Pitt Football: Week 4: WVU Tops In Power; Pitt Tops In SOS

Kenneth Massey's computer rankings show West Virginia as the best team in the Big East but the 40th best in the nation.

Jeff Sagarin still has the Mountaineers in the Top 25 - at #24.

Miami pulverized the Panthers on the field but raised the Pitt schedule profile to #1 in conference and #11 in nation.

Despite a slight uptick in strength of schedule, the on field performances of league teams left a lot to be desired in week four.

Teams don't get credit for almost winning. The Big East should be labeled the "If only" conference this season.

Looking for news that isn't exactly good but might make you feel better?

In power ratings, the Mountain West has fallen two slots behind the Big East to become the nation's eighth best conference.

Big East fans should love New Mexico and their 0-4 record. Nothing like profiting from someone else's misfortune.

Nudging ahead of the MWC this week are the three 1-A Independents - Army, Navy, and Notre Dame.

Pitt, WVU, Cincinnati, and Louisville should look forward to playing their Big East rivals. Their SOS actually decreases when league play begins.

Syracuse, Rutgers, South Florida, and Connecticut with see an increase in SOS once they begin their seven-game Big East schedules.

Pitt Pays a Price For Its Tough Schedule In Losses & Injuries

After Week 4, Pitt's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #1

Playing tough teams to begin the college football season was a time-honored tradition not that long ago.

Pitt honored that tradition this season.

For a host of reasons analyzed ad naseum in blogs and sports columns, the Panthers have fallen flat on their faces.

What's wrong with Deon Lewis? Does Tino Sunseri even remember he's got an All-American receiver in Jonathan Baldwin? If so, why does he always look to the right side of the field when Baldwin lines up on the left?

Can Pitt football players stay out of jail this week?

The Miami and Utah games, both losses, combined to give the Panthers a national SOS rank this week of 11.

Combing Sagarin and Massey's computer power rankings, Pitt ranks #2 in conference with a 50.5 rank in the nation.

Pitt fans should be worried. The Panthers are ranked #118 in the BCS.

Bearcats Show Signs They Will Be Factor In Big East Conference Race

After Week 4 Cincinnati's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #2

North Carolina State and Oklahoma have beefed up Cincinnati's SOS to a rank of #17 in the nation.

Competing against Big East foes will lighten load for the Bearcats who are projected to see their strength of schedule drop from #17 in the nation to #37.

The collective record of Big East teams against non-league competition after week four is 15-13.

Cincy's only remaining non-conference opponent is Miami (Ohio), 2-2.

Cincinnati lost to Oklahoma but not without a fight. A two-point loss to one of the heavies in college football in an off-campus stadium shows the Cats will continue to improve.

The announced attendance of close to 60,000 fans for the Cincinnati-Oklahoma game demonstrates hometown fans will support their hometown FBS team.

In power rankings, Sagarin and Massey are not far apart. Sagarin has the Bearcats at #69; Massey has them at #66. 

Cincinnati's current BCS rank is 106.

Big East's Best Hope For National Recognition WVU Almost Wins In Bayou Country

After Week 4 West Virginia's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #3

Playing at LSU last Saturday gave the Mountaineers a big boast in SOS ratings.

With 1-3 UNLV coming to Morgantown this week the Mountaineers won't raising their strength of schedule this week. The Rebels are power-ranked at #101 in nation.

It's a good thing, too. WVU coach Bill Stewart seems to be fixated on the close loss at Baton Rouge and all the ways the Mountaineers could have won. "Could've, should've" obsessions are a prescription for high blood pressure and heart attachs. Stewart needs to give it up.

Stewart rationalized that the Patrick Peterson punt return was allowed to happen because a WVU defender was pushed out of his lane.  

Massey rates West Virginia #40 in the nation. Sagarin still has the Mountaineers as a Top Twenty-Five team at #24.

Is West Virginia the highest rated 3-1 team in the computer rankings? 3-1 teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC rank ahead of the Mountaineers.

Arkansas (12), Penn State (16), Iowa (19), Texas (21), South Carolina (22), Florida State (25) are 3-1 teams ahead of the Mountaineers in Massey's ratings.

Massey rates the following 3-1 teams below WVU (40): Kentucky (44); Temple (49); Baylor (53); Maryland (54); Houston (63); Toledo (70); Southern Miss (75); San Diego State (76); Indiana 81 at 3-0); Syracuse (86); Army (91); and UTEP (105).

The Mountaineer's schedule from this point out gets significantly easier.

West Virginia's current BCS rating is 49.

Sagarin has WVU's SOS rated 53rd toughest in the nation. Massey disagrees slightly, pegging the Mountaineers with a SOS of 60.

Louisville Gets a Boast In SOS After Bye Week

After Week 4 Louisville's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #4

Not playing this week helped the Cardinals at least in SOS national rankings. Louisville is now #56.

With two 1-3 teams remaining on the non-conference schedule, Memphis and Arkansas State, and the slate of Big East opponents, Louisville's SOS is on the way down.

Massey's number-crunching ranks Louisville's SOS at #70 now and decreasing one slot to #71 when Big East play begins.

Louisville's standings in the BCS after four weeks of college football is 155.

The Cardinals power rating is 89 in Massey and 87 in Sagarin.

Connecticut Benches Frazer and Cruises To 45-21 Win Over Buffalo

After Week 4 Connecticut's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #5

The Huskies 45-21 win over Buffalo didn't do much for strength of schedule ratings at least according to Jeff Sagarin.  His current national SOS rank for Connecticut is #99.

UConn fans could probably care less. They are still celebrating Cody Endres' four touchdown drives to open the second half.

After a decent start, starter Zach Frazer cratered going just 3-13.

Endres welcomed his homecoming back on the gridiron having served a four week suspension for violating school policy.

Will the Huskies now join West Virginia as the beasts of the Big East?

SOS for the Huskies actually increases when Big East play begins to #67 in nation. Current Huskie SOS in Massey is nine slots higher than Sagarin's 99.

The Huskies play their last non-conference opponent this week at Rentschler Field. Vanderbilt is 1-2 but with a current BCS rank of 36. Even though UConn's current BCS rank is 98, the Huskies are -7.5 in the odds.

Massey gives UConn a poweer rating of 72; Sagarin assigns a 66.

Rutgers Moves Ahead Of USF and Syracuse In SOS Rankings

After Week 4 Rutgers' Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #6 

Rutgers lost a tough game to North Carolina this past Saturday and will face a SOS that is projected to be 30 points tougher in Big East play.

The Knights have a current national SOS of #138 according to Sagarin and 114 according to Massey.

A key question remains from the North Carolina game. Will Ttom Savage ever come out of his slump?

Averaging 123 yards passing per game is not going to cut it for the Scarlet Knights who need big-time production from the Big East's most experienced starting quarterback.The fact that he is injured may account for his throwing three times more interceptions than touch passes.

Rutgers' special teams also need to do some soul-searching after allowing a blocked punt and giving North Carolina a chance to kick a field goal in their 17-13 victory.

Rutgers' remaining non-conference opponents are Tulane and Army.

Week four power ratings for the Knights are 71 in Sagarin, 67 in Massey.

Rutgers current BCS ranking is #126.

Bulls Lackluster Performance V Western Kentucky: Intentional Or Boredom?

After Week 4, South Florida's Big East Strength of Schedule rank: #7

Other than Terrance Mitchell's 94 yards on two punt returns, including a 64-yarder that put the Bulls in position to score, what else is notable about about USF's ponderous 24-12 win over one of the worst teams in the country?

The Hilltoppers make it a habit of giving yards away to opponents but the Bulls managed fewer than 300 yards of total offense.

The Western Kentucky win did not improve South Florida's national SOS of #139 according to Sagarin. Massey has the Bulls' SOS higher at #98.

The Bulls will need to shake it up when Big East play begins on October 9. Their SOS will improve to #65.

South Florida is rated #87 in the BCS.

Massey's national power rankings have the Bulls at #69; Sagarin has them at #54.

Syracuse Tied With Mountaineers For Best Big East Record at 3-1

After Week 4 Syracuse's Big East Strength of Schedule Rank: #8

Syracuse is tied with West Virginia for best overall record in the league but has the lowest Big East SOS rating at #178 in the nation.

Syracuse beat up on another FCS squad in Colgate last week but who cares about the caliber of the oppostion?

For the the first time since 2003, the Orange are 3-1. It's party time.

At least SU fans can say they aren't Mississippi, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Akron, and Kansas - all FBS teams who lost to FCS opponents this season.

Even Goliath needs to concentrate when he beats up David and Syracuse has been concentrating.

Massey rates Syracuse's SOS at #132 in the nation. When Big East play begins, the Orange will see their SOS jump to #87.

Syracuse has one non-conference opponent remaining with Boston College visiting the Carrier Dome on Nov. 27.

Syracuse is currently ranked #136 in the BCS.