drop-off...

vinman3 Wrote:

UCbball21 Wrote:Cincy at 5th, come on...that's what happens when you let a girl do a mans job. Obviously she didn't research what Grutza did last season or Demetrius Jones from ND.

Will Jones have to sit out this year too, or does last year count?

With UC's quarter system and late start he was able to transfer before classes started, and essentially already sat out his year.

UCbball21 Wrote:Demetrius Jones is a far better athlete than Mauk, and with 16 starters returning their will be no drop-off...

You forgot experience. Mauck has a ton of experience even before he got to Cincy. I really thought he made a lot of plays on his own last year. Also you gonna lost Nakamura too. RU is losing Rice as well. Who knows what will happen with UL. They could improve or could suck for another year without Brohm. Comparing to these teams, UCONN is far more stable.

I think the BE is wide open.

SF Husky Wrote:

UCbball21 Wrote:Demetrius Jones is a far better athlete than Mauk, and with 16 starters returning their will be no drop-off...

You forgot experience. Mauck has a ton of experience even before he got to Cincy. I really thought he made a lot of plays on his own last year. Also you gonna lost Nakamura too. RU is losing Rice as well. Who knows what will happen with UL. They could improve or could suck for another year without Brohm. Comparing to these teams, UCONN is far more stable.

I think the BE is wide open.

I agree with about everything you wrote here. But any concerns seem to be addressed.

The safety position does concern me a bit, but we're getting a stud corner, OSU transfer Brandon Underwood. One scenario has him starting and DeAngelo Smith making the move to FS. That would go a long way toward solving that.

The new QB situation is one reason for UC fans to like this five-OOC game thing. It'll afford Mauk's heir another week to get going. Remember, Kelly had a pretty good team at CMU two years ago with a freshman QB.

Defensive end needs to be shored up, with Nelms the only one with significant experience. Offensive line will feature a lot of young-uns, so they'll need more work than the new QB. Probably a more important situation as well.

Frankly, I thought ESPN's spring blurb on all the teams pretty worthless when all is said and done. They gave vague general comments that told you absolutely nothing. All it did was whet the football fans' appetite for something substantial. It won't happen until fall.

Spring ball doesn't tell you anything worthwhile. You don't have the team intact. Every year freshmen and juco transfers make a big impact somewhere.

Yes the ranking is a joke. The author probably never seen anything BE football. People on the UCONN board are laughing at it big time. UL at #3 after losing Brohm? Are these guys on crack with this ranking?

I think they'd be stuttering if they were on crack. Although, the editor could edit all that out.