Big East Report Card, Week Three: Syracuse Orange Win, West Virginia Just Blue

Good Monday to all. Professor Tom's grades from Week Three in the Big East are here for your casual perusal. Some good performances and some disappointments for our students, and a great effort from our boys in Orange.

Syracuse

Syracuse (1-2) 37, Northwestern (2-1) 34

This was a thriller in the Carrier Dome that looked like it was headed to overtime for sure. A last-minute interception by Max Suter returned to the Northwestern 39 set up the winning field goal by Ryan Lichtenstein from 40 yards on the final play of the game. Dramatic!

QB Greg Paulus had a breakout game with 346 yards, going 24-for-35 with two TDs and one pick.

Grade: A

Connecticut

UConn (2-1) 30, Baylor (1-1) 22

This was a great road win for the Huskies, who appear to be sneaky good on defense. They took advantage of turnovers by the Bears. Andre Dixon rushed for 149 yards and scored three times. Jordan Todman had another 103 yards on the ground. QB Cody Endres was solid, going 12-of-23 for 147 yards. Great running combo from Dixon and Todman! Solid victory!

Grade: A

Cincinnati

Cincinnati (3-0) 28, Oregon State (2-1) 18

Great win on the road. LONG trip out West. Tony Pike continues to dominate the scenery like Pike's Peak. The tall one threw for 332 yards, 31-for-49, and two TDs. This Cincinnati team has established itself as the team to beat in the Big East. Brian Kelly's name is already coming up in the rumor mill as a candidate for bigger jobs.

Mardy Gilyard steps up as expected with nine catches for 65 yards. The Bearcats can score, no doubt about it.

Grade: A

South Florida

USF (3-0) 59, Charleston Southern (0-3) 0

This rout was totally expected and needed by the Bulls. It was a total dominating evening for the guys in green and gold.

That being said, it was also a disaster for USF. Perhaps the most recognizable player in the Big East, quarterback Matt Grothe, was lost for the season when he suffered a torn ACL with less than three minutes to play in the first half.

Backup B.J. Daniels gives the Bulls hope for the rest of the season as he came in and didn't miss a beat. Daniels will now have to step up and fill in the very large cleats vacated by Grothe.

Grade: B+

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh (3-0) 27, Navy (1-2) 14

Form held true in this game as Navy was solid, but Pitt was too formidable for the Middies. The Panther defense held Navy to 129 rushing yards, which is not enough for the Middies to succeed. Bill Stull threw for 245 yards in this successful outing by the Panthers as they put their hats firmly into Big East contention.

Grade: B

Rutgers

Rutgers (2-1) 23, Florida International (0-2) 15

Rutgers' defense paved the way for this win over the "annoying" FIU squad. It always puts up a fight, no matter the time or place. Joe Martinek rushed for 121 yards, and freshman Tom Savage went 11-for-28 for 185 yards before getting knocked silly and out of the game.

San San Te booted three field goals for the Scarlet Knights as they recover from the opening game mauling by the Bearcats.

Grade: C+

Louisville

Kentucky 31 (2-0), Louisville (1-1) 27

A late fumble of a punt return doomed Louisville in this game. The Cards took advantage of Kentucky turnovers and put in a really good effort. It was a hard-fought contest. Victor Anderson put up 110 yards on 19 carries. QB Justin Burke went 15-for-28 for 245 yards, two TDs, and a pick. This was a shoulda, coulda, woulda game for the Cards.

Grade: C

West Virginia

Auburn 41 (3-0), West Virginia (2-1) 30

This game was there for West Virginia. Quarterback Jarrett Brown has been the talk of the town, but on this rainy night in Auburn, he threw four interceptions, and that doomed the Mountaineers. Any hope for the win evaporated with those turnovers.

Noel Devine was strong with 128 yards rushing, and Jock Sanders had 115 receiving yards. But the guys learned that you cannot play an SEC team, turn the ball over that many times, and expect to win.

Grade: D

There you have it. Some great performances, some good ones, some so-so—and a belly flop from the guys in blue and gold. See you next week, when Professor Tom sizes up the results from Week Four!