Pitt Panthers Football: BCS Computers Like Big East More Than Polls and Pundits

USA Today's Jeff Sagarin has produced his week three college football computer rankings.

The Big East is still ranked as one of the top six conferences in the country.

But just by a thread.

The Big East beats the Mountain West by 1.5 points as the nation's #6 power-rated conference.

In strength of schedule ranks, the Big East does slightly better, coming in at #5.

The big time conference with small time schedules?

The Big Ten by a landslide. The Big Ten trails the Big East by 28.25 points.

The Big East's overall SOS mean is 87.75.

The Big Ten's SOS mean is 113.

Fresno State, North Carolina State Make Bearcats' Schedule The Toughest

Cincinnati's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #1

Cincinnati's opening schedule unexpectedly became more challenging with Fresno State and North Carolina State having break-out seasons..

Fresno State has beaten the Bearcats and Utah State.

North Carolina State has beaten Western Carolina, Central Florida, and Cincy.

Oklahoma is next at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Bearcats just don't catch a break.

Cincinnati has a national SOS rank of 34.

Cincinnati's current power rank of 76 is predicted by Sagarin to improve to 70 by season's end.

The Bearcats have talent. An upset over Oklahoma or a strong finish in the league could make the final predictor look ridiculous.

Panthers' Non-Con Ratings Depend On Performances Thursday Night & Oct. 9

Pitt's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #2

Having played only two games, the 2010 Pitt Panthers remain somewhat of a mystery.

Big games against the Miami Hurricanes Thursday evening and a date with the Irish in South Bend on October 9 will tell fans a great deal about team.

Throw in surprising Florida International and the Panthers won't catch a breather before Big East play begins in October.

Pitt has a national SOS rank of 37.

Pitt's power rating is slightly higher - 35th best in nation - and should get better. Sagarin predicts Pitt will finish ranked 20th.

With a historic contest against Miami coming up at Heinz Field this week, the Panthers could begin the climb back into the Top 25.

Wins over Miami, FIU, and Notre Dame could put the Panthers in the Top 15.

Huskies' SOS Boosted By Michigan & Temple's 3-0 Start

Connecticut's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #3

Randy Edsall always gets it together.

Despite all the adversity of last season's untimely death of Jasper Howard, Edsall faces more nuts and bolts challenges this year as in coaching his Huskies to victory.

This year the start has been difficult although not unpredictably so.

With Rich Rodriguez's numerous problems, personal, professional, and financial, he had to pull out all the stops for his home opener at bigger Big House. Edsall's Huskies played willing victim.

Temple almost upset UCLA last season in the Eagle Bank Bowl. UCLA was mediocre but its name still carries weight. UConn met the Owls in a high profile game because the Owls were winning.

The current Huskie players don't remember when Temple was a Big East member. Temple players hear about being heaved out of the Big East all the time.

To beat Temple, Edsall had to have superb effort from his team. He didn't get it.

The Huskies currently have national SOS rank of 46 in the nation.

Jeff Sagarin gives UConn a current power rank of 83. He does see the Huskies improving but only to a final power rank of 76.

With Florida One Of Two Teams Bulls Played, SOS Has To Be Decent

South Florida's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #4

Even after Western Kentucky visits Raymond James Stadium this week, the Bulls will remain an enigma.

One thing is for sure: The WSU game won't help the Bulls' strength of schedule or power ratings.

Success in the Big East and against the Miami Hurricanes will go a long way to raise all of the Bulls' ratings.

The 2010 season is setting up for the Bulls as an opportunity to reverse the fade-out finishes of the Leavitt era.

USF's current national SOS rank is 57.

Currently, the Bulls have a power rank of 45. Sagarin predicts a final power rank of 40 and a third place finish in the Big East behind Pitt and West Virginia.

Cards Experiencing Burst Of Good Feeling From College Football Pundits

Louisville's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #5

Take it while you can get it. Praise is cheap. Wins and the votes which follow will move the Cardinals up in the power rankings and polls.

Brian Bennett, ESPN's Big East blogger, had this to say about the Cards after their last minute drive to beat Oregon State:

"A valiant effort at Oregon State almost had me move the Cardinals out of the basement. Not this week. But if they play like that all season, they will get their wins and will move up." 

The Cards' SOS and power rating for week four depend upon what its opponents do.

Louisville is taking the week off.

The Cardinals current national SOS rank is 58.

The Cardinals have a power rating of 87th best in nation. They are predicted to move up a little by season's end - nine slots to 78.

West Virginia Is First In Power Rating For The Big East But Sixth In SOS

West Virginia's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #6

West Virginia is the Big East's only representative in the AP poll.

The Mountaineers have beaten FCS, FBS, and BCS competition.

Their strength of schedule is suffering because none of the three they've beaten are highly ranked teams.

The LSU game affords the Mountaineers a tremendous opportunity to raise all the rankings, especially poll rank and SOS.

Currently WVU has a national SOS rank of 130.

The Mounties current power rating of 23 is predicted to slip a little by season's end to 32, making Pitt the predicted Big East champ.

2-1 Syracuse Finds No Love With Weak SOS; National Power Rank Is 81

Syracuse's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #7

Unfortunately for the Orange, the expected victory over Colgate this week is going to do little for their national power rank and nothing for their strength of schedule.

The Syracuse program illustrates how little power rankings and strength of schedule might mean after the third game.

Doug Marrone has taken a wise approach to rebuilding the Syracuse football program. By scheduling two FCS foes he is able to teach and coach his players to be ready for the Big East competition awaiting the Orange. 

At this point in Marrone's rebuilding plans, he will settle for one of the Big East's bowl bids. What a reward that would be for his program.

Syracuse currently has a national strength of schedule rank of 162.

Sagarin predicts the Orange will continue to improve throughout the season.

Sagarin sees the Orange improving on their current power rank of 81 to 74 by season's end.

Has Rutgers Played The Easiest Big East Schedule So Far? Yes Say Computers

Rutgers' Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #8

Rutgers fans are beginning to get touchy whenever someone criticizes their football schedule. How will they react when a math whiz has confirmed that the critics are right?

If Rutgers is planning to shove off to the Big Ten, they ought to keep their scheduling guru.

With a strength of schedule close to 200, the Scarlet Knights would fit right in with the Big Ten's lowest rated rated team in SOS - Indiana. The Hoosiers clock in at 187.

With North Carolina faltering and Tulane and Army left on the 2010 schedule as non-conference opponents, the Knights will have to depend on Big East teams to raise their SOS rank.

In the Big Ten, the highest rated SOS belongs to Michigan (61) and seven teams in the 11-team league have SOS ratings in the 100s.

Fear not, Rutgers fans, you are not alone.

Rutgers current power rank is 53.Sagarin shows the Knights moving down a few slots to the 56th position by season's end.

The Scarlet Knights have a current national SOS rank of 178.