Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard [1] breaks a tackle from Connecticut defensive back Robert McClain [42] and runs up the field during the Bearcats' Nov. 7 game against the Huskies. Cincinatti has to go through Pittsburgh to clinch the Big East Title with a BCS bid. Photo: AP/Al Behrman
Today is the right time to predict a bowl game for each bowl eligible team in the Big East. Bowl bids and bowl matchups may be up in the air for the six bowl eligible teams, but with one week left in the regular season, the predictions can easily be narrowed down.
The Big East teams has been inconsistent this season with teams entering and falling out of the Top 25. But here are some of the things we've learned about this season that can help us get an idea of a bowl bid for each team:
1. No. 5 Cincinnati and No. 14 Pittsburgh are the two best teams in the Big East. They will play each other this Saturday at 12 noon. The winner of this game will clinch the Big East and get a BCS bid.
2. Rutgers, South Florida, and No. 24 West Virginia had been ranked in the Top 25 at least once this season. In the following conference game as a ranked team, the unranked Big East opponent has knocked them out of the rankings. West Virginia, however, pulled their way back up to the Top 25.
3. Connecticut could've easily been right where Cincinnati is right now. Although the Huskies are 6-5, all five of their losses were lost by a combined 15 points. Only thing that was missing in those five losses was the ability to finish the game.
4. Louisville and Syracuse are once again the underachievers of the Big East. Louisville has not had a winning season since former head coach Bobby Petrino resigned. Syracuse looked to have gained momentum this season with a new coach and new talented quarterback, but the Orangemen still need to match up better against their Big East opponents.
We all know that Louisville and Syracuse will be watching the bowl games on TV for the holidays. However, we still have yet to know the bowl game for each bowl eligible team in the Big East. But here are my predictions for the six Big East teams that will be playing in the postseason:
1. Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0, 6-0)
Cincinnati has the most electrifying offense in the Big East regardless of who's the quarterback. Seeing this team go 12-0 on the regular season with a BCS bowl bid should not be a surprise for anyone, although the BCS computer rankings will more likely snub the Bearcats from clinching a spot in the National Title Game. However, their biggest test for the Big East title comes this Saturday when they play Pittsburgh on the road.
Predicted bowl bid: Sugar Bowl----Cincinnati is favored to win over Pittsburgh. They will more likely see Alabama in New Orleans, LA for the Sugar Bowl since Florida is likely to beat Alabama in the SEC Title Game on Dec. 5. Winning this BCS bowl will complete Cincinnati's best college football season ever.
2. Pittsburgh Panthers (9-2, 5-1)
Pittsburgh turned out to be a better team than most people expected. Quarterback Bill Stull is the conference's top-rated quarterback and running back Dion Lewis is fifth in the nation in rushing (1,446). Will the conference's second-seeded defense be able to handle Cincinnati's offensive attack?
Predicted bowl bid: Gator Bowl----The Sun Bowl will be taking a Big 12 team this year. Pittsburgh, along with a few other Big East teams, can no longer worry about 6-6 Notre Dame playing in the Gator Bowl. The Panthers could be playing former Big East foe Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3, 4-2)
West Virginia has the best running game in the Big East, led by running back Noel Devine who averages 112 rushing yards per game. This may not be their year for a BCS bid, but the Mountaineers could go as high as the Gator Bowl if they take care of Rutgers on the road this Saturday while Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati at home. But don't be surprise if a motivated Rutgers team spoil their chances for the Gator Bowl just as they nearly did in 2006 in the season finale in Morgantown, WV.
Predicted bowl bid: Papajohns.com Bowl----West Virginia could be smelling pizza after playing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last season. Any Big East bowl weaker than the Papajohns.com Bowl is not a sexy bowl for an 8-4 or 9-3 team that gets national attention. Since the Papajohns.com Bowl will feature an SEC team, having West Virginia play Kentucky or Arkansas makes more sense than having them play against a vulnerable Conference USA or MAC team that is not No. 18 Houston.
4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-3, 3-3)
This college football season has been a unique year for a Rutgers team that has a true freshman quarterback in Tom Savage leading the way. The true freshman starters on both offense and defense have been true playmakers and the future looks bright for the Scarlet Knights. Head coach Greg Schiano and the current senior players still remember the 2006 season finale when they were a missed field goal from clinching their first ever Big East Title.
Predicted bowl bid: Meineke Car Care Bowl----Rutgers must upset West Virginia to avoid a low-quality bowl bid. With a 9-3 record, this bowl bid for Rutgers would be the reality since it would take a miracle for the Gator Bowl committee to pick Rutgers over Pittsburgh for the Jacksonville, FL game if Cincinnati wins Saturday's showdown. Rutgers, if given the Meineke Car Care Bowl, could be seeing former Big East foe Boston College, but Florida State is also in consideration by the bowl's committee.
5. South Florida Bulls (7-4, 3-3)
Redshirt freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels has led the Bulls to their fifth consecutive bowl bid. South Florida this season pulled a couple big wins against then No. 18 Florida State and West Virginia. However, this is the fourth season in a row that the Bulls has suffered another second-half season collapse.
Predicted bowl bid: International Bowl----South Florida is still in consideration for the Papajohns.com Bowl, but that depends on whether or not West Virginia defeats Rutgers. South Florida has to get through UConn this Saturday if they, too, want to avoid a low-quality bowl bid against a MAC team that could more likely be Ohio. But a road win in cold New England weather doesn't look possible due to the momentum UConn picked up in their last two wins against Notre Dame and Syracuse.
6. Connecticut Huskies (6-5, 3-4)
This season has been a very emotional year for the UConn players after losing former teammate Jasper Howard. UConn had their backs against the wall after losing three straight close games to West Virginia, Rutgers, and Cincinnati. But after claiming bowl eligibility in Saturday's 56-31 win against Syracuse, the Huskies look to be back on track.
Predicted bowl bid: St. Petersburg Bowl----Any bowl bid would do if you're UConn. Many fans thought their season was over when they had to get through Notre Dame to stay alive for a bowl bid. A potential matchup for the Huskies in the St. Petersburg Bowl could be either Southern Miss or Central Florida.
At least two Big East teams will accept a bowl bid before their final game. Other bowl predictions can be found on ESPN.com and CBSSports.com.
Comments
Gator bowl will take WVU, hands down, because WVU puts people in the seats. Gator Bowl officials have already stated West Virginia is their first choice and a loss @ Rutgers would not knock WVU out of the game. And, if the Gator Bowl would take someone else, there's no way the Car Care bowl passes on WVU. Its all about the $$$, and no teams' fans travel as well as WVU's fans.
Rutgers has over 500,000 alumni in the US and has as many RU alumni living in Florida as does U of Miami has alumni living in the state. Rutgers also travels extremely well.
Rutgers fans travel better than Pitt fans (who had to return tickets to the Backyard Brawl, which took place 70 miles from their campus... geesh), but do not have the proven track record that WVU has. Gator bowl has already said WVU is top of its list, and a loss to Rutgers would not disqualify WVU from the Gator Bowl. Most likely scenario assuming Cinci beats Pitt and WVU beats Rutgers is WVU to Gator, Pitt to Car Care, Rutgers to PapaJohns. If Rutgers beats WVU, then its probably WVU to Gator, Rutgers to Car Care, Pitt to PapaJohns.
That would be a slap in the face for Pitt if they lose to Cincinnati and end up in the Pizza Bowl while Rutgers (if they win on Saturday) go to the Gator Bowl and WVU go to the Meineke Bowl (again). But I agree, WVU and Rutgers fans travel better than Pitt fans. But when these bowls base their picks on who can put more butts in the seats even if the team is mediocre, they end up with the most odd matchups. What's a 10-2 team against a 7-5 team in any bowl game? Why is 6-6 Florida State being considered for the Meineke Bowl? So they can get embarrassed by a 9-3 team that can slaughter them?
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