Big East Report Card, Week 13: Devine Intervention

While you get back to normal after too much food and football, Professor Tom passes out these grades from last week's Big East play:

West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) 19, Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1) 16:

That huge THUD you heard Friday night was Pitt falling on its face as Tyler Bitancourt's 43-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired.

Huge win for the Mountaineers and a devastating loss for Pitt. Knocks Pitt way down the BCS ladder and takes some of the pregame hype out of the game against Cincinnati on Saturday.

You could tell early on in this game that Pitt was in trouble.

Bill Stull had a weak performance yet managed to keep his team in it at the end with that 50-yard toss to Jonathan Baldwin for a touchdown and the possibility of overtime. Wasn't to be.

The Mountaineers drove close enough for Bitancourt to hit that game-winner at the gun. It was his fourth field goal of the game.

The difference maker, the play that doomed Pitt, was the 88-yard touchdown run by Noel Devine in the third quarter. Devine finished with 134 yards. He was out-rushed by Pitt's Dion Lewis (26/155), but West Virginia managed to keep Lewis between the 20s.

We knew West Virginia had a good effort in it, and this one was exactly that.

Great win for the Mountaineers in front of a Friday night national television audience.

Grades:

West Virginia:       A+

Pittsburgh:            D

Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0) 49, Illinois (3-8, 2-6) 36:

In case you were wondering how Tony Pike would fare in his return to full-time action, wonder no more. Cincinnati abandoned the ground game and went all-Pike, all the time.

Pike threw the ball 46 times, completed 32 for 399 yards and SIX touchdowns.

Four of those TDs went to Ben Guidugli and Mardy Gilyard. Guidugli, the big tight end, had a career day with six catches for 144 yards and two scores. Gilyard hauled in seven for 102 and a pair of scores.

Even though the Bearcats notched their 11th win, Brian Kelly cannot be happy with his team's defense. That defense gave up 36 points to one of the Big Ten's weaker teams.

This week's preparation for the Pittsburgh game will no doubt be loaded with the HUGE distraction of the soon-to-be vacant Notre Dame head coaching job.

Kelly is one of the guys on Notre Dame's short list.

The Bearcats better tighten up that D or it could be upset central at Pitt.

Grades:

Cincinnati:       A-

Illinois:             C

Miami (9-3, 5-3) 31, South Florida (7-4, 3-3) 10:

Pure and simple domination by Miami in this one. The Hurricanes punched USF right in the face from the opening kickoff and the Bulls spent the entire afternoon on their heels.

USF's defense had no answer for the Miami ground game. Damien Berry led the assault with 114 of Miami's 240 rushing yards.

South Florida has become so very predictable. A good team that can put the clamps on quarterback B.J. Daniels beats the Bulls every time (are you listening, Randy Edsall?).

The 'Canes tormented Daniels and the Bulls offense in general. B.J. completed a meager six passes and rushed for just 39 yards. USF had less than 100 yards at the half and it was pretty much over by the half.

Looks like the 'Canes are back with a chance for a 10-win season.

For USF, more of the same and a date with UConn on Saturday.

Grades:

Miami:        A

USF:            F

Connecticut (6-5, 2-4) 56, Syracuse (4-8, 1-6) 31:

No letdown for the Huskies. This game was closer than that final score, as UConn picked up some late TDs in this one.

Too much ground game by UConn with Jordan Toddman going for 123 and Andre Dixon adding 73 yards and three touchdowns.

Greg Paulus kept the 'Cuse close. He aired it out 32 times for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He's proving that he was the right guy to help this program at a time when it needed a leader.

UConn can finish strong on Saturday with a chance for a seventh win when it hosts South Florida.

Grades:

UConn:         A

Syracuse:    C

Rutgers (8-3, 3-3) 34, Louisville (4-8, 1-6) 14:

Horrible game to watch. Horrible season for Louisville and now the search begins for a new Cardinal coach with the firing of Steve Kragthorpe.

This one was over at the half with Rutgers up 28-7.

Mohamed Sanu had a career-high 148 yards rushing, and reliable Joe Martinek ran for 90 as the two amassed 238 yards against a pitiful Cardinal defense.

Not much else you can say about this one.

Grades:

Rutgers:        A

Louisville:     D- (they did score twice)

There you have it. See you next Monday and we'll see what happens in the biggie at Pittsburgh on Saturday. How would Brian Kelly look in blue and gold?