11-02-2005, 01:30 AM
CFN Big East Record: 26-11 straight up, 16-16 ATS
Make your picks of all the big games
Big East Game of the Week
Connecticut (4-3) at West Virginia (6-1), Wed. 7:30 pm EST
Why to watch: Two teams headed in opposite directions will meet in Morgantown for a rare Wednesday night affair. For the next month, all eyes in the Big East and a big old target will be on West Virginia, the league’s only ranked and undefeated team in conference play. The Mounties are a blue collar bunch that runs the ball and stops the run better than any other team in the league. They’ll need to shake off some rust, however, thanks to an 18-day hiatus since shocking then-No. 19 Louisville in a 46-44, three-overtime thriller. UConn peaked at 4-1 on Oct. 7, but has since gone flat with back-to-back losses and has to have this game to rekindle post-season hopes. The Huskies have been ravaged by injuries, particularly at quarterback, where injuries to Matt Bonislawski and D.J. Hernandez have left true freshman Dennis Brown in the unlikely role of conductor.
Why Connecticut might win: While they laid an egg two weeks ago against Rutgers, the Husky defense has been stout all year, leading the Big East in total and scoring defense. The young and aggressive unit is especially stingy in pass defense, where they yield just 149 yards a game through the air. West Virginia is 114th in the nation in passing, and against UConn, they’ll be even more one-dimensional than usual.
Why West Virginia might win: The ‘eers stop the run as well as any team in the nation, and now they get back their best run-stuffer, NT Ernest Hunter, from an ankle injury. UConn has struggled the past two weeks to move the ball on the ground, largely due to the uncertainty under center. West Virginia will key on RBs Terry Caulley and Cornell Brockington, forcing young Brown into costly mistakes.
Who to watch: QB Pat White has proven to be quite a closer for West Virginia, but now he gets his first chance to throw a complete game. The freshman sparked the Mountaineers against Louisville in relief of Adam Bednarik, and gives the offense an infusion of speed and escapability.
What will happen: West Virginia has been off for so long, this game will have an opening day feel and buzz from the home crowd. The Mounties will start slowly on offense before taking command in the second half with a few turnovers and a few long runs from RB Steve Slaton.
CFN Prediction: West Virginia 30 ... Connecticut 13 ... Line: West VIrginia -14.5 | Make your pick and compete against others
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 The Legend of Zorro) ... 3
Thursday, Nov. 3
Pittsburgh (4-4) at Louisville (5-2), 7:30 pm EST
Why to watch: In the mixed up world of the Big East, Pittsburgh can actually win out and return to a BCS bowl game, while Louisville has no realistic shot at the league title. Strange. Winners of three straight, the Panthers are in the midst of a mild resurgence, but they won’t come full circle or even be taken seriously for the postseason without upsetting Louisville in primetime. The Cards have been one of this year’s biggest mysteries, playing lights out at home, yet skittish and unpredictable outside the ‘Ville. They still have the talent and the motivation to finish with a flurry and earn a date with the ACC runner-up in the Gator Bowl. The game features a cornucopia of offensive stars, including the Big East’s top two quarterbacks (Brian Brohm and Tyler Palko), leading rusher and scorer (Michael Bush) and four of the five most prolific receivers.
Why Pittsburgh might win: For the first time all season, Pittsburgh has the confidence and purpose that comes with being tied for second place in the conference. It took a while, but the offense has finally located its groove, scoring more than 30 points in each of the last three games and achieving the balance that offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh craves. The Panther pass D is No. 5 nationally and pick-happy, a requirement when Louisville is the opponent.
Why Louisville might win: Three have tried, but none of Oregon State, Florida Atlantic or North Carolina have been able to hold the Cardinals under 60 points at Papa John’s. Expect to see a heavy dose of Bush, who’s scored at least three times in each of the last four games, versus a Pittsburgh defense that’s questionable up front and next to last in the Big East at stopping the run.
Who to watch: DE Elvis Dumervil already has 19 sacks this season, double any other defender in the nation, and stands just five shy of Terrell Suggs’ NCAA-record 24 in 2002. He might challenge the mark on Thursday against a pitiful Pitt line that’s too young and too slow to stand a chance versus the speed rushing blur.
What will happen: Pittsburgh is much improved, but Louisville is in a different league, particularly at home. The Cards have heard all the nay sayers, and will use a national stage to regain some lost respect and make a statement on Thursday night.
CFN Prediction: Louisville 48 ... Pittsburgh 24 ... Line: Louisville -20.5 | Make your pick and compete against others
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 The Legend of Zorro) ... 3
Saturday, Nov. 5
South Florida (3-3) at Rutgers (6-2), 12:00 pm EST
Why to watch: All of a sudden, Rutgers is trendy. The Knights beat Navy a week ago to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1992, and are enjoying a rare rush of positive national publicity. Now all the program has to do is prove it can handle prosperity and finish strong enough to squelch any possibility of getting snookered in December if the Big East has too many bowl-eligible teams. A pair of hurricanes—Wilma and Miami—has helped keep South Florida out of the win column since Sept. 24, when they shocked the college football world with a 45-14 mugging of Louisville. The Bulls have been idle for three weeks and, beginning with this week’s game, need to recapture some momentum before a once-promising season winds up getting filed in the “lost opportunity
Make your picks of all the big games
Big East Game of the Week
Connecticut (4-3) at West Virginia (6-1), Wed. 7:30 pm EST
Why to watch: Two teams headed in opposite directions will meet in Morgantown for a rare Wednesday night affair. For the next month, all eyes in the Big East and a big old target will be on West Virginia, the league’s only ranked and undefeated team in conference play. The Mounties are a blue collar bunch that runs the ball and stops the run better than any other team in the league. They’ll need to shake off some rust, however, thanks to an 18-day hiatus since shocking then-No. 19 Louisville in a 46-44, three-overtime thriller. UConn peaked at 4-1 on Oct. 7, but has since gone flat with back-to-back losses and has to have this game to rekindle post-season hopes. The Huskies have been ravaged by injuries, particularly at quarterback, where injuries to Matt Bonislawski and D.J. Hernandez have left true freshman Dennis Brown in the unlikely role of conductor.
Why Connecticut might win: While they laid an egg two weeks ago against Rutgers, the Husky defense has been stout all year, leading the Big East in total and scoring defense. The young and aggressive unit is especially stingy in pass defense, where they yield just 149 yards a game through the air. West Virginia is 114th in the nation in passing, and against UConn, they’ll be even more one-dimensional than usual.
Why West Virginia might win: The ‘eers stop the run as well as any team in the nation, and now they get back their best run-stuffer, NT Ernest Hunter, from an ankle injury. UConn has struggled the past two weeks to move the ball on the ground, largely due to the uncertainty under center. West Virginia will key on RBs Terry Caulley and Cornell Brockington, forcing young Brown into costly mistakes.
Who to watch: QB Pat White has proven to be quite a closer for West Virginia, but now he gets his first chance to throw a complete game. The freshman sparked the Mountaineers against Louisville in relief of Adam Bednarik, and gives the offense an infusion of speed and escapability.
What will happen: West Virginia has been off for so long, this game will have an opening day feel and buzz from the home crowd. The Mounties will start slowly on offense before taking command in the second half with a few turnovers and a few long runs from RB Steve Slaton.
CFN Prediction: West Virginia 30 ... Connecticut 13 ... Line: West VIrginia -14.5 | Make your pick and compete against others
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 The Legend of Zorro) ... 3
Thursday, Nov. 3
Pittsburgh (4-4) at Louisville (5-2), 7:30 pm EST
Why to watch: In the mixed up world of the Big East, Pittsburgh can actually win out and return to a BCS bowl game, while Louisville has no realistic shot at the league title. Strange. Winners of three straight, the Panthers are in the midst of a mild resurgence, but they won’t come full circle or even be taken seriously for the postseason without upsetting Louisville in primetime. The Cards have been one of this year’s biggest mysteries, playing lights out at home, yet skittish and unpredictable outside the ‘Ville. They still have the talent and the motivation to finish with a flurry and earn a date with the ACC runner-up in the Gator Bowl. The game features a cornucopia of offensive stars, including the Big East’s top two quarterbacks (Brian Brohm and Tyler Palko), leading rusher and scorer (Michael Bush) and four of the five most prolific receivers.
Why Pittsburgh might win: For the first time all season, Pittsburgh has the confidence and purpose that comes with being tied for second place in the conference. It took a while, but the offense has finally located its groove, scoring more than 30 points in each of the last three games and achieving the balance that offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh craves. The Panther pass D is No. 5 nationally and pick-happy, a requirement when Louisville is the opponent.
Why Louisville might win: Three have tried, but none of Oregon State, Florida Atlantic or North Carolina have been able to hold the Cardinals under 60 points at Papa John’s. Expect to see a heavy dose of Bush, who’s scored at least three times in each of the last four games, versus a Pittsburgh defense that’s questionable up front and next to last in the Big East at stopping the run.
Who to watch: DE Elvis Dumervil already has 19 sacks this season, double any other defender in the nation, and stands just five shy of Terrell Suggs’ NCAA-record 24 in 2002. He might challenge the mark on Thursday against a pitiful Pitt line that’s too young and too slow to stand a chance versus the speed rushing blur.
What will happen: Pittsburgh is much improved, but Louisville is in a different league, particularly at home. The Cards have heard all the nay sayers, and will use a national stage to regain some lost respect and make a statement on Thursday night.
CFN Prediction: Louisville 48 ... Pittsburgh 24 ... Line: Louisville -20.5 | Make your pick and compete against others
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 The Legend of Zorro) ... 3
Saturday, Nov. 5
South Florida (3-3) at Rutgers (6-2), 12:00 pm EST
Why to watch: All of a sudden, Rutgers is trendy. The Knights beat Navy a week ago to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1992, and are enjoying a rare rush of positive national publicity. Now all the program has to do is prove it can handle prosperity and finish strong enough to squelch any possibility of getting snookered in December if the Big East has too many bowl-eligible teams. A pair of hurricanes—Wilma and Miami—has helped keep South Florida out of the win column since Sept. 24, when they shocked the college football world with a 45-14 mugging of Louisville. The Bulls have been idle for three weeks and, beginning with this week’s game, need to recapture some momentum before a once-promising season winds up getting filed in the “lost opportunity