Cincinnati Football: Five Reasons Why the Bearcats Will Win the Big East

With non-conference play now over, the Cincinnati Bearcats can set their sights on their ultimate goal heading into the season, a third-straight Big East crown. 

After a slow start, Cincinnati appears ready to do just that. 

They are slowly getting as healthy as they will get all season and are playing their best ball at just the right time. 

With the offense kicking into gear and the defense getting better every week, Cincinnati is once again the team to beat in the Big East. 

Here are five reasons why they will win a third straight Big East championship in 2010. 

5. Favorable Schedule

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 25: Butch Jones the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats gives instructions to his team during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Imag

After a very challenging schedule against two nationally ranked teams and a road game at Fresno St, Cincinnati has a very favorable schedule entering Big East play. 

With only eight teams in the league, Cincinnati has the favorable side of the unbalanced schedule this season with four home games and only three road games. 

After a date in Louisville Friday, five of the Bearcats' final seven games will be at home, including the season finale against Pittsburgh. 

Perhaps the toughest game remaining on the slate is a trip to Morgantown to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Cincinnati has the advantage of having a bye week leading up to that game, giving them two weeks to prepare for the Mountaineers. 

4. Offensive Line

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Zach Collaros #12 of the the Cincinnati Bearcats looks to pass the ball in the first quarter of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Nippert Stadium on November 13, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by A

After running for his life for the first three weeks, quarterback Zach Collaros has had more time to throw the ball over the past few weeks, particularly last weekend against Miami.

The offensive line has been improving steadily each and every week. 

With the position changes and the graduation of senior center Chris Jurek, this group is finally hitting their stride. Now completely healthy, the Bearcats are giving their quarterback more time to throw, and that is all Collaros needs to put up big time numbers. 

The run-blocking has also been excellent as running back Isaiah Pead has averaged nearly 10 yards per carry this season and nearly 20 yards per carry last weekend. 

3. Isaiah Pead

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 25: Isaiah Pead #23 of the Cincinnati Bearcats runs with the ball while defended by Tony Jefferson #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Without question the key to the Cincinnati offense heading into the season was running back Isaiah Pead. Pead is the X-factor that can balance out the high flying Bearcats attack.

For the first time all season, Pead was healthy last weekend and rushed for 197 yards on only 10 carries. Pead was explosive with a few big gains including an 80-yard touchdown scamper. 

Pead is as talented as almost anybody in the Big East and after a slow start is averaging 9.8 yards per carry for the season.

Look for big things from this guy as Big East play is set to begin. 

2. Sub-Par Big East

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Dave Wannstedt of the Pittsburgh Panthers watches his team play against the Miami Hurricanes on September 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The simple fact that Pittsburgh has been a big disappointment has left the Big East wide open. The Panthers were the odds-on favorite heading into the season, but are off to a 3-3 start and are not playing well, having lost to Notre Dame Saturday.

The Connecticut Huskies have also been a disappointment. Many people pegged the Huskies as a sleeper, but a tough loss at Rutgers over the weekend has them at 3-3 also. 

Big things were also expected out of Rutgers this season. The Scarlet Knights offense has been struggling all season as Rutgers is 3-2 and is 93rd in the country in total points. 

West Virginia appears to be the team to beat. The Mountaineers have struggled, however, having squeaked by Marshall in overtime, but are clearly the most impressive team in the Big East at 4-1. 

1. Experience

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 25: Armon Binns #80 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reaches up for a pass while defended by Jamell Fleming #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The pass in the end

While there are no seniors starting on defense, the Cincinnati Bearcats have as much experience as anybody in the Big East.

With veterans at every position on the field, the Bearcats have been there and done that and are now ready to take it to the next level. 

These guys not only want to get back to a BCS bowl, they want to win one. 

Many players, particularly on offense, have seen action in each of the past two BCS bowl games and getting back there and coming away with a victory has been in the back of their minds all season long. 

This group wants to go out with a win to not only represent their school, but a much maligned conference.