It’s been a busy week, and I’ve been wanting to get this one out for several days. The Explanation of what I’m doing is here. Here’s Lindy’s and CBS Sportline Preview Mags.

Athlon is one of the early releasers. They hold a special place in preseason mags, because they helped pioneer the cheer-babe contest. Not a lot to say about Pitt, though.

They rank all 119 teams and put Pitt at #49 (p. 36).

As for Pitt’s place in the Big East (p. 40), the conference predictions are:

1. WVU
2. Louisville
3. Rutgers
4. Pitt
5. USF
6. UConn
7. Cinci
8. Syracuse

They go 2 squads on their all conference lists. For the 1st Team All-Big East: John Simonitis, G; H.B. Blades, LB; Darrelle Revis, CB; Adam Graessle, P; Revis, PR. The Second Team only lists Chris McKillop, DE.

As for the team page, I could tell you that they see the season as a growing year, but you can actually read the Pitt preview yourself since they partnered with SI.com. Essentially, they see no reason Pitt can’t have a winning season.

On offense, they seem more concerned about WR and RB than anything else:

But Palko needs some support, and beyond wide receiver Derek Kinder (37 catches for 374 yards), there are far more questions than answers on offense. True freshman wide receiver Dorin Dickerson, a consensus Top 100 recruit, could have an immediate impact. So should classmate Kevin Collier, a tailback brought in to jazz up a running game that ranked 93rd nationally last year. Sophomore LaRod Stephens-Howling was Pitt’s top rusher last fall with only 434 yards, though he did average a solid 4.5 yards per carry.

They almost seem optimistic about the O-line. A lot more than most Pitt fans.

The Defense is trying to get faster to make up for the lack of size. They don’t say much about how they think Pitt will be able to improve against the run.

While not on the SI.com-partnered preview, the print version (p. 131) does try to project the season on the schedule.

5 Likely Wins: UVA, Cinci, Citadel, ‘Cuse and UConn
2 Likely Losses: WVU and L-ville
5 Toss-ups: Mich. St., Toledo, UCF, Rutgers and USF

Back in April when this was put together, I wouldn’t disagree with that kind of projection. Now, with all the problems USF is having getting its recruiting class academically eligible (8 aren’t and 2 others have other issues), I would move USF to a “Likely Win.”

Okay, at what level of desperation do you reach for some college football, to to sit down — on purpose — to hear what Lee Corso has to say about the upcoming season of college football? That’s up to you to decide, except for the final thing which I believe to be rooted in fact.

10. College GameDay will become a two-hour show this fall.

We started 20 years ago with a half-hour show in studio. Then, in 1993, we took it on the road for the first time at the Florida State-Notre Dame game. Then, several years ago, we went to 90 minutes on the road every week. Now, the demand for the show is so great that we’re going to two hours. The College Football Hall of Fame is going to honor the show in December for its contribution to the sport. We are just a bunch of guys sitting around talking about college football. How great is that ?

I have a bad feeling about this. That means more time for longer, more annoying musical intros and graphics; more soft-focus profiles in overcoming tradgedy/hardship/poverty/bad parents/raised by another family member/crime story where “football was his escape/outlet/refuge.”

The Big East will participate in two bowls this year that don’t have all the issues settled.

The latest incarnation of the unnamed bowl to be held in Houston now has a title sponsor, but no name determined. The NFL Network which was going to hold the broadcast rights to the game now holds the naming rights. They haven’t announced the name yet.

Then there is the Birmingham Bowl. They just hired an Assistant AD from Middle Tennessee State as their executive director. His first job is to go out and get a title sponsor for the bowl.

At least there’s a kind of symmetry.