Big East Football Power Rankings after Week #9

At the beginning of this season I said that seven teams in the Big East could realistically win this conference, and after nine weeks of action the statement still holds true. It’s been over two full months since the season kicked off, and we still know nothing- except to tune in next week because who knows what we might see.

Teams and rankings are listed below and make sure to take a look at our Week 9 football recap. For more Big East football coverage be sure to check the Big East football standings & weekly Big East scores.

1. West Virginia 5-2, (2-0): For the first time all season, this West Virginia offense looked like what we expected- outscoring Auburn 24-0 in the second half. If the defense continues to play like it has, and we see the Noel Devine from Thursday night, no one is beating the Mountaineers the rest of the regular season.
2. Connecticut 6-2, (2-1): There’s no doubt that UConn is a different team at home- as they won their 11 th consecutive game at Rentschler Field Saturday (it didn’t hurt that Cincinnati turned the ball over six times). We find out exactly how good the Huskies are this weekend, when West Virginia comes to town.
3. Pittsburgh 5-2, (2-1): It wasn’t so much that the Panthers lost- but how embarrassing it was- giving up 54 points to a team which had scored just two touchdowns in its previous two games. Pittsburgh still controls its own destiny in the Big East, but needs to win at Notre Dame this weekend to silence its critics.
4. Louisville 5-2, (1-1): I’ve said it all year, and it came true on Saturday- Louisville can beat anyone in this conference. Give coach Steve Kragthorpe credit for rallying his troops after last seasons debacle, likely becoming bowl eligible this weekend at Syracuse.
5. Rutgers 3-5, (2-2): Just when we were ready to bury the Scarlet Knights, look who decided to show up. Greg Schiano might have received a little too much credit when his team was winning the past few seasons, but keeping this group focused and hungry in the midst of the turmoil of 2008 may be his best coaching job yet.
6. South Florida 5-2, (1-2): The Bulls proved once again they’re not ready for the prime-time, losing for the second time in three weeks Saturday. If can’t beat Cincinnati Thursday night, they’ve got virtually nothing to play for the remainder of the season.
7. Cincinnati 5-2, (1-1): We know Cincinnati isn’t as bad as they played on Saturday, as the Bearcats went 0-14 on third down and turned the ball over six times. Their next four games are South Florida, at West Virginia, at Louisville and Pittsburgh at home. If the Bearcats offense doesn’t get going, there might not be a win among them.
8. Syracuse 1-6, (0-2): Five weeks and five games. That’s all that’s left in the chapter of Syracuse football known as, “the Greg Robinson era.”