2006 Big East Football

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Louisville finished the 2005-06 season with a 5-2 Big East record and 9-3 overall. The Cardinal is 19th in the country in the AP poll and I’m really looking forward to their September 16th matchup with Miami. If they can get past the Hurricanes, and I think they have a legitimate shot at home, you’ll see the buzz about this team grow and the Cardinal’s confidence will grow as well. One advantage that Louisville could have when facing the Mountaineers head to head is that they have a more balanced attack. They can beat you though the air with Brain Brohm, who nearly threw for 3000 yards last season, or on the ground with the other Bush, Michael Bush.

I’m looking for improvement out of Rutgers as well. If some of these middle of the road Big East schools such as Rutgers can take it to some teams from major football conferences, this conference’s status will skyrocket. Last season, defense was their weakness, but this year you will see a more experienced, disciplined secondary which will be able to contain teams and come up with some big game breaking plays. However, they will still be inexperienced at linebacker and I expect West Virginia, among other teams, to run all over these guys. To end on a positive note, tailback Ray Rice and fullback Brian Leonard will once again be a dynamic back field duo. They will help Rutgers control the clock and wear teams down, which will keep their defense off the field and will help Rutgers improve a game or 2 in conference play.

If South Florida wants to get into the thick of things with last season’s top 3 teams all improving, they’ll have to make up the difference on the defensive side of the ball. I think they could once again be a problematic matchup for Louisville as they have arguably the best line backing corps in the conference and they will force the Scarlet Knights to beat them through the air. Consistency at QB will still be an issue for this team, but tailback Ricky Ponton and receiver Amp Hill should deliver big play ability.

The only place for Syracuse to go is up, right? The Orange lost a school record 10 games last season, and they are hoping new coordinator Brian White’s simplified West Coast offense can help send them in the right direction. However, any offensive improvement will be negated by the severe losses they suffered on the defensive side of the ball losing ends Wyche and LaCasse, cornerback Gregory, and speedy safety Anthony Smith. QB Perry Patterson is a senior and if he can get the new offense running smoothly, maybe the ’cuse can sneak up on a couple teams in Big East play, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

I like a lot of Pittsburgh’s position players including QB Tyler Palko, but the Panthers have too many question marks on their offensive and defensive fronts. And that’s why I think you’ll see just another mediocre season out of this team. They brought in some talented freshman to help with their air attack in wide out Dorin Dickerson and tight end Nate Byham, but having too much inexperience at critical positions will keep this team out of the mix for a conference title.

Connecticut is going to have a chance to move up in the Big East standings in 2006-07 just because of their schedule. The Huskies will have 7 home games and no back-to-back road games. However, as favorable as this sounds, their speedy running back, Terry Caulley, will have to run behind the weakest O-line in the conference. Also, get ready for a QB merry-go-round.


Cincinnati, with 47 returning letter winners and 17 returning starters, will have experience on their side. Last year’s 2-5 conference record was no big surprise as the Bearcats were playing 10 true freshman. Those freshman will have to grow up in a hurry, however, as they will make road trips to non conference powers Ohio State and Virginia Tech as well as conference powerhouses Louisville and West Virginia. Like Uconn, Cincy still doesn’t have a solidified number 1 QB as Dustin Grutza didn’t have the best spring. Teams without good leaders under center never do much.