Big East Week 11 Preview: Pitt, UConn and One Giant Hamburger

Another Big East game on Thursday night to get your weekend started, so for your tailgate warmup, we've got a little hamburger for you here. Nothing better than a burger for a Thursday night game and this one should at least get you to halftime of the Pittsburgh-UConn game.

Thursday, Nov. 11:

Pittsburgh (5-3, 3-0) at Connecticut (4-4, 1-2):

The Big East always jumps at the chance for a Thursday night national game but they'll have NFL competition tonight. Pittsburgh comes into this game as the only Big East team with control of its destiny. That goes with that unbeaten conference mark.

Could this game be a trap for the Panthers? The Huskies are a proverbial Forrest Gump box of chocolates, because with Randy Edsall's team, "you never know what you're gonna get."

Form says Pitt should win easily, but this UConn team is totally capable of pulling an upset.

Edge:   Pittsburgh

Game on ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 13:

South Florida (5-3, 2-2) at Louisville (5-4, 2-2):

An intriguing matchup between two coaches who are friends. Skip Holtz was offensive coordinator and Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator when the two worked for Skip's dad, Lou, at South Carolina.

Both team are re-working themselves. Admittedly, Strong's task was deemed harder as the cupboard was bare at Louisville, but the Cardinals showed they're for real when they shocked Syracuse on the road last week without Bilal Powell or starting quarterback Adam Froman.

USF will need another great game from B.J. Daniels and you have to wonder if Mo Plancer has another game in him like his 135-yard outburst against Rutgers last week.

Great matchup and a great measuring stick for both programs. Who's come the farthest this season?

Edge:  Louisville

Game on ESPNU at 12 noon.

Cincinnati (3-5, 1-2) at West Virginia (5-3, 1-2):

Disappointing season thus far for both teams. The Bearcats should have Zach Collaros back and that's just one more weapon West Virginia has to worry about.

This is a must-win for both schools.

Edge:   West Virginia

Game on ESPN3.com at 12 noon.

Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) at Rutgers (4-4, 1-2):

The Orange were simply stunned by Louisville last week.  No one saw that coming, surely not one Syracuse fan did.

Syracuse has more at stake in this one as the Orange seek a decent bowl game. Rutgers has absolutely nothing to lose, which makes this game a dangerous one for Syracuse.

Edge:  Syracuse

Game on ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.

There you have it, a full slate of Big East games, finally. Can you believe this is Week 11 of the college season? See you on Monday for the grades.