T1.
West Virginia(wins BCS bid)
Predicted record: 11-1
Conf. record: 6-1
Best
Offensive Player:
QB Pat White, Jr. Best
Defensive Player: DT Keilen Dykes, Sr. Offense:
Unlike most schools that run the spread offense, West Virginia aims to
open lanes for its prolific ground game, rarely putting the ball in the
air more than 20 times a game. The Mountaineers want the ball in the
hands of its two junior Heisman candidates, quarterback Patrick White
and running back Steve Slaton. Along with receiver Darius Reynaud, they
form the fastest offensive trio in America, and are threats for six with
even a hint of daylight. White is an underrated passer that rarely
misses his target, but needs more help from a receiving corps that’s
suspect after Reynaud. Few schools rebuild on the offensive line better
than West Virginia, but how will the unit react without its long-time
quarterback Dan Mozes and long-time coach Rick Trickett? Defense: Lost in all the yards the Mountaineer offense gained in
2006 was all the yards the defense allowed. West Virginia allowed 35 or
more points three times last fall and was torched through the air
repeatedly over the second half of the year. Worse, this once
relentless defense had trouble getting to the quarterback and looked a
step slow. Rich Rodriguez is banking on a few tweaks to the back eight
and an influx of faster players as the solutions in the team’s 3-3-5
stack formation. Led by playmaking senior safety Eric Wicks, the
secondary has a glut of really talented athletes that need to gel into a
cohesive unit.
T1.
Louisville
Predicted record: 11-1
Conf. record: 6-1
Best
Offensive Player: QB Brian
Brohm, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: LB Malik
Jackson, Sr Offense:
The coaching staff is new, but the results won’t differ much from last
season when Louisville rung up 37 points and 475 yards a game. The
Cardinals will spread the field and ask future first round draft choice
Brian Brohm to distribute the ball to his plethora of playmakers.
Brohm’s embarrassment of riches at receiver includes senior Harry
Douglas, junior Mario Urrutia and senior Gary Barnidge, who combined for
159 receptions and 16 touchdowns in 2006. Head coach Steve Kragthorpe
and offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs love leaning on the tight end,
so Barnidge could be particularly busy this fall. Even without Michael
Bush the running game is in good shape with the returns of Anthony Allen
and George Stripling, a thunder and lightning combo that had 20
touchdowns a year ago. If Kragthorpe was able to supercharge the Tulsa
offense, just imagine what he’ll do with all the resources they have in
Louisville. Defense: Not unlike the offense, the Cardinal D is aggressive,
unpredictable and built on speed. They’ll attack regularly which often
means sacks, turnovers and the occasional busted play that goes for 65
yards. The latter could happen a little more frequently in 2007, as the
secondary adjusts to three new starters and uncertainty at cornerback.
Even without All-American tackle Amobi Okoye, the defensive line figures
to be among the best in the Big East. Sophomore end Peanut Whitehead
and junior tackle Earl Heyman aren’t household names today, but both
have the explosiveness to change that by November. Senior linebacker
Malik Jackson is a disruptive force with enough range to wreak havoc all
over the field.
3.
Rutgers
Predicted record: 10-2
Conf. record: 5-2
Best
Offensive Player: RB Ray
Rice, Jr. Best
Defensive Player: DT Eric
Foster, Sr. Offense:
Although Rutgers is more than content to pound the ball between the
tackles 30 times a game with All-America running back Ray Rice, it
wouldn’t mind a little more offensive balance this year. Whether that
happens depends on the development of junior quarterback Mike Teel who
struggled badly last year, but did play his best ball at the end of the
year and has a speedy group of receivers needed to author a rebound.
While question marks exist on the interior of the offensive line, the
tackle tandem of seniors Pedro Sosa and Jeremy Zuttah is one of the best
in the country. Defense: For Greg Schiano and his Rutgers defense, it’s all about
creating pressure and turnovers with a variety of different looks to
confuse opposing offenses. Everything came together last year for a
unit that had 31 takeaways and allowed just 252 yards and 14 points a
game, but five starters need to be replaced. Senior defensive tackle
Eric Foster is a ticking time bomb that exploded on quarterbacks in
2006, en route to All-America recognition. He’s the physical and
spiritual leader of a front seven that’s noticeably less experienced
than last year. Provided sophomore Devin McCourty can handle the corner
spot opposite twin brother Jason, the secondary will rock with the
return of all-league safeties, Courtney Greene and Ron Girault.
4.
Pitt
Predicted record: 9-3
Conf. record: 4-3
Best
Offensive Player: WR Derek
Kinder, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DE Joe
Clermond, Sr. Offense:
The graduation of Tyler Palko leaves a gaping hole on the Panther
offense that’ll be filled by either junior Bill Stull or hot-shot rookie
Pat Bostick. Whoever gets the ball will enjoy an outstanding supporting
cast that includes junior running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, one of
the deepest receiving corps in the nation and the program’s best front
wall since Dave Wannstedt arrived. Wannstedt and Matt Cavanaugh want to
establish a more physical ground game, but if the new hurler is up to
the challenge, the ensuing balance will make this a very dangerous
offense. Defense: Last year’s defense had big names, like H.B. Blades and
Darrelle Revis, with poor results. This year’s defense is devoid of
stars, but might wind up being statistically better. The key will be
stopping the run, something that vexed the Panthers throughout the
second half of the 2006 season. The difference this fall will be a
defensive line that’ll be much deeper than last year, and capable of
creating inside-outside pressure with junior tackle Gus Mustakas and
senior end Joe Clermond. Although replacing Revis won’t be a snap, the
secondary is busting with potential from future all-Big East players,
like sophomores Aaron Berry and Elijah Fields.
5.
South Florida
Predicted record: 7-5
Conf. record: 3-4
Best
Offensive Player: QB Matt
Grothe, Soph. Best
Defensive Player: CB Trae
Williams, Sr. Offense:
This is Matt Grothe’s offense, but unlike last season, he shouldn’t have
to do everything short of crafting the weekly gameplan in order to make
the unit hum. Although he led the offense in passing, rushing and
scoring, the program realizes it needs to protect its most important
commodity and give him more support. Can freshman Mike Ford live up to
the hype? Plenty is expected from a back that should ignite a rushing
attack that did little in 2006 when Grothe wasn’t slithering through
opposing defenses. Originally headed to Tuscaloosa, he’s the
highest-profile recruit to ever sign with USF. The Bull receivers are a
dynamic bunch that’s loaded with size, speed and underachievers that
need to get their act together. Defense: Like all teams from Florida, the USF defense pursues
well and is built on speed. Wally Burnham’s unit is well-coached,
prevents the big play and is vastly underappreciated and unnoticed on a
national level. That could change if the Bulls crack the top 10 in
total defense in 2007, a distinct possibility. Next level corners Trae
Williams and Mike Jenkins allow the defense to sell out on occasion, and
the front four, led by sophomore rush end George Selvie, returns seven
linemen that started games in 2006. Importing defensive line coach Dan
McCarney and linebacker Tyrone McKenzie from Iowa State were coups
that’ll pay immediate dividends.
6.
Cincinnati
Predicted record: 6-6
Conf. record: 2-5
Best
Offensive Player:
WR Derrick Stewart, Jr. Best
Defensive Player:
DT Terrill Byrd, Jr. Offense:
Take whatever you knew about last year’s Cincy offense and delete it.
Nothing will be the same, as Brian Kelly and his staff dismantle Mark
Dantonio’s plodding run game in favor of a fancy spread attack.
There’ll be growing pains, to be sure, but by mid-season, there should
also be improvement if a consistent quarterback, such as Wake Forest
transfer Ben Mauk, develops and the line adjusts to a zone blocking
scheme. A receiving corps that’s led by juniors Derrick Stewart,
Dominick Goodman and Connor Barwin has a chance to blow up in the new
system. Defense: That Bearcat defense, which was so stingy a year
ago, returns almost virtually intact. The unit is small, but very quick
from sideline to sideline, and prone to swarming anyone with the ball in
his hands. It all starts up front with a line that welcomes back four
players with starting experience, including its figurehead, junior
tackle Terrill Byrd. Junior cornerback Mike Mickens is one of the best
unknown cornerbacks in the country and the kind of defender that can
shut down the opposition’s No. 1 receiver. While the offense takes time
to adjust to a new system, the defense is going to keep Cincy in plenty
of games.
T7.
Connecticut
Predicted record: 5-7
Conf. record: 1-6
Best
Offensive Player: RB Donald
Brown, Soph. Best
Defensive Player: LB Danny
Lansanah, Sr. Offense:
For two years running, the Husky offense has been painfully inept,
particularly in the passing game. Tyler Lorenzen was recruited from the
ranks of the junior colleges to specifically address that vertical
shortcoming. His arrival pushed D.J. Hernandez to slot receiver and set
up a heated competition with sophomore Dennis Brown that’ll resume in
August. While quarterback is a question mark, running back is not.
Sophomore Donald Brown exploded on to the scene in 2006 with almost 700
yards and five scores in a torrid five-game stretch to finish the
season. With a bunch of linemen back, he’s poised for a monster season
in an offense that still uses the run to set up the pass. Defense: The bend-but-don’t-break Huskies snapped like a
toothpick in 2006. The main culprit was a run defense that couldn’t
slow down anyone not named Rhode Island. Things don’t get any easier
this year, as the unit will be looking for ways to replace both of last
year’s starting tackles. Uh-oh. Led by senior linebacker Danny
Lansanah and junior corner Darius Butler, the back seven will be picking
up a lot of the slack on Saturdays. Expect the pass rush that produced
only 11 sacks in the final eight games to get a spark from the returns
of junior Cody Brown and sophomore Lindsey Witten, disruptive ends
that’ll be on the line together for the first time in September.
T7.
Syracuse
Predicted record: 5-7
Conf. record: 1-6
Best
Offensive Player: WR Taj
Smith, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DE Jameel
McClain, Sr.
Offense: The
pieces are there among the skill players for a night-and-day improvement
from last year’s putrid attack that cranked out a mere 264 yards and
17.4 points per game. The receiving cops, helped by the return of Taj
Smith from injury, should be one of the best in the Big East, while
Curtis Brinkley is a good back to work around. Sophomore QB Andrew
Robinson is a star in the making, but he’ll have a hard time with his
consistency behind an offensive line that needs work even with three
starters returning in the interior. Defense: It might take a little while, but the D will improve as
the season goes on, it struggled in every area but getting into the
backfield, and with a strong defensive line returning, led be end Jameel
McClain, generating pressure won’t be much of a problem. The linebacking
corps will be a work in progress with three new starters, but the
excellent safety tandem of Dowayne Davis and Joe Fields should clean up
plenty of messes.
