Colleges

Big East predictions

By Greg Auman
Published August 31, 2007

How they will finish

West Virginia

2006 record: 11-2, 5-2 in Big East (tied for second, finished No.10 in the AP poll).

Coach: Rich Rodriguez (50-24, seventh season; 95-60-2 overall).

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 8.

Will compete for national title if ...: The Mountaineers can shore up a defense that gave up an average of 32.2 points in its last six games last year. Quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton will provide plenty of offense. The Big East crown could come down to games at Rutgers Oct. 27 and home against Louisville on Nov. 8.

Louisville

2006 record: 12-1, 6-1 in Big East (first, finished No.6 in the AP poll).

Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (first season; 29-22 overall).

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 5.

Will repeat as Big East champs if ...: The high-scoring offense can produce without coach Bobby Petrino. Quarterback Brian Brohm could win the Heisman with a strong finish - he finishes with three huge games: at West Virginia, at USF and home against Rutgers.

USF

2006 record: 9-4, 4-3 in Big East (tied for fourth).

Coach: Jim Leavitt (70-43, 11th season).

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 7.

Will be this year's Rutgers if ...: The Bulls can establish a strong running game to complement quarterback Matt Grothe in time for September upsets against Auburn or West Virginia. A big road test comes Oct.18 on a Thursday night at Rutgers.

Rutgers

2006 record: 11-2, 5-2 in Big East (tied for second, finished No.12 in the AP poll).

Coach: Greg Schiano (30-41, seventh season).

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 6.

Will validate last year's breakout if ...: They can play well in back-to-back late October home games against USF and West Virginia, setting up a huge regular-season finale Nov.29 at Louisville.

Cincinnati

2006 record: 8-5, 4-3 in Big East (tied for fourth).

Coach: Brian Kelly (1-0, first full season; 138-51-2 overall).

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 8.

Will trump last year's emergence if ...: They can play as well on the road as they did at home last year. Dominant home wins against USF and Rutgers last year were great, but those games are on the road this year, with Louisville and West Virginia two of the Bearcats' three league home games.

Pittsburgh

2006 record: 6-6, 2-5 in Big East (sixth).

Coach: Dave Wannstedt (11-12, third season).

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 6.

Will cost Wannstedt his job if ...: They don't improve and the Panthers miss a bowl game for the third year in a row. Pitt lost some key leaders from last season, so Wannstedt's young recruits have to grow into big roles quickly; if they do, the Panthers can compete as they finish the season with Rutgers, USF and West Virginia in a row.

Connecticut

2006 record: 4-8, 1-6 in Big East (tied for seventh).

Coach: Randy Edsall (41-51, ninth season).

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 6.

Will replace Syracuse as the league's worst team if ...: They can't take advantage of four league home games and beat the league's lower-tier teams. The conference opener at Pitt on Sept.22 will tell a lot, but barring a turnaround, the Huskies will battle Syracuse Nov.17 with last place on the line.

Syracuse

2006 record: 4-8, 1-6 in Big East (tied for seventh).

Coach: Greg Robinson (5-18, third season).

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 4.

Will be remotely competitive only if ...: Things radically change with a younger lineup. All six of their conference losses were by at least 10 points last year, and the Orange failed to score more than 20 in any league game. The cover of the media guide says "SUDDEN IMPACT," but that's an easy punchline. With a 1-13 league record, Robinson needs to show progress in the Big East now.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 10:16:10]