| Big East Predictions | | | | the last two years, but it may not be too long |
| 1. Pittsburgh Panthers - Pitt is coming off its best | | | | before the Bearcats rise again. Butch Jones is a |
| season in nearly 30 years, but the program is far | | | | good hire, and I expect him to find lots of ways |
| from satisfied considering it blew an excellent | | | | to put QB Zach Collaros in positions to make |
| opportunity to win the league and play in a BCS | | | | plays with his legs and his arm. We saw Cincy's |
| bowl last season. Pitt should get that chance in | | | | defense really get pushed around down the |
| 2010 though. A talented crop returns with running | | | | stretch last season, and I don't see major |
| back Dion Lewis leading the offense and | | | | improvement coming in 2010 on the defensive |
| defensive end Greg Romeus leading the "D". | | | | side of the ball. |
| 2. Connecticut Huskies - UConn lost five games in | | | | 6. South Florida Bulls - Skip Holtz is another great |
| 2009, but it is certainly worth noting that all five | | | | hire in the Big East, but he is going to need some |
| of those losses came by four or fewer points. If | | | | time to rebuild a defense that lost NFL ends |
| the Huskies can find a way to turn those tough | | | | George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul. |
| defeats into wins, they will be right in the Big East | | | | 7. Syracuse Orange - We can probably flip a coin |
| title hunt. | | | | to see if Syracuse or Louisville will bring up the |
| 3. West Virginia Mountaineers - Noel Devin returns | | | | rear, but I'm going to give the Orange the |
| following a 1,400-yard, 13 touchdown season on | | | | advantage because they get the Cardinals at |
| the ground, but I feel strongly that the offense | | | | home. Syracuse pulled off a couple wins against |
| will miss QB Jarrett Brown. His departure, and the | | | | bowl teams in 2009, beating Northwestern and |
| fact that WVU must play UConn and Pitt on the | | | | Rutgers, but it could take a small step back with |
| road figures to be enough to keep the | | | | all that was lost on the offensive side of the |
| Mountaineers from a Big East title. | | | | football. |
| 4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Rutgers has the | | | | 8. Louisville Cardinals -It wasn't very long ago that |
| potential to win the Big East because of how solid | | | | Louisville was ranked in the top-10 nationally, and |
| it is defensively. The Scarlet Knights led the | | | | I'm not talking about basketball. A lot has changed |
| conference in both scoring and total defense in | | | | the last few years, but good news appears to be |
| 2009. There are concerns about an offensive line | | | | on the way after hiring former Florida assistant |
| which must replace three starters, and that's why | | | | Charlie Strong. |
| I'm not sold on the Knights finishing higher. We | | | | If you are also interested in seeing how I have all |
| can't forget that Rutgers finished dead last in the | | | | the other conferences playing out, be sure to |
| conference in total offense in 2009. | | | | check out my 2010 college football predictions |
| 5. Cincinnati Bearcats - Cincy figures to give up | | | | preview. |
| the top spot in the conference that it has held | | | | |
