Big East Report Card Week Nine: Bulls Find Their "A" Game

Cincinnati keeps cruising, another heart-breaker for UConn and USF found its lost mojo in week nine. For your perusal, these grades from Professor Tom:

South Florida (6-2, 2-2) 30, West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) 19:

The USF Bulls picked themselves up off the mat and really showed up to play at Raymond James for a Friday night bout with West Virginia. After getting smashed by Cincinnati and Pitt, USF rediscovered its mojo in the form of a renewed B.J. Daniels. Daniels ran and passed his team to a very convincing win. His 336 yards total offense (232 passing, 104 rushing) was better than West Virginia's team total. He passed for three touchdowns and was a Halloween eve nightmare for the Mountaineer defense. He was all smiles after that performance.

South Florida's defense came to life and looked the way it did against FSU. Holding Noel Devine to 42 yards rushing was a feat USF coach Jim Leavitt termed "unbelievable!"

It was, USF defenders were swarming and made life tough for Jarrett Brown most of the night. They also kept Jock Sanders (two catches, 21 yards) in check, thus putting the clamps on West Virginia's "trifecta" of offensive threats.

This win boosted USF to No. 25 in the BCS poll.

USF desperately needed this and now gets a bye week to prepare for Rutgers.

Grades: 

South Florida:  B + J + 336 = A+

West Virginia:  D

Rutgers (6-2, 1-2) 28, Connecticut (4-4, 1-3) 24:

What a shocking end for Connecticut and a real boost for Rutgers. The Huskies had taken the lead in this back-and-forth contest, 24-21 with less than a minute to play. Tom Savage came up with perhaps his biggest throw of the season for Rutgers when he found speedster Tim Brown for an 81-yard touchdown. Brown had too much speed for the UConn secondary on that game-winning play. Brown wondered out loud after the game if the late Jazz Howard might have caught him.

Heartbreaking loss for UConn, two in two weeks. Back-up QB Zach Frazer came in the game early when Cody Endres suffered a shoulder injury. Frazer went 21-of-46 for 333 yards but had three interceptions.

UConn's defense held Joe Martinek to 28 yards but it was Brown doing the final damage, he finished with five catches for 162 yards.

You have to feel for UConn after this one. This team has had a lot to deal with and perhaps the breaks will now turn their way in November.

Grades:

Rutgers:    A-

UConn:       C

Cincinnati (8-0, 4-0) 28, Syracuse (3-5, 0-3) 7:

Tony who?

An amazing story has emerged in Bearcat land and his name is Zach Collaros. Starting with his dazzling 75-yard run to spur the win against USF a few weeks ago, this guy hasn't let up and the Bearcats haven't missed a beat with Tony Pike on the mend.

Collaros has incredibly efficient against Syracuse, great numbers: 22-of-28 for 295 yards and four touchdowns. With teams focused on Mardy Gilyard, Armon Binns has emerged and hauled in five for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

No one has had an answer lately for the Bearcat offense and Syracuse certainly didn't.

Cincinnati holds the No. 5 spot in the BCS poll this week, fourth in the AP while the coaches didn't think highly of the Bearcats, placing them seventh in their USA Today poll.

Grades:

Cincinnati:   A-

Syracuse:    C-

Louisville (3-5, 0-3) 21, Arkansas State (2-5) 13:

Okay, things are tough enough for Louisville, the Cards have to play this game with third quarterback Will Stein, a redshirt freshman. He answered the bell and threw for 232 yards and a touchdown. He got help from the ground game. Bilal Powell rushed for 93 yards and freshman Darius Ashley added another 77 and a pair of touchdowns.

The Cards were also without Victor Anderson, the team's leading rusher.

With all that in mind, a good and needed win for the Cards.

Grade:

Louisville:   A

There you have it, this week's grades for our Big East student athletes. See you next week as we begin that crucial month of November!