Big
East
Cincinnati
|
Connecticut
|
Louisville
|
Pittsburgh
|
Rutgers
|
South
Florida |
Syracuse
|
West Virginia
Past Big East Predictions
Week One |
Week Two |
Week Three
How'd we do so far? SU 20-2 ATS
11-5-1
Big East Week Four Fearless Predictions
The Citadel
(0-2) at
Pittsburgh
(2-1), 1:30 EST, Saturday, September 23
Why to watch:
Last year’s Panther team tanked whenever
it faced adversity. This year’s squad
vows to be different. We’ll see,
beginning with this week’s visit from
The Citadel. After starting fast,
Pittsburgh got exposed, particularly on
defense, in a 38-23 loss to Michigan
State. The Panthers tackled poorly and
failed to get pressure on Drew Stanton,
allowing the Spartans to pile up 335
yards on the ground. Even with a cushy
four-game stretch ahead of it, Pitt will
be in trouble if doesn’t recover quickly
from last weekend’s unexpected
spanking. The Citadel is coming off a
bye week after dropping its first two
games to Texas A&M and Charleston
Southern, and is not a threat to win the
Southland Conference in 2006.
Why The Citadel might win: No one
on the Bulldogs resembles Stanton or
Javon Ringer, but if Pittsburgh comes
out flat or plays sloppy on defense,
it’s going to seem that way. The
Panthers were feeble on Saturday,
allowing 533 total yards, committing
three turnovers and conjuring up
memories of last year’s nightmare
season. Bulldog QB Duran Lawson can
make plays with his arm and his legs,
which caused problems for Pitt last
weekend.
Why Pittsburgh might win:
The Panther running game is a source of
concern, but the Tyler Palko-led passing
attack is No. 19 in the country. WRs
Derek Kinder and Oderick Turner have
combined for 24 catches and six
touchdowns, showing more and more that
Greg Lee is not being missed. Palko
will carve up a Citadel secondary that’s
ranked 107th in I-AA pass
defense, and allowed five touchdown
passes to Charleston Southern two weeks
ago.
Who to watch:
Dave Wannstedt and Matt Cavanaugh are
determined to get the Panther running
game cranking, which means Larod
Stephens-Howling better get plenty of
sleep Friday night. He looked good
returning from an ankle injury, but Pitt
was forced to abandon the run once it
fell behind Michigan State.
What will happen: Although it isn’t the litmus test needed to gauge Pitt’s year-over-year
growth, the Panthers will get back to
winning behind a more balanced offense
that’ll produce more than 500 total
yards.
CFN Prediction:
Pitt 45
... Citadel 10 ... Line:
No Line
Must See Rating: (5
skip the birth of your first born - 1
The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency) ...
1
Howard
(0-2) at
Rutgers
(3-0), 2:00 EST, Saturday, September 23
Why to watch:
For decades, Rutgers has eyed coaches
from various power programs in the hopes
of attracting the best and the brightest
to Piscataway. Now the rumor mill is
suggesting one of those heavyweights,
Miami, could look to New Jersey to
restore the pride, a testament to the
amazing job Greg Schiano is doing with
the Scarlet Knights. It wasn’t all that
pretty, but Rutgers beat Ohio Saturday,
bringing the program within a win of its
first 4-0 start in 26 years. With the
defense and the running game purring,
Schiano will concentrate this week on a
passing game that’s 111th
nationally and has produced just one
touchdown in three games. The Knights
are No. 28 in the latest AP poll,
ironically, one spot behind Miami.
Howard has opened with back-to-back
losses to Hampton and Florida A&M.
Why Howard might win:
Statistically, the Bisons have no
business being in this game, but that’s
exactly when the unthinkable usually
happens. Rutgers is getting
unprecedented national pub, including
the distractions pertaining to Schiano,
and have a pivotal trip to South Florida
next week to kick off the Big East
season. Howard? Who’s Howard? Don’t
be shocked if the Knights labor to keep
their eye on the ball this week.
Why Rutgers might win:
Ray Rice and the running game have been
sensational averaging 200 yards through
the first three games. Against a Bison
defense that’s been a doormat in its
first two games, the Knights will
improve on that average, while keeping
Rice in the top 5 nationally in
rushing.
Who to watch:
Rutgers has been one of the feel-good
stories of the first month of 2006,
however, unless QB Mike Teel can start
making plays in the passing game, the
Knights are going to struggle once Big
East play begins next week. Against
Ohio, Teel had half as many picks—three—
as completions, leaving this week’s
tune-up as his last chance work on
fundamentals in a relaxed environment.
What will happen: Rutgers will get 300 yards on the ground, while inching closer to that
elusive spot in the Top 25 polls.
CFN Prediction:
Rutgers 48 ... Howard 7 ... Line:
No Line
Must See Rating: (5
skip the birth of your first born - 1
The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency) ...
1
Miami
University (0-3) at
Syracuse (1-2), 7:00 EST, ESPNU, Saturday, September 23
Why to watch:
After 11 straight losses and 372 days,
Syracuse has finally won a football
game. Woo-hoo! The Orange got a
defensive touchdown and rare support
from the offense in a 31-21 win over
Illinois that was actually far worse
than the final score indicated. For the
first time under Greg Robinson, the
offense was eclectic, getting production
on the ground and from the Perry
Patterson to Taj Smith connection It’s
way premature to suggest Syracuse is
turning the corner, yet, after such a
long wait, the win will do wonders for
the program’s psyche and confidence.
Whether it’s Ohio or Florida, it aint
much fun playing for Miami these days.
The RedHawks are 0-3 for the first time
in 16 years, sporting an inconsistent
offense that would make Syracuse
cringe. Miami’s 16-14 loss to Kent
State Saturday snapped the Golden
Flashes’ 11-game losing streak and gave
Kent its first win in Oxford since 1988.
Why Miami might win: Part of the
problem with the Miami offense has been
the lack of balance created by the
absence of RB Brandon Murphy, who sat
out the first two games with an injury.
Murphy is back to face Syracuse’s 96th-ranked
run defense, while taking some pressure
off first-year starting quarterback Mike
Kokal. Even after last week’s
improvements, the Syracuse offense is
still not built to play from behind.
Why Syracuse might win:
Turnovers. The Orange are tied for No.
3 in the country in turnover margin
thanks to an attacking defense and a
line that consistently flushes opposing
quarterbacks out of the pocket. When
the inexperienced Kokal gets out of his
comfort zone, he’ll make game-changing
mistakes that give Syracuse a short
field.
Who to watch: Former linebacker
Jameel McClain has been a terror coming
off the edge for the Orange D. In his
first three career starts, he’s had a
sack in each game, which will rattle a
RedHawk offensive that’s already allowed
15 sacks, more than all but one team in
the country.
What will happen: Fueled by a
defensive touchdown and Curtis
Brinkley’s first career 100-yard day,
Syracuse will enjoy its first
back-to-back wins in almost two years.
CFN Prediction:
Syracuse 27 ... Miami 16
... Line: Syracuse -6.5
Must See Rating: (5
skip the birth of your first born - 1
The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency) ...
1.5
South
Florida
(3-0)
at
Kansas
(2-1) 7 pm EST Saturday, Sept. 23
Why to watch:
For the first time this year, South
Florida ventures outside the Sunshine
State with a chance to make a statement
against a Big 12 team. The Bulls’ 3-0
record has been deceptive and as much a
product of a weak schedule as anything
else. Last week’s emotional 24-17 win
at budding rival UCF did seem to light a
fire under a team that trudged through
its first two victories. Kansas looks
to rebound from a draining, 37-31
double-overtime loss at Toledo on Friday
night. The Jayhawks have issues of
their own, headed by an inability to
protect the football in the first three
games. They weren’t five-star prospects
coming out of high school, but USF’s
Matt Grothe and Kansas’ Kerry Meier are
two of the more exciting redshirt
freshmen quarterbacks in the country.
Why South Florida might win: The
Bull defense has been true to form so
far holding opponents to 261 yards and
just under 16 points a game. It’s
allowing only 82 yards a game on the
ground, which should neutralize Kansas
RB Jon Cornish and leave a banged-up
Meier to have to win the game for the
Jayhawks. The young quarterback hasn’t
been consistent enough to prove he can
win games against good teams when it’s
all on his shoulders.
Why Kansas might win: South
Florida’s been good against the run, but
Kansas has been even better allowing 71
yards a game. The Jayhawks will turn
the Bulls into a one-dimensional
offense, forcing Grothe to shoulder the
load against an improved secondary. In
an evenly-matched game, USF’s
nation’s-worst punting unit gives Kansas
a major advantage in the battle for
field position.
Who to watch: Kansas CB Aqib
Talib returned from suspension last week
to give the Jayhawk secondary an
immediate boost. He had six tackles and
three pass breakups, helping hold the
usually efficient Toledo aerial attack
to 15-of-47 passing for 136 yards and a
touchdown. Talib will be matched up
with Ean Randolph, who leads the Bulls
with 10 catches and a pair of touchdown
receptions.
What will happen: Don’t be
fooled by the records—Kansas is the
slightly better team. The Jayhawks will
make stopping Grothe a mission to pick
up a critical and hard fought home win.
CFN Prediction:
Kansas 24 ... South Florida 19
... Line: Kansas -5.5
Must See Rating: (5
skip the birth of your first born - 1
The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency) ...
2.5
Big East Week Four Fearless Predictions