Big East Week Eight: Entrees, Appetizers, Pitt, and Primanti's

Can't believe it's Week Eight! With the USF-Pitt contest the most intriguing matchup, a quick visit to Primanti Brothers for a pre-game pig-out. How about a couple of their famous sandwiches. Choose your meat then see it piled high with cheese, tasty fries, a mountain of cole slaw, all wedged between two one-inch thick slices of Italian bread. Throw down a couple of these, Pitt fans, then a few pre-game adult beverages and that should get you to halftime. With that gut-buster in mind, we present this week's entrees and appetizers, hold the dessert!

South Florida (5-1, 1-1) at Pittsburgh (5-1, 1-0):

The Bulls are in desperate need of a win after the Cincinnati fiasco on national television last Thursday. This should be a doozie. Dion meets Kion. Dion Lewis, Panther runner extraordinaire tries to avoid Kion Wilson, hard-nosed USF middle linebacker. If you love traditional, balanced, power football, the Panthers are your guys. This matchup at Heinz Field will force USF's defense to make decisions. If you go all-out to stop Lewis, then Bill Stull, although unspectacular, can hurt you with the passing game.

South Florida cannot afford another loss if it wants to stay in the running for the Big East title. The Panthers are rolling, have climbed to No. 20 in the polls and a win here would stamp them as serious challengers to Cincinnati for the title.

This noon matchup is well worth watching, in between bites of your Primanti Brothers sandwich. All-you-can-eat special on this one.

Edge:  Pittsburgh

Connecticut (4-2, 1-1) at West Virginia (5-1, 1-0):

With due respect to West Virginia, how can your heart not be with the Huskies on Saturday? The brutal murder of cornerback Jasper Howard cast a pall of shock and disbelief over Randy Edsall's team. How will they respond? West Virginia on the road is a daunting task, in the least. The Mountaineers are back in the polls (22) but may be without starting quarterback Jarrett Brown on Saturday. He was knocked out of the game last week and suffered a concussion. 

The Mountaineers with Noel Devine may be a bit too strong on the offensive side of the ball for UConn. The Mountaineers have their sights set on the Big East and they should. They're a good football team and UConn is young.

Edge: West Virginia

Louisville (2-4, 0-2) at Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0):

Two teams on opposite ends of the football spectrum. The Bearcats are riding high after their impressive win in Tampa last week. Even with Tony Pike sidelined, the Cincinnati offense and defense is clearly superior to anything Louisville can throw on the field.

The home crowd should be in full force. Rumors and questions abound in Louisville. Steve Kragthorpe may be out at the end of the season and this team is going nowhere.

The Bearcats are ranked fifth in the first BCS poll, which means they can contend for the national title if things fall their way.

This should be nothing more than a light appetizer for the Bearcats.

Big edge: Cincinnati

Akron (1-5) at Syracuse (2-4, 0-2):

Syracuse needs a boost, it really does, and this week it will get one in the form of the Akron Zips. The Zips aren't too Zippy and the Orange faithful can look for their team to get its third win of the season.

By the way, what's a Zip?

Edge: Syracuse

Rutgers (4-2, 0-2) at Army:

Rutger at Army:

This is a Friday night special on ESPN2. Rutgers should win easily but the Army team will be solid and not go down easily. Look for Rutgers to prevail in a tough contest.

Edge: Rutgers 

There you have it, this week's Big East menu. One big entree, some appetizers, and perhaps no dessert, although the Bearcats may beg to differ. See you Monday when Professor Tom passes out the grades.