Big East Fearless Predictions, Sept. 20

It's a big night for the Big East and Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell with a national spotlight game against Kansas State. Will the league, and the Cardinals, finally turn things around? Check out the Previews and Predictions for the Week 4 Big East Games

Big East 
Cincinnati | Connecticut | Louisville | Pittsburgh | Rutgers
South Florida | Syracuse | West Virginia

Big East Fearless Predictions Aug. 30 | Sept. 6 | Sept. 13

How are the picks so far? SU: 13-6 ... ATS: 6-8

- Week 4, Sept. 20 Predictions, Part 2

Big East Game of the Week

West Virginia (1-1) at Colorado (2-0), 8:30 EST, ESPN, Thursday, September 18
Why to watch: Now what, West Virginia? It’s not as if the Mountaineers haven’t suffered devastating losses in recent years, but the steady hand of Rich Rodriguez was always around to get the program back on track. Now there’s a new coaching staff with a new philosophy being asked to energize a program that was bounced by East Carolina, failing to score a touchdown for the first time in seven years. Abruptly out of national championship contention, West Virginia is still determined to remain the top dog in the Big East. While Colorado is unbeaten, it might be in a similar quandary as the Mountaineers if the early schedule was tougher. After skating past Colorado State, the Buffs needed to pull a Houdini act to escape Eastern Washington. A visit from West Virginia will go a long way to determining which was the real Colorado and whether the program is prepared to take a step forward in Dan Hawkins’ third season.
Why West Virginia might win: If the Mountaineers want to lean more on Pat White’s left arm, this week’s opponent won’t offer a ton of resistance. Colorado has concerns in the defensive backfield that were exposed by Eastern Washington QB Matt Nichols. He threw for 303 yards and was sacked just once in 51 attempts. If White gets similar time, he’ll find ways to get the ball to sprinters Noel Devine and Jock Sanders in space. In general, this is not a great matchup for the back seven of the Buffalo defense.
Why Colorado might win: The Buffs will be facing a different defense than the one that was so ornery in 2007. West Virginia looked lost at times in the East Carolina game, and is clearly missing injured MLB Reed Williams. The Mountaineers were picked apart by the Pirates, getting just one sack and no turnovers. C Daniel Sanders is the catalyst of a physical line that’ll give Cody Hawkins the passing lanes needed to find his slickest target, Scotty McKnight. Don’t discount the impact of a Thursday night home crowd that senses the big-picture importance of this game.
Who to watch: Like so many, this game will be decided in the trenches, specifically when West Virginia has the ball. The veteran Mountaineers line has future pros in Greg Isdaner and Ryan Stanchek, but they’ll get pushed by Colorado’s inside tandem of George Hypolite and Brandon Nicolas. Both big and quick, the two seniors are capable of blowing up plays before they can develop. If too many runs get past this pair, the Buffs are in big trouble.
What will happen: This is not the same West Virginia team that’s been so scary good for the last three years, but it’s going to go back to what worked. Welcome back to the running game. Colorado will play well in front of a national TV audience and an electric crowd, but White and the Mountaineer attack will run its way back into respect
CFN Prediction: West Virginia 34 … Colorado 27 ... Line: WVU -3
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 3.5
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Wednesday, September 17

Kansas State (2-0) at Louisville (1-1), 8:00 EST, ESPN2
Why to watch: Is Kansas State this year’s Kansas out of the Big 12, as some have begun to wonder? A trip to Louisville will provide a much better measuring stick than visits from North Texas and Montana State. Still, considering how poorly the Wildcats finished last season, there’s cause for optimism and confidence around the campus no matter who was on the schedule the first two weeks. Now, if they can beat an FBS program on the road, the positive vibes will start bleeding beyond Manhattan. Louisville got a brief reprieve from its headaches, spanking Tennessee Tech, 51-10, a couple of weeks ago. Now it’s back to the proving ground for a Cardinal program that barely made an appearance in the opener with Kentucky and needs to play markedly better in this week’s crossroads game.
Why Kansas State might win: Yeah, the Wildcats are one big, purple-clad mystery, but against weaker competition, they’ve been downright flawless. Blending in a mixture of holdovers and junior-college transfers, they’ve been balanced on offense and stifling on defense. Josh Freeman looks like a different quarterback, playing with poise and accounting for nine touchdowns without a turnover. Playing behind an underrated offensive line, there’s no reason he can’t keep the good times rolling versus the suspect Louisville D.
Why Louisville might win: The questionable Kansas State secondary has yet to be tested, but that’ll change Wednesday night. Cardinal QB Hunter Cantwell rebounded from a miserable start, and should stay hot for a second straight game. The underachieving Wildcat defensive front has registered just two sacks. Cantwell will have time to locate favorite target Doug Beaumont. While the talented Louisville line is banged up, standouts Eric Wood and George Bussey should be ready for kickoff. For all the offseason hand-wringing about the defense, Ron English’s unit has played surprisingly well, especially against the run.
Who to watch: Of all the transfers playing at Kansas State, none have had a more immediate impact than diminutive WR Brandon Banks. Despite being just 5-7 and 150 pounds, he has sprinter speed and has already caught nine passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. In his first big game at this level, he’s going to test a Louisville secondary playing with something to prove.
What will happen: When the curtain finally gets pulled back on Kansas State, the public might be surprised by what it sees. The Wildcats are a transient bunch, to be sure, but they’re gelling nicely and poised for the increase in competition. Freeman will outplay Cantwell, throwing two touchdown passes and running for a third in a poignant win for the program.
CFN Prediction: Kansas State 30 … Louisville 21 ... Line: KSU -4
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 3
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 Friday, September 19

Baylor (2-1) at Connecticut (3-0), 8:00 EST, ESPN2
Why to watch: Only two teams out of the downtrodden Big East remain unbeaten. Connecticut is one of them (USF the other). The Huskies are coming off their best performance in the last few years, a 45-10 demolition of Virginia that included contributions from all three units. Yeah, the Cavaliers are awful, but if UConn keeps getting monster efforts from the defense and RB Donald Brown, it’s going to be a legitimate threat for a BCS bowl game. Baylor, too, is riding high after thumping Washington State, 45-17. True freshman QB Robert Griffin is quickly becoming the face of the program under first-year head coach Art Briles. An exciting dual-threat with an enormous upside in this offense, he rushed for a school-record 217 yards in Friday night’s victory.
Why Baylor might win: While Griffin is young and still raw as a passer, he’s the type of difference-maker who’s making everyone on the Bear offense better. After facing the vanilla attacks of Hofstra, Temple, and Virginia, Connecticut will be facing a culture shock when Griffin and the diverse Baylor offense roll into Storrs. If the Bears can turn this game into a shootout, the Huskies, Virginia game aside, still haven’t shown that they have the offensive firepower to win that type of a game on a consistent basis.
Why Connecticut might win: The Huskies will prevent the game from becoming a shootout. The defense is No. 8 nationally in points allowed and has been air-tight against the pass. Griffin is a budding star, but you don’t beat this disciplined D with a one-man gang. Scott Lutrus, Cody Brown, and Lawrence Wilson will create pressure up front and limit the number of big plays allowed. Baylor yielded 41 points in the opener with Wake Forest, a school with the same grind-it-out approach as Connecticut.
Who to watch: If UConn QB Tyler Lorenzen can use last week’s efficient game as a springboard for the balance of the season, the Husky offense will be infinitely tougher to stop. He went 13-of-15 for 124 yards and a touchdown, while adding 52 yards rushing on 10 carries. At some point, the Huskies are going to need him to be more of a threat in order to keep defenses from stacking the box on Brown.
What will happen: This is a tough spot for Baylor, which will be traveling to enemy territory to face one of the better coached defenses in the country. Griffin will have his hand in more turnovers than touchdowns, and Brown will stay on fire with his fourth straight 100-yard day to start the season.
CFN Prediction: Connecticut 28 … Baylor 13 ... Line: Connecticut -13
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 2.5
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 Saturday, September 20

Iowa (3-0) at Pitt (1-1), 12:00 EST
Why to watch: Just how good is Iowa? Sure, the Hawkeyes are a nifty 3-0, but the record came against Maine, Florida International, and Iowa State. Yet, after finishing last year so meekly, the program has to feel good about the running game and the play of its defense. A trip to Pittsburgh, Iowa’s first away from Kinnick Stadium, will provide a much better idea of how far it can go in 2008. The Panthers are coming off a bye and a couple of harder-than-expected games with MAC opponents. While Pitt is getting battered in the court of public opinion, the goal of winning a Big East title hasn’t changed. A win over an unbeaten Iowa team could be just what Dave Wannstedt’s kids need to provide some much-needed momentum.
Why Iowa might win: Even after the competition is factored in, it’s hard not to be impressed by a Hawkeye D that’s yet to allow a touchdown in 12 quarters, and is No. 3 nationally in pass efficiency defense. A front seven that’s led by DE Adrian Clayborn, DT Mitch King, and LB A.J. Edds has been a beast, controlling the line of scrimmage and consistently creating pressure. Iowa won’t have a ton to worry about with QB Bill Stull, allowing it to focus on Pitt’s best offensive weapon, RB LeSean McCoy.
Why Pitt might win: The Hawkeyes can pack a punch on defense, but can they score on a quality opponent? In last week’s Iowa State game, the passing game was non-existent and the offense produced one touchdown and a mere 11 first downs. LB Scott McKillop will make sure that Shonn Greene has limited running room, forcing Iowa to pass on third-and-long more than it would like. Ricky Stanzi or Jake Christensen versus the Pitt secondary is a matchup the Panthers will usually take.
Who to watch: King may not be the biggest defensive tackle in the Big Ten, but he is one of the most disruptive. Quick off the snap and technically sound, he’s going to be a four-quarter chore for a Panther offensive line that’s struggling in transition. Pitt is 105^th nationally in sacks allowed and 88^th in rushing, and the numbers aren’t likely to get much better against the Hawkeye front.
What will happen: In one of the toughest and most physical games of the weekend, neither team will get much done offensively. The Hawkeyes will clamp down on McCoy and pick off two Stull passes en route to a hard-fought victory on the road
CFN Prediction: Iowa 27 … Pitt 23  ... Line: PICK
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 3
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- Week 4, Sept. 20 Predictions, Part 2