2009 Big East Fearless Predictions
Week 1 ... Sept. 6 Games, Part 2
Cincinnati
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Connecticut
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Louisville
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Pittsburgh
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Rutgers
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South
Florida |
Syracuse
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West
Virginia
Big East Fearless Predictions
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Week 1, Part 1
Connecticut (0-0) at Ohio (0-0),
7:00 pm ET
Why To Watch: With a rare opportunity to host an opponent from a BCS conference, Ohio and head coach Frank Solich are bucking to put on a good show in the opener. After peaking in 2006 with nine wins and an East Division title, the Bobcats have gone just 8-14 versus FBS opponents since. With six starters back on both sides of the ball, this is a crucial year for Solich in Athens. Connecticut’s mission in 2009? Remain on the tracks even after losing four players, including 2,000-yard rusher Donald Brown, to the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. These are heady times for the Huskies, whose eight wins included the second bowl victory in school history. Head coach Randy Edsall owns the secret sauce on how to produce more from less, which should temper the predictions of UConn’s demise.
Why Connecticut Might Win: No disrespect to Solich, but few schools are better coached at the fundamentals than Connecticut, which will be especially obvious in Week 1. Look for the Huskies to attack Ohio’s biggest defensive weakness, stopping the run. No, you don’t get better by losing Brown, but Connecticut will have no problem shoving the Bobcats off the line of scrimmage and opening gaping holes for the backs. Oh, and do not sleep on the backfield successors. Jordan Todman showed flashes as a reserve in his freshman year and Andre Dixon was named All-Big East two seasons ago.
Why Ohio Might Win: While the Bobcat offense won’t make other teams beg for mercy, it did finish strong and has the potential to be much better than a year ago. Dual-threat Boo Jackson returns at quarterback after accounting for 22 touchdowns, and Taylor Price and LaVon Brazill give the offense two gifted and experienced wide receivers. While Connecticut won’t be a pushover, it loses five key starters from last year’s team and could be more vulnerable than usual early on.
Players To Watch: No single player controls the fate of Connecticut in 2009 more than QB Zach Frazer. The former Notre Dame transfer gets his shot behind center to run the Huskies’ new hurry-up system being installed by Joe Moorhead. He has the physical skills to be successful, but needs to elevate the play of a weak group of receivers and give the offense a rare dose of balance and unpredictability.
What Will Happen: Although the Huskies could come out a little sluggish on the road, they’ve got too much speed and talent to be picked off by a mediocre MAC team. They’ll have success on the ground, running for more than 150 yards, and easily win the turnover battle. The linebacker trio of Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson, and Greg Lloyd will make sure few plays get beyond the second line of defense.
CFN Prediction: Connecticut 27 … Ohio 14 ... Line:
Connecticut -4
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) … 2 ...
Free Expert Football Predictions
Wofford (0-0) at South Florida (0-0),
7:00 pm ET
Why To Watch: Has South Florida fallen completely off the national radar? It sure seems that way. Ever since peaking in October of 2007, the Bulls have settled back into anonymity, basically playing .500 ball and appearing in second-rate bowl games. With the foundation set, head coach Jim Leavitt is hoping to recapture some of the magic, with the help of QB Matt Grothe and DE George Selvie, his cornerstones on offense and defense, respectively. As FCS programs go, Wofford presents a decent challenge. The Terriers went 9-3 out of the tough Southern Conference a year ago, and one of those losses was a 10-point tussle at South Carolina.
Why Wofford Might Win: The Terriers have a veteran, savvy team that will wear down opponents with their no-nonsense running game. Even with Mike Rucker and Mitch Allen expected to take over at running back and quarterback, respectively, Wofford should once again be among the nation’s elite ground attacks. The longer the Terriers can play keep-away, the more frustrated the home team is likely to become.
Why South Florida Might Win: You can beat the Bull defense, but not with a one-dimensional offense. Wofford has no passing game, which will allow South Florida to press up defenders, like LB Kion Wilson and S Nate Allen, to stop the run. Mounting a comeback will be improbable, especially with the ability of DE George Selvie and DT Terrell McClain to collapse the pocket. Offensively, the Bulls’ stable of experience and speedy playmakers will be too much for a weak Terrier D. Grothe is back for his fourth season as a starter, surrounded by a good corps of backs and receivers.
Players To Watch: Grothe will make his share of plays with his arm and feet. That’s become commonplace in Tampa over the last three years. However, if the South Florida offense is going to take a step forward, it’ll need more production from its running backs. Paging Moise Plancher. The senior with the golden opportunity is about to step into a feature role now that Mike Ford is suspended and Jamar Taylor is injured. If he plays well enough, he’s liable to shed the interim tag when Ford returns.
What Will Happen: Wofford is liable to slow this game down and frustrate South Florida for a quarter or more. Eventually, the Bulls will shake loose from the Terriers, popping a big play or two on offense and creating a couple of turnovers on defense. The outcome should go as planned, provided South Florida doesn’t look past its visitors. If it does, however, this could be a dogfight in the second half.
CFN Prediction: South Florida 31 … Wofford 14 ... Line:
No Line
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) … 1.5 ...
Free Expert Football Predictions
Indiana State (0-0) at Louisville (0-0),
7:30 pm ET
Why To Watch: For a beleaguered Louisville program, which doesn’t get another breather until Halloween, a visit from an FCS school is an ideal way to start a new season. The 2006 Big East champs have had issues since Steve Kragthorpe was hired, going just 11-13 in his two years and sinking dangerously close to the bottom of the league. This could be the coach’s final season with the program if he can’t surprise most people and produce a bowl-contending team. Indiana State isn’t just your average lower-division opponent. It’s one of the most feeble schools in the country, coming off an 0-12 season that featured a steady diet of one-sided routs.
Why Indiana State Might Win: If there’s one thing the Sycamores do modestly well, it’s run the football. Last year’s top three rushers return, led by Darrius Gates, who capped the 2008 season by ripping off 237 yards on the ground. In Louisville, Indiana State will be facing a defense that has shown no ability to get backfield pressure and has problems when the ball is in the air. If Indiana State can mix in a little passing with that running game, the Cards could be vulnerable.
Why Louisville Might Win: Against this Indiana State defense, you’re not going to know that the Cardinals are breaking in a new quarterback. In fact, you might think that Brian Brohm somehow located an additional year of eligibility. Louisville has a nice collection of skill position talent that’ll be on full display on this night. The best of the bunch is shifty RB Victor Anderson, who had 1,000 yards in his debut, and could get a quarter of the way there if allowed to stay in the game long enough. Receivers Scott Long, Doug Beaumont, and Josh Chichester form an underrated group that’ll have few problems shaking free from the Sycamore defensive backs.
Players To Watch: If Louisville is going to exceed modest expectations in 2009, it needs a quarterback that can best employ those receivers and keep defenses from ganging up on Anderson. Hunter Cantwell wasn’t the answer in 2008, opening the door for some intense competition in the offseason. For now, the nod goes to NC State transfer Justin Burke, who gets an opportunity to shine in an offense that’s a decent quarterback away from being borderline potent.
What Will Happen: For Louisville, this visit from lowly Indiana State will be about building some confidence and momentum, while sorting out the situation at quarterback. The Cards will cruise early and often, basically being able to name their score against an overmatched opponent. They better enjoy it because it may not happen again in 2009.
CFN Prediction: Louisville 52 … Indiana State 7 ... Line:
No Line
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) … 1 ...
Free Expert Football Predictions
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Week 1, Part 1