Big East Week Five: Entrees, Appetizers, Cupcakes and Buffalo Meat!

This week's Big East action kicks off early with West Virginia hosting Colorado tonight with a national telecast on ESPN. These Buffalo were spotted just west of Morgantown and unconfirmed rumors have it that they were captured by Mountaineer fans and will be the featured menu item at their early-evening tailgates

Colorado (1-2) at West Virginia (2-1) Thursday night 7:30 ESPN: Here's a great chance for the Mountaineers to recover from last week's array of errors and show the nation that they are serious contenders in the Big East. Things aren't going too well with the Buffs and they'll end up as the big item on this week's menu. A light entree here for West Virginia and enough Buffalo meat to ship some out to the rest of the Big East teams. Buffalo steaks for everyone!

Big Edge: West Virginia

Pittsburgh (3-1) at Louisville (1-2) Friday night ESPN2: Back-to-back national telecasts, more exposure for the Big East. Pittsburgh needs to re-establish itself and should do that against Louisville. The Cardinals have more skill and fight in them than some pundits forecast before the season. Look for Pitt to emerge with a win from this contest but it could be an early struggle. Solid entree for both teams and probably a bit more than Louisville can swallow.

Edge: Pittsburgh

South Florida (4-0) at Syracuse (2-2): South Florida goes unbeaten again in September. What else is new? It is now time for the Bulls to show that they can survive a tough October Big East menu. Syracuse is perhaps better than anticipated and will play tough at home. USF may find its hands full early and will have to pay attention to quarterback Greg Paulus. On the other hand, the Orange will have a tough time with B.J. Daniels, who displayed his capabilities in the upset of FSU. A new star is born with Jason Pierre-Paul, the new defensive Beast of the East. Try game planning to stop him AND George Selvie on the other side. Noisy in the Carrier Dome but USF should prevail. Solid entree but a bit more than Syracuse can digest.

Edge: South Florida

Cincinnati (4-0) at Miami of Ohio (0-4): Every football weekend is not complete  without dessert and this is a giant cupcake for the Bearcats. Tony Pike, Mardy Gilyard and company are way too good for "the other Miami" to handle. Look for the Bearcats to dominate early and often, head to 5-0 and set up the huge showdown with South Florida in Tampa on October 15.

Big Edge: Cincinnati

There you have it. An abbreviated menu this week as Rutgers and UConn are off but can still share some of that Buffalo meat. It is touted to be very healthy and tasty. It's a great way to start off a football weekend with Thursday and Friday games. A great excuse to start the early chow-down. See you on Monday when Professor Tom passes out the grades from these tests.