2010 College Football Predictions: Big East

FROM: http://machorhino.com/?p=15993

The Big East looks to be a very competitive league this year. Pitt is loaded with talent and is our pick, but UConn, West Virginia, and Cincinnati are all contenders.

The league is hoping to get a good performance from its champion in the BCS game. The league needs to win the BCS game to raise its profile since it will be one of the few conferences left that isn’t a 12-team superconference.

Here’s how we see the 2010 season of the Big East playing out.

1. Pittsburgh (7-0)

They’ve got the most talent, and anything less than the league championship will be a huge disappointment this year. Dave Wannstedt should have a team that contends and should end the year as a top-10 team behind star runner Dion Lewis.

2. Connecticut (6-1)

The Huskies are ready for a breakout season. They start the year at Michigan and hope that springboards them to a big year and hopefully a Big East title. They host Pittsburgh in a game they hope can put them atop the conference.

3. West Virginia (5-2)

The Mountaineers need to just give the ball to Noel Devine, one of the most explosive players in the country. If the defense can play well, they could challenge for the Big East title.

4. Cincinnati (4-3)

Brian Kelly and some big time playmakers like Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike are gone. There’s still talent in Cincinnati, but the rest of the Big East will be better this year.

5. South Florida (3-4)

Skip Holtz left East Carolina to head south to take over the Bulls program. He should get the Bulls back to being contenders in the conference, but not this year.

6. Rutgers (2-5)

Rutgers is very young, but Greg Schiano can coach. He’ll get them ready, but the inexperience will be tough with the road schedule they’ve got this year. They should be in contention for a bowl game though, trying to get that sixth win.

7. Louisville (1-6)

Charlie Strong inherits a program that’s fallen on hard times. He’s shown the ability to build strong defenses and recruit, so there’s hope at UL, but it’s going to take a couple years to get it going.

8. Syracuse (0-7)

It’s going to be a long rebuilding period for this proud program. They’ve got to build up a much stronger talent pool before they can compete each week in the Big East.

CHAMPION: Pittsburgh

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dion Lewis (RB, Pittsburgh)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Randy Edsall (Connecticut)

Top Five Games for the Big East in 2010

1. Pittsburgh vs. Miami (September 23)

Our projected Big East champion takes on our projected ACC champion.

2. Pittsburgh at Utah (September 4)

The Panthers head west as underdogs against a non-BCS team. They need to win this game or the Big East will look weak.

3. Pittsburgh at Connecticut (November 11)

This is the chance for UConn to get a huge win for their program that could win them the Big East.

4. West Virginia at Pittsburgh (November 26)

West Virginia knows it’ll need this win to have any hope of winning the conference.

5. West Virginia at LSU (September 25)

A win here would be huge for the conference, as they’d get a victory over the powerful SEC.