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| 2005 BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW | |
| powered by GREATSEATS.COM | |
| August 1, 2005 | |
| Jonathan, SCS.com Editor | Contact Jonathan |
| NCAA Football Tickets | 2006 ACC Tournament Tickets | Final Four Tickets |
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| PREVIEW HOME | PREVIEW FAQ |
| PROJECTED STANDINGS | TEAM PREVIEWS |
| CAN'T MISS GAMES | ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM |
| TEAM | BIG EAST | OVERALL |
| Louisville | 7-0 | 11-0 |
| Pittsburgh | 5-2 | 8-3 |
| West Virginia | 5-2 | 7-4 |
| South Florida | 3-4 | 5-6 |
| Syracuse | 3-4 | 4-7 |
| Connecticut | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Rutgers | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Cincinnati | 1-6 | 3-8 |
LOUISVILLE
Last Season: 11-1 / 8-0
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 5 defense
Projected wins: at KY, ORST, at USF, FAU, NC, at CIN, RUT, SYR, at CONN
Projected losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: at WVU, PITT
PROJECTED RECORD: 11-0 / 7-0
BOTTOM LINE: Brian Brohm takes over for Stefan LeFors at QB, so don't look for much drop-off there. Six more offensive starters return as well, including three WRs and RB Michael Bush. Every game is winnable.
PITTSBURGH
Last Season: 8-4 / 4-2
Starters Returning: 9 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: at Ohio, Y'Town St, at RUT, CIN, USF, SYR, CONN
Projected losses: at LOU
Toss-Ups: ND, at NEB, at WVA
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-3 / 5-2
BOTTOM LINE: Tyler Palko emerged as a big-time QB late last season, but the Panthers have a new head coach in charge. Still, sixteen starters are back from a team that won six of their final eight games in 2004.
WEST VIRGINIA
Last Season: 8-4 / 4-2
Starters Returning: 4 offense, 5 defense
Projected wins: Wofford, ECU, at RUT, at USF, CONN, at CIN
Projected losses: VT, LOU
Toss-Ups: at SYR, at MD, PITT
PROJECTED RECORD: 7-4 / 5-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Mountaineers missed their chance to make a BCS run in 2004, and now just nine starters return from a year ago. Star players like Rasheed Marshall, Chris Henry, and Pac-Man Jones have all left town.
SOUTH FLORIDA
Last Season: 4-7 / 3-5
Starters Returning: 8 offense, 9 defense
Projected wins: FAMU, UCF, CIN
Projected losses: at PSU, LOU, at MIA, at PITT
Toss-Ups: WVU, at RUT, at SYR, at CONN
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 3-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Bulls won only four games a year ago but return seventeen starters in 2005. If USF can win road games at places like Connecticut and Rutgers, six wins is a definite possibility.
SYRACUSE
Last Season: 6-6 / 4-2
Starters Returning: 5 offense, 9 defense
Projected wins: BUF, RUT, CIN
Projected losses: VA, at FSU, at PITT, at ND, at LOU
Toss-Ups: WVU, at CONN, USF
PROJECTED RECORD: 4-7 / 3-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Orange trounced BC to end the regular season but dropped a bowl game and then their coach. New head man Greg Robinson takes over and faces a brutal first-year non-conference schedule.
CONNECTICUT
Last Season: 8-4 / 3-3
Starters Returning: 5 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: BUF, Liberty, at Army
Projected losses: at GT, at WVU, at PITT, LOU
Toss-Ups: SYR, at CIN, RUT, USF
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 2-5
BOTTOM LINE: UConn was impressive in 2004, winning eight games and going .500 in league play. A dozen starters are back, including RBs Terry Caulley and Cornell Brockington, but QB Dan Orlovsky must be replaced.
RUTGERS
Last Season: 4-7 / 1-5
Starters Returning: 9 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: NOVA, at BUF, CIN
Projected losses: PITT, WVU, at LOU
Toss-Ups: at ILL, at SYR, at CONN, Navy, USF
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 2-5
BOTTOM LINE: The Scarlet Knights have a chance to make some noise in 2005. Seventeen starters are back from a year ago, but that team won just four games. Defending the home turf is crucial.
CINCINNATI
Last Season: 7-5 / 5-3
Starters Returning: 3 offense, 3 defense
Projected wins: EMU, WCU
Projected losses: at PSU, at MIA(OH), at PITT, LOU, at SYR, WVU, at USF, at RUT
Toss-Ups: CONN
PROJECTED RECORD: 3-8 / 1-6
BOTTOM LINE: The Bearcats had good success in 2004, a season that wrapped up their CUSA years and the years of star QB Gino Guidugli. Approaching the .500 mark will be tough for head coach Mark Dantonio.
| Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Tickets | Nokia Sugar Bowl Tickets | Rose Bowl Tickets |
| November 3 | Pittsburgh at Louisville |
| October 15 | Louisville at West Virginia |
| November 24 | Pittsburgh at West Virginia |
| September 30 | Pittsburgh at Rutgers |
| September 17 | Oregon State at Louisville |
| OFFENSE | |||
| OL | Travis Leffew | SR | Louisville |
| OL | Dan Mozes | JR | West Virginia |
| OL | Jason Spitz | SR | Louisville |
| OL | Steve Franklin | SR | Syracuse |
| OL | Charles Spencer | SR | Pittsburgh |
| RB | Cornell Brockington | JR | Connecticut |
| RB | Andre Hall | SR | South Florida |
| WR | Greg Lee | JR | Pittsburgh |
| WR | Tres Moses | SR | Rutgers |
| TE | Clark Harris | JR | Rutgers |
| QB | Tyler Palko | JR | Pittsburgh |
| DEFENSE | |||
| DL | Elvis Dumervil | SR | Louisville |
| DL | Keilen Dykes | SO | West Virginia |
| DL | James Wyche | SR | Syracuse |
| DL | Ryan Neill | SR | Rutgers |
| LB | H.B. Blades | JR | Pittsburgh |
| LB | Brandon Johnson | SR | Louisville |
| LB | Stephen Nicholas | JR | South Florida |
| DB | Jahmile Addae | SR | West Virginia |
| DB | Josh Lay | SR | Pittsburgh |
| DB | Mike Lorello | SR | West Virginia |
| DB | Anthony Smith | SR | Syracuse |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
| K | Josh Cummings | SR | Pittsburgh |
| P | Adam Graessle | JR | Pittsburgh |
| AP | Montrell Jones | SR | Louisville |
| Orange Bowl Tickets | Virginia Football Tickets | Maryland Football Tickets |
Photos Courtesy: ncaafootball.com, cnnsi.com, msnsportsnet.com, scarletknights.com, suathletics.com, usforacle.com, uconnhuskies.com, ucbearcats.com
