Last week’s record; season record: 7-1 (including the USF win); 7-1

Thursday, September 13, 2007

(5) West Virginia vs. Maryland, 7:30 pm EDT
WVU struggled a bit in the first half at Marshall last week. Their ability to adjust is very valuable, though.

“A lot of teams come out with a good defensive scheme. It takes a bit to fix it,” said All-American junior running back Steve Slaton, who has rushed for 23 yards combined in the first half of both games this season. “Every team will give us a shot.”

Maryland will give their best shot but White and Slaton will shake it off for the win.
Pick: West Virginia

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Temple vs. UConn, Noon EDT
Connecticut is bad — Temple is worse. UConn will start the season with three straight blowouts, and yet their record and point differential will be misleading to the casual observer. They come to Pitt next week.
Pick: UConn

Pitt vs. Michigan State, Noon EDT
If I’m not a Pitt fan is this an easy game to predict? Probably. But I’m a homer and I have “that feeling” that Pitt could pull it off. I’d rather just call it a toss-up, but I need to make a pick. The list of injuries is a killer for Pitt, especially the loss of Mustakas against a team that was going to run against us anyways. Add that we’ll be on the road with an inexperienced QB and it looks like a loss. (I’ll be cheering when they prove me wrong.)
Pick: Michigan State

Cincinnati vs. Miami (OH), Noon EDT
Cinci is getting a lot of love, and much of it is justified.

Cincinnati in two games has displayed something the glamboy frontrunners in the Big East haven’t: a defense.

Last week’s huge win over Oregon State included holding their star RB to only 30 yards on 16 carries.
Pick: Cincinnati

Illinois vs. Syracuse, Noon EDT
Syracuse is the embarrassment of the Big East this year. The AD there, Daryl Gross says be patient.

Sometimes you take three steps back before you move forward. The thing I do know is these kids worked so hard in the offseason, as hard as any team in the country. I’ve been around teams and I see how they work, and these guys work really hard. The whole program deserves better. I think there are better days ahead.

This will be that third step back…the try for the forward step will be next week against Louisville.
Pick: Illionois

Norfolk State vs. (13) Rutgers, 3:30 pm EDT
Hey Rutgers, you haven’t been good for that long. You have no reason to do this to anybody, especially the Navy.

Navy was booed and peppered with “You suck!” chants when they stepped on the field for both halves. Toward the end of the second half, Rutgers students in the new bleacher section began to serenade the adjacent section of Navy fans and uniformed Midshipmen.

”F— you, Navy. F—you, Navy. F— you, Navy.”

I hope Norfolk State beats you…but they won’t.
Pick: Rutgers

(10) Louisville vs. Kentucky, 7:30 pm EDT
The Cardinal’s 58-42 didn’t impress BlogPoll voters (down two spots), but don’t blame the offense. If anyone on Louisville’s non-con schedule is going to pull an upset on them, Kentucky is the team. I just don’t think they have the defense to keep up with Brian Brohm and WR Mario Urrutia.
Pick: Louisville

Track the scores here.

(Rankings used are from the BlogPoll.)