Big East Preview

Favorite: West Virginia

Despite a coaching change, the Mountaineers are the most well-equipped team to make a run at the Big East title. Pat White and the offense will again be one of the most difficult to defend in the nation. The defense has some holes to fill, but since when has defense mattered in Morgantown? The Big East title will be decided in the last two weeks of West Virginia’s season when they travel to Pitt and host USF. Pitt upset the Mountaineers last season and knocked them out of a potential spot in the national title game. I believe West Virginia will only need to split those two games to earn their third BCS bowl berth in four years.

Sleeper: Pittsburgh
If Pitt is able to build on their season capping upset over West Virginia at the end of 2007, they might have a realistic shot at the Big East title. All the pieces seem to be in place, highlighted by the fantastic running of LeSean McCoy on offense and tackling machine Scott McKillop on defense. If Dave Wannstedt can coach the Panthers up, only an early road trip to South Florida will stand in the way of the Backyard Brawl with West Virginia deciding the Big East champion.

On the Rise: Louisville
Poor Steve Kragthorpe. If he had known the mess Bobby Petrino left this program in, he might have reconsidered leaving Tulsa prior to last season. In addition to the rash of off-the-field issues that led to dismissals of several former Petrino players, many of the players that stuck around quit on the Kragthorpe last year, presumably because he introduced an element of discipline to the program that was clearly lacking. Former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English was brought in to fix the defense and it appears Kragthorpe might be in for one more difficult season at Louisville - but the clouds will part soon. Once he gets a core of his own players in place, you’ll see marked improvement in effort and cohesion and Louisville will once again be in the thick of the Big East race.

Declining: Cincinnati
Brian Kelly is no Mark Dantonio. Kelly inherited a good team and won, but his inattention to detail (Kelly openly admits to not caring about finishing last in the Big East in penalties) will catch up with him this season when they won’t be able to sneak up on teams anymore. Cincinnati will still be a bowl team with a potent offense, but they won’t win 10 games again.

PROJECTED STANDINGS & RECORDS

1. West Virginia	10-2 (6-1 conference)
2. South Florida	9-3 (5-2)
3. Pittsburgh	8-4 (4-3)
4. Rugters	8-4 (4-3)
5. Connecticut	7-5 (3-4)
6. Cincinnati	8-5 (3-4)
7. Louisville	6-6 (3-4)
8. Syracuse	2-10 (0-7)

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Offense: Pat White (QB, West Virginia)
Defense: George Selvie (DE, South Florida)
Special Teams: Pat McAfee (K/P, West Virginia)

NATIONAL AWARDS CANDIDATES
Noel Devine (RB, WVU) – Sayers
Matt Grothe (QB, USF) - Frazier
LeSean McCoy (RB, Pitt) – Bo Jackson, Sayers, J.Pike’s Fave
Mike Mickens (CB – Cincy) – Deion
George Selvie (DE, USF) - Arrington
Pat White (QB, WVU) – Bo Jackson, Frazier
Gold Wrenches:
West Virginia offensive line
Rutgers defensive line