Predicted Order of Finish:
1.) Cincinnati - This prediction can be attributed solely to my faith in the coaching brilliance of Brian Kelly. After winning two national titles at Division II Grand Valley State, Kelly went to Central Michigan and promptly turned around the Chippewas. After leaving there, Kelly came to Cincinnati and won the Big East championship in only his second year at the school. News flash: the guy can coach. His offense has always been one to put up points and this year should be no different. QB Tony Pike, who started the 2008 season way down the depth chart, but became the starter due to attrition. After throwing for 2400 yards and 19 TDs, it's safe to say he's the starter again this year. With WR Mardy Gilyard and juco standout Jamar Howard to throw to, Pike should put up even better numbers (provided he stays healthy, of course). No Bearcat has rushed for 100 yards in a game since 2007, but that should change this year. John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey are experienced ball-carriers who should put up solid numbers in Kelly's system. Isaiah Pead and Darrin Williams will provide game-changing speed as backups. On defense...well, there's some work to do. Only one starter returns from a unit that was 25th in the nation in scoring defense last year, FS Aaron Webster. DT Derek Wolfe should provide good play against the run, and LBs J.K. Shaffer and Marcus Waugh will be solid, if not spectacular. However, Cincy will have to win several shootouts if it is going to repeat as Big East champs. The schedule is an odd one. The very first game of the year is a conference contest at Rutgers, so the Bearcats need to come out swinging. However, they only play two more conference road games (at South Florida and Syracuse) before closing the season with a huge road game at Pittsburgh. Win that one, and Cincinnati may be going back to the Orange Bowl.
2.) Pittsburgh - During Dave Wannstedt's tenure, the Panthers have been solid. Not great, not bad, but certainly solid. This is the year they want to be great. Despite the loss of star RB LeSean McCoy, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pitt should have its best team in years. It all starts with an offensive line that returns 4 starters and should give QB Bill Stull plenty of time to throw. The senior doesn't put up flashy numbers, but has a knack for moving his team down the field when he needs to. Boosting the passing game will be WR Jonathan Baldwin, who averaged 22.4 yards per catch last season as a freshman. The running game won't be the same without McCoy, but freshman Dion Lewis looked good in the spring and could turn some heads this fall. On defense, Pitt lost leader Scott McKillop at linebacker, but return 7 starters. The defensive line should be great, led by DEs Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard. The linebacking unit will need some grooming, but Greg Williams should be good from the start. The secondary is battle-tested and SS Dom DeCicco led the Panthers in tackles last year. Expect this unit to be very productive for Wannstedt. We won't know much about Pitt's Big East title hopes until the last two weeks of the season. Traveling to West Virginia for the Backyard Brawl and hosting Cincinnati will tell us all we need to know about the Panthers. Win those two games, and Miami is your destination. Lose them both, and...well, I hear the Sun Bowl would like you back.
3.) West Virginia - Bill Stewart, the floor is yours. Despite upsetting Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl two seasons ago and winning 9 games in his debut season, many fans are still unsure of their head coach. Stewart must prove that he was doing more than riding the coattails of playmaker Pat White. Replacing White is impossible (you don't replace the best player in school history, no matter what), but QB Jarrett Brown has shown some ability in the past few years as White's understudy. Now in his senior year, expect Brown to do big things for the Mountaineers. The best player on the offense is RB Noel Devine, who is so fast he can turn off the lights and be in bed before it gets dark. Devine average over 6 yards per carry last year on his way to a 1,289-yard season. Expect those numbers to balloon in 2009. WRs Alric Arnett and Big East name of the year nominee Jock Sanders will give Brown two very talented targets, as both are playmakers. On defense, the Mountaineers should be very good. DTs Chris Neild and Scooter Berry are the best inside duo in the Big East. LBs Reed Williams, J.T. Thomas, and Big East name of the year nominee Ovid Goulbourne will make plays all over the field. Keep an eye on Williams, especially. The secondary in WVU's 3-3-5 alignment will be stout, led by CB Brandon Hogan and 'Bandit' Robert Sands. The only thing keeping West Virginia from booking reservations to the Orange Bowl is the schedule. Road games at South Florida, Cincinnati, and Rutgers will prove tough; but the Mountaineers pass those tests, the reward could be a Big East championship.
4.) South Florida - This is a weird season for the Bulls. They've been on the cusp of greatness for so long that people are now doubting that they'll ever get there. This season's team looks to be as talented as ever on paper, but the world is waiting for results. QB Matt Grothe, back for what feels like his 7th season, will lead the offense both verbally and statistically. The Bulls' leading passer and rusher last season, expect more of the same from Grothe this year. He'll throw to a talented group of wide receivers led by Carlton Mitchell and Jessie Hester. If not for a retooling offensive line, the Bulls offense could be downright lethal, but expect Grothe and RB Mike Ford to find less room to operate with such an inexperienced front. Defensively, the Bulls go as DE George Selvie goes. Despite being double and triple-teamed all season, he still managed to have a productive 2008. However, when he's unable to get pressure on the opposing QB, the Bulls struggle to stop teams. Joining him on the line are talented DTs Terrell McClain and Aaron Harris. The linebackers are led by Kion Wilson, but look for Big East name of the year nominee Sabbath Joseph to have a breakout junior campaign. The secondary needs to replace a few guys, but CB Jerome Murphy and FS Nate Allen will make sure the unit doesn't slip too far. The scheduling gods have smiled upon the Bulls. Both Cincinnati and West Virginia must travel to Tampa, and the only tough road game appears to be at Pittsburgh. If the Bulls are to make the leap from good to great, this is the year to do so.
5.) Rutgers - After starting the season 1-5, the Scarlet Knights closed the season with a 7-game win streak, including a bowl win. If this momentum is to continue into 2009 (which is a silly statement, but the people on TV use it, so please just let me mock them this one time; thanks), Rutgers will need to find a quarterback to replace the departed Mike Teel. Quickly. Teel was the spark behind the streak and finding someone to fill that void will be tough. Senior Domenic Natale gets the first chance, but don't be surprised if stud freshman Tom Savage is at the helm by the end of the year. He's that good. The receivers are led by WR Tim Brown (no, not that Tim Brown) and will give the new quarterback some good targets. The offensive line is very, very good, so RBs Kordell Young and Jourdan Brooks should find some holes early and often, helping the offense move the chains until the passing game gets its footing. On defense, Rutgers returns 6 starters from a group that finished 19th in the nation in scoring defense last year. LB Ryan D'Imperio is a stud and the leader of the defense, but DE George Johnson could be an all-conference performer by year's end. The secondary is led by CB Devin McCourty, and should be adequate despite some inexperience. Rutgers couldn't have asked for a better schedule. South Florida, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Cincinnati all come to Piscataway this year. Scarlet Knights, the onus is all on you.
6.) Connecticut - The Huskies are trying something new on offense this year. After being entirely to reliant on the running game (and new Colt Donald Brown), they are switching to a no-huddle attack to speed things up. QB Zach Frazer is a new starter, but if he's able to pick up the scheme quickly, the offense should be much, much better. The line returns 3 starters and WRs Brad Kanuch and Kashif Moore give the Huskies dependable receivers on the outside. Don't get it twisted, UConn will still run the ball, most likely with RB Jordan Todman, they're just attempting to have more balance in an effort to score more points. If the Huskies score points, they could surprise in the Big East thanks to their standout defense. The linebackers are superb, the line has talent, and the secondary should come together once they get a few game reps together. LBs Scott Lutrus, Greg Lloyd, and Lawrence Wilson form the top unit in the conference. There may be holes around them on defense, but look for this trio to make play after play after play from day one. The schedule is tough. Road games against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati don't do the Huskies any favors, but they must hold serve at home against Rutgers and South Florida if they are to make a bowl game.
7.) Louisville - Remember the good ol' days under Bobby Petrino when the Cards were nationally-ranked and life was easy? Despite being only 3 years removed from that era, it feels like eons ago. There is no explosiveness on offense and the defense hasn't shown any tenacity in the Steve Kragthorpe era. QB Justin Burke, a transfer from NC State, will try to revive the Cardinals' passing game, and he has the weapons to do it in WRs Josh Chichester and Doug Beaumont. RB Victor Anderson is an absolute workhorse and should eclipse the 1,047 yards he amassed last season. Being 68th in the country in scoring offense simply isn't good enough and Louisville knows that. Expect better numbers from the offense this season. On defense, there are a litany of problems. The defensive line has nobody that can't rush the passer or stop the run. The secondary can't cover anyone, despite the best efforts of CB Johnny Patrick, or create turnovers. The good news is that LBs Jon Dempsey and Antwon Canady are keepers and should be making plays all season long for the Cardinals. Any improvement would be welcomed from the defense, but it's hard to think it will happen this year. The schedule features road games against Cincinnati, West Virginia, and South Florida, so Kragthorpe may find his seat to be even hotter when Louisville misses the postseason yet again.
8.) Syracuse - In case you haven't heard, times are a-changin' in upstate New York. The Orange have hired former Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone, an alumnus of the school, as head coach and have named former Duke PG Greg Paulus as starting quarterback. Offensively, they can't be much worse than last year. Under new coordinator Rob Spence, formerly of Clemson, the Orange will open things up with a wide-open, no-huddle attack. Paulus will need to make smart decisions to make the offense work...like constantly throwing to WR Mike Williams. After being academically ineligible last season, Williams returns to give Syracuse a big time playmaker on offense; something they've desperately needed for a while. RBs Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey form a solid duo and could put up some good numbers in Spence's offense. The return of most of the offensive line bodes even better for the unit's potential. On defense, Syracuse returns 7 starters from a unit that was downright dreadful in 2008. New coordinator Scott Shafer prefers an attacking, blitzing style, and will try to compensate for a lack of talent by putting pressure on the quarterback as much as possible. DT Arthur Jones was an All-Big East player last year, so look for him to lead the defense in a year of transition. Several of this year's starters, including LB Doug Hogue, were playing different positions last season. If the Orange want to surprise people, they'll get their shot. West Virginia and Cincinnati come to the Carrier Dome; and a mini-Big Ten schedule of Minnesota, Penn State, and Northwestern begin the season.
Disappointing Team: South Florida
Surprise Team: Connecticut
Top Players: RB Victor Anderson, Louisville; QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati; QB Matt Grothe, South Florida; DE George Selvie, South Florida; RB Noel Devine, West Virginia
Players to Keep An Eye On: QB Jarrett Brown, West Virginia; WR Mike Williams, Syracuse; WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh; QB Greg Paulus, Syracuse; QB Zach Frazer, Connecticut
Key Games: Cincinnati at South Florida, October 15th; Pittsburgh at Rutgers, October 16th; West Virginia at Cincinnati, November 13th; Pittsburgh at West Virginia, November 27th; Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, December 5th;
Coolest Jerseys: Louisville Cardinals
~~ Lank
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