Big East Football Week #1 Preview

The Big East football season opens this weekend with all eight teams in action. While West Virginia is the favorite to win its third conference title in the past four years, the rest of the conferences teams are gaining on the Mountaineers. Several believe they have what it takes to claim the league championship. And while some star power was lost with Steve Slaton, Brian Brohm and Ray Rice in the NFL, the conference does return a bevy of playmakers ready to take their place in the spotlight. Finally, even though the Big East was thought to be left for dead after Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College left, it is as strong as ever with five teams coming off bowl games and three Top 25 teams to start the season.

Hofstra Pride 0-0 (0-0 CAA) @ Connecticut Huskies 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Thursday, August 28 - 7:30 pm

Defending Big East co-champion opens its 2008 season with I-AA opponent Hofstra. Not much is being made of UConn, despite returning 17 starters. Leading the offense is the efficient Tyler Lorenzen who completed 56 percent of his passes last season, a big reason why the Huskies had their most successful campaign since joining the I-A ranks in 2002. Expect an experienced offensive line to open huge holes against an overmatched Hofstra front for the two headed running back tandem of Donald Brown and Andre Dixon, the latter a second team All-Big East performer in 2007.

Defensively UConn has speed and talent all over the field. It must replace only three starters, but two- linebacker Danny Lansanah and cornerback Tyvon Branch, are in NFL training camps this summer. Freshman All-American linebacker Scott Lutrus leads this bunch, which will give the Pride - who’ll be breaking in a new quarterback- trouble all night long.

Randy Edsall coached teams are always prepared and rarely play down to their competition. Look for UConn to run the ball consistently, keep the clock moving and win with ease. The Huskies won’t show much to its future competition, but won’t have to.

Connecticut 35 - Hofstra 10

Eastern Kentucky Colonels 0-0 (0-0 OVC) @ Cincinnati Bearcats 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Thursday, August 28 - 7:30 pm

Year one of the Brian Kelly era was an all out success, with the Bearcats winning 10 games a season ago, including a victory over Southern Miss in the Papa Johns Bowl.

For Cincinnati to continue on the good fortune of a year ago, Dustin Grutza (who it is assumed will be the starter) will have to fill Ben Mauk’s big shoes at quarterback. In one season after transferring from Wake Forest, Mauk was the Bearcats “Mr. Everything,” throwing for over 3000 yards and 31 touchdowns. Luckily for Grutza, Cincinnati does return two of the Big East’s best wide receivers in senior Dominick Goodman and sophomore Marcus Barnett.

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The Colonels will struggle when they have the ball as Cincinnati returns a defense that features two All-Americans- defensive tackle Terrill Byrd and Mike Mickens at cornerback. Despite the talent those two, Cincinnati did lose its two starting defensive ends and safety Haruki Nakamura, one of the units emotional leaders.

Much like Connecticut, don’t expect Cincinnati to show much in their season opener. With a trip to Oklahoma in Week 2, the Bearcats are trying to simply get through Eastern Kentucky and start preparing for the Sooners.

Cincinnati 41 - Eastern Kentucky 14

Syracuse Orangemen 0-0 (0-0 Big East) @ Northwestern Wildcats 0-0 (0-0 Big 10)

Saturday, August 30 - 12 pm - ESPN2

The great thing about opening week is every team- even the Syracuse Orangemen- believe they can have a successful season. Well sorry Orange Nation, it isn’t happening. But look on the bright side - you’ll likely lose enough games to get coach Greg Robinson fired!

Although Northwestern isn’t a traditional power, they do return the Big 10’s most underrated quarterback in C.J. Bacher who threw for 3,656 yards last season. For Syracuse to stay in this game, their defensive front- especially tackle Arthur Jones must get pressure on Bacher, who has proven to be mistake prone (19 interceptions in 2007).

Offensively, there is some hope for the Orange, but so much of their success rests on the ability of the offensive line to protect quarterback Andrew Robinson. The unit gave up 54 sacks last season. Both Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley appear to be healthy at running back, but again, if the offensive line can’t open holes, it does little to put points on the board.

The one thing Syracuse has going for it in this game is that its best unit- the defensive line, is going directly against Northwestern’s worst - its offensive line. For the Orange to have chance in this game, Jones, and defensive ends Brandon Gilbeaux and Vincenzo Giruzzi need to keep the pressure on Bacher. Even so, this offense will have trouble scoring, even against one the Big 10’s softer defenses.

Looking at the roster, there is little reason to believe it will be anything but another long season in Syracuse. It will start in Week 1 against Northwestern.

Northwestern 38 - Syracuse 14

Bowling Green Falcons 0-0 (0-0 MAC) @ Pittsburgh Panthers 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Saturday, August 30 - 12 pm - ESPNU

Has there ever been more optimism over a team which finished the previous year with a 5-7 record than the 2008 Pittsburgh Panthers? Excitement is high in the Steel City, as Pitt returns 14 starters- including the college football’s top freshman running back in 2007 and the nation’s leading tackler- to a team which ended last season with a stunning 13-9 upset of West Virginia. However, the Panthers better not look past the Bowling Green Falcons, who return plenty of offensive firepower of their own and are coming off an eight win season.

When Pittsburgh has the ball, expect plenty of fireworks from sophomore LeSean “Shady,” McCoy. The sleek McCoy is one the nations top returning running backs, finishing his freshman campaign with over 1300 yards. He is certainly not the only weapon on an offense which welcomes back wide receiver Derek Kinder, a 2006 All-Big East performer, who missed last year with a knee injury and Jonathan Baldwin, another receiver who most consider to be the top freshman in the Big East this season.

Defensively, the Panthers will have their hands full with a Bowling Green offense which has the ability to put points up against anyone. Expect Falcons quarterback Tyler Sheehan to throw the ball all over the field in Week 1, as the junior finished last season passing for 3,264 yards. The Falcons also return their top three rushers from last season, but must replace three starters on the offensive line. While the Panthers defense does feature All-American linebacker Scott McKillop (who led the nation in tackles in 2007) it must get a pass rush on Sheehan - no easy task when replacing your two starting defensive ends.

Pitt fans beware- the Panthers will have their hands full in Week 1. Remember, the Falcons went on the road last year and shocked Minnesota, and Sheehan will be throwing against a Pittsburgh secondary breaking in two new starters. However, the Bowling Green defense is suspect after giving up 207 yards a game on the ground last season and over 32 points per contest. Expect McCoy to have a big game, as Pitt eases Bill Stull in at quarterback (only 30 career passes). It won’t be pretty, but look for Pitt to pull away late in the second half from a pesky Bowling Green team.

Pittsburgh 34 - Bowling Green 24

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Villanova Wildcats 0-0 (0-0 CAA) @ West Virginia Mountaineers 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Saturday, August 30 - 3:30 pm - ESPN Gameplan

As long as Pat White remains at quarterback for the Mountaineers, this will continue to be one of the most exciting offenses in college football.

The electrifying White returns for his final season in Morgantown as the two-time Big East offensive player of the year, and could easily add to his trophy case this year with loads of talent returning around him. Sophomore running back Noel Devine came to Morgantown last year with as much hype as any freshman in the country, and didn’t disappoint. The diminutive 5’8 speedster averaged close to nine yards a carry in limited time behind Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt. The backfield is his to share with White now, and expect the two to put together a highlight package from week to week, leaving Big East defenders in their dust.

As potent as the offense is however, a defense which only returns four starters has to be keeping new coach Bill Stewart up at night. Morty Ivvy (who sounds much more like a 60-year-old accountant than a Big East linebacker) returns with Reed Williams to lead the unit. Even with old coach Rich Rodriguez off to Michigan, the Mountaineers will still use the unorthodox 3-3-5 defense their former coach made famous. Scooter Berry is the only returning starter on one of the Big East’s top defensive lines a year ago.

It should be just another day in the office for White, Devine and the Mountaineers as they open their season against Villanova. Coach Bill Stewart has vowed to keep White in the pocket more this season, and against an overmatched Week 1 opponent, don’t expect too much from a usually high powered West Virginia offense. The Mountaineers will still score in bunches, and win this one with ease.

West Virginia 49 - Villanova 10

Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks 0-0 (0-0 OVC) @ South Florida Bulls 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Saturday, August 30 - 7:30 pm

Everyone’s favorite sleeper to win the Big East, the South Florida Bulls, open their 2008 campaign against a feisty I-AA opponent- the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. Optimism is high in Tampa, as the Bulls bring back 15 starters to a team which won nine games a season ago, but finished with an embarrassing 56-21 loss in the Sun Bowl.

Offensively, the Bulls are led by Matt Grothe a third year starter, who’s not quite the 6’0 he’s listed. What Grothe lacks in stature he makes up for in heart, however. Think of him as a “diet,” version of West Virginia’s Pat White- not a phenomenal passer, not as fleet a foot as White, but always seems to make the play which breaks the opposing defenses back. He’ll share the backfield with Mike Ford- a once heralded recruit who opened his career with twelve touchdowns for South Florida a season ago. For the Bulls to stay among the nation’s elite, they’ll need a big season from Ford. It should help that he’ll be running behind an experienced line, which returns four starters.

The Bulls may have a few shortcomings on defense after losing stalwarts Ben Moffitt, Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins to graduation. But those losses may go unnoticed if defensive end George Selvie has a season like he did a year ago. The junior defensive end was an All-American in 2007, racking up 31.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. Because he will be facing constant double teams this season, don’t expect Selvie to put up those same numbers. Conversely, it will free up others such as senior linebackers Tyrone McKenzie and Brouce Mompremier to make plays.

Like Connecticut, Cincinnati and West Virginia, the Bulls opening week game against this I-AA opponent isn’t so much about looking pretty, as simply executing, staying healthy and leaving the field with a win. The Bulls have a road game at Central Florida in Week 2, so expect the Bulls to put away the Skyhawks early and get the second team on the field.

South Florida 49 - Tennessee-Martin 13

Kentucky Wildcats 0-0 (0-0 SEC) @ Louisville Cardinals 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Sunday, August 31 - 3:30 pm - ESPN

What is to be made of these Louisville Cardinals? This is a team which returns only seven starters from a team which was one of college football’s most disappointing in 2007. Record setting quarterback Brian Brohm is now with the Green Bay Packers, but is replaced by fifth-year senior Hunter Cantwell, who will likely be playing on Sundays next year himself. Coach Steve Kragthorpe did take the necessary steps to improve this team, dismissing several troublesome players and hiring two new coordinators - Brohm’s brother Jeff to run the offense, and Ron English (formerly of Lloyd Carrs staff at Michigan) who’ll be in charge of the defense. Luckily for the Cardinals, their opening opponent, Kentucky, have just as many questions.

Kragthorpe insists that this will be a more run-oriented offense this season after losing Brohm- however, for Louisville to be successful, they will rely on Cantwell. The former walk-on is a true leader who has started games in the past- including the 2006 Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech. The problem is, there just isn’t a lot of experience around him. The Cardinals don’t know what they will get from their receivers (Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas graduated and JaJuan Spillman was thrown off the team) or its line, who’s only experience is with Eric Wood and George Bussey. And while Louisville does plan to run the ball, none of its backs - Brock Bolen, Bilal Powell or Victor Anderson is proven.

Defensively, there may be more concern for the Cardinals. This unit returns only four starters, and with the previously mentioned dismissals, has little depth. Adding to the concern is Kragthorpe’s announcement on a media call Monday, August 25, that the Cardinals will start two junior college transfers and a true freshman at linebacker- not exactly the re-assurance Cardinal nation was hoping for. Louisville will be going against an in-experienced Kentucky offense however, with Wildcats quarterback Mike Hartline being named the starter only after Curtis Pulley was dismissed from the team.

Last season’s tailspin began for Louisville after a last second loss at Kentucky. The same may happen again this year. With so many unproven players and so little depth, it is hard to imagine this team competing with many in the Big East, let alone Kentucky on opening night. Kragthorpe will remain on the hot seat, as Louisville will start the 2008 season with a loss.

Kentucky 31 - Louisville 20

Fresno State Bulldogs 0-0 (0-0 WAC) @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0-0 (0-0 Big East)

Monday, September 1 @ 4 pm - ESPN

Of all the opening week games in the Big East, this is easily the most intriguing. Both teams believe they have Top 25 caliber teams and aspire to play in New Years Day bowls. For Fresno State, the stakes are even higher, as they believe they have the talent to become the third WAC team in three years (Boise State in 2006 and Hawaii in 2007) to play in a BCS bowl game. They won’t be able to do that if they don’t win their season opener against Rutgers.

The key to this game will be Rutgers veteran-laden, always tough defense against Fresno’s high-powered and equally experienced offense. The Scarlet Knights will more than have their hands full with one of the most balanced offenses in college football last season ( Fresno State rushed for 2742 yards in 2007 and passed for 2712). The Bulldogs bring 10 returning offensive starters to Rutgers Stadium including four offensive linemen, a stable of tailbacks and quarterback Tom Brandtater who threw for 2654 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Rutgers defense is just as impressive especially at linebacker where they are so deep that Damaso Munoz, a starter last year will likely be relegated to a backup role in 2008. The defensive backfield is also a strength, where senior Courtney Greene and twin brothers Devin and Jason McCourty return.

For the Rutgers offense to be as successful as it was a year ago, it must find a way to replace the best running back in school history- Ray Rice. To do so, expect Rutgers to go to the air more, as it returns two 1000 yard receivers- Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. Much maligned quarterback Mike Teel showed a lot of heart last season playing virtually the entire year with an injured thumb- and still threw for over 3000 yards. For this unit to be truly exceptional though, it must replace three starters on the offensive line. It helps that left tackle is manned by Anthony Davis- a freshman All-American last season.

Fresno State’s BCS aspirations will likely end in Week 1. Although Greg Schiano has proven to be a bit overrated, his defenses usually play best in their biggest games - especially at home. Look for Rutgers to limit Fresno State’s passing ability with Greene and the McCourty’s all over the Bulldogs receivers. That leaves Fresno State’s line forced to open holes against a very good Rutgers defensive front and a group of speedy linebackers. When Rutgers has the ball Teel will have to make plays against the Bulldogs secondary - probably the best in the WAC. But big targets Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood should be able to do just enough to keep Fresno’s defense honest, so that Rutgers can go to its patented power running game.

It will be close into the fourth quarter, but Rutgers will win this one.

Rutgers 28 - Fresno State 20

By Aaron Torres
BigEast-fans.com Staff Writer