Big East predictions

(Cross posted at our new website: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1592)

The Big East will put out its writers' predictions on Tuesday and I am going to bet UConn will be no better than 5th.

I don't vote in the preseason poll (I think only 1 writer for a school), but if I was going to vote here's my list.

1. Pittsburgh -- QB is an issue, but from running back in Dion Lewis, Baldwin at WR and terrific defensive unit led by Greg Romeus I think this is going to be the year. If they had Stull back (who is playing for the Colonials this year) I would have picked them first without a thought. But, right now I place them first with a little trepidation because of the QB question.

2. UConn -- The Huskies are in for a big year. I think everyone around the program can feel it. They are the most complete team back, but I am cautious about the secondary. While I like the receivers, they do have to establish a Marcus Easley type.  UConn will pressure more this year to make up for the struggles at safety, and if they can get good safety play and return to the physical defense of the past I think we will see them in the Fiesta Bowl.  Zach Frazer is going to have a big year. Secondary scares me -- specifically safety. Offense is going to be terrific. Smash mouth football with a QB who can pass. Big year out of Kashif Moore at WR and Ryan Griffin at TE is what I predict. Plus for UConn --  Pitt, WVU and Cincinnati all at the Rent. the more I am writing, I am tempted to move the Huskies up to first.

3. West Virginia -- Lost a lot, but still have a lot of talent.Love Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. Geno Smith intrigues me at QB. I like this team a lot and there are a ton of starters returning. Under Stewart, however, the team has had two straight 9-4 season. I don't think WVU is going to do better than that this year. Enough talent to win the league, not sure they will be able to put it all together to do it though.

4. Cincinnati -- I don't fear the Bearcats as much without Brian Kelly. Zach Collaros looked great running Kelly's offense, but Cincy getting absolutely waxed in the Sugar Bowl bothers me. Collaros returns at QB, they have Pead back at running back, but no more Mardy Gilyard at WR which is going to hurt. This defense has a lot to replace for the second straight year. Last year Cincinnati was able to overcome a defense overhaul and win big. Butch Jones did a great job replacing Kelly at Central Michigan. Can he do it again? Eventually, but not this year.

5. USF -- Old friend Skip Holtz is now in Tampa and with that fertile recruiting area this program may explode in several years. They have a lot of talent and speed and what's not to like about QB B.J. Daniels? Defense lost a ton with Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie off to the NFL. There are holes there. If USF wins the league I wouldn't be surprised. If they finished in 6th I wouldn't be surprised. The big question is can USF stop the October swoon that plagued them under Jim Leavitt?

6. Rutgers -- Tough to put Rutgers here since they are a bowl caliber team. But, someone has to be sixth is my best defense. More likely Rutgers will be tied with a couple of teams for this spot. I don't expect a 2-5 year in the Big East from the Scarlet Knights.  Why behind the others? This team lost an awful lot of talent. Anthony Davis is gone from the O-Line, Tim brown is no longer at WR and the running game has hardly been explosive with the workman-like Joe Martinek. Mohammed Sanu is their best skill player and Tom Savage has the makings of a terrific player. Rutgers is returning only two offensive linemen. They also lose their top five tacklers from last season including Ryan D'Imperio at linebacker. Rutgers has some pieces -- Savage, Sanu and DE Jonathan Freeny (9 1/2 sacks), but if you think like me that the Top 6 in the Big East are all relatively competitive I would think Rutgers is a question mark with the amount of holes to fill. for my money, top 6 in conference get to bowl games.

7.  Syracuse -- Team is going to be better than  last year, and there is light in Syracuse. Defense looks like it may be a terrific unit. Doug Hogue returns as well as 10 other starters. Delone Carter is a good running back, but at QB who much will the Orange get? Doug Marrone has turned the corner, but it's still years off.

8. Louisville -- Where have you gone Bobby Petrino? New coach in Charlie Strong and while I don't put a lot of stock in recruiting rankings, the Cardinals are making progress. The defense needs to be revamped and while I would expect a bounce-back year for Victor Anderson I don't see much else. Cardinals could challenge for a bowl spot, but this looks to me like it may take a couple of years for Strong to get his players in there and on the field.