Rating the Out of Conference Schedules: Big East

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1. Cincinnati

SE Missouri State (FCS), Fresno State, @ Oregon State, @ Miami (Ohio), Illinois

Defending Big East champion Cincy only plays two AQ schools, but both schools are in the upper levels of their respective conferences. 

WAC contender Fresno has been a road warrior for years, playing any one at any time, though without as much conference success since Boise began its dominance in 2002.

2. UConn

@ Ohio, North Carolina, @ Baylor, Rhode Island (FCS), @ Norte Dame

Playing three AQ schools (two of them on the road) would normally garner some respect for UConn's OOC schedule, but none of these teams is as good as Cincy's top two.

Baylor may surprise this year, and who knows where UNC will finish in the ACC.

3. Louisville

Indiana State (FCS),  @ Kentucky, @ Utah, Southern Miss, Arkansas State

Playing only one AQ squad (and a pretty bad one at that) would normally put Louisville further down this list, except that they scheduled two of the best non-AQ schools in Utah and Southern Miss. 

4. West Virginia

Liberty (FCS), East Carolina, @Auburn, Colorado, Marshall

East Carolina, who beat West Virginia last year before flaming out in Conference USA play, may be the toughest game on this schedule. 

Normally West Virginia would garner props for playing at Auburn and playing Colorado, but neither is a serious top-25 contender.

5. Pittsburgh

Youngstown State (FCS), @ Buffalo, Navy, North Carolina State, Norte Dame

A lot of question marks surround the teams Pitt has scheduled.  Buffalo continues to improve, Navy has been tough, NC State may win its division and who knows if Norte Dame will be any good. 

This may turn out to be a much better OOC schedule than it looks like at first glance.

6. South Florida

Wofford (FCS), Western Kentucky (FCS to FBS), Charleston Southern (FCS), @Florida State, Miami

Wow, two and a half FCS schools!  I know, Western Kentucky is moving to FBS, but still, I think South Florida could have done a little better. 

Playing at Florida State is a top-level game, and who knows if Miami will finally be good again. 

7. Syracuse

Minnesota, @ Penn State, Northwestern, Maine(FCS) , Akron

The Big East's worst team plays three Big-10 squads, only one of which is any good. 

Even for the pathetic Orangemen, all four home OOC games are winnable.

8. Rutgers

Howard (FCS), Florida International, @ Maryland, Texas Southern (FCS), @ Army

Even for a conference with a lot of weak OOC games, Rutgers may have one of worst OOC schedules in all of FBS.  What a joke!

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