BCSBusters: Big-East Week #2 Match-Ups
September 3, 2007 by bcsbusters
The three marquee match-ups this week in the Big-East involve Oregon State - Cincinnati, Rutgers and Navy (although if BCSBusters had his way, Navy would be a Big-East member as they undoubtedly deserve BCS membership) and South Florida - Auburn. While it is true that West Virginia takes on Marshall, I believe it will be another route based on Miami’s dominance over the Thundering Herd in Week #1.
Both Oregon State and Cincinnati had dominant defensive performances last weekend. The Beavers limited Utah to 18 yards rushing, 179 yards passing and most importantly - only 7 points on the scoreboard. It was a good thing because the offense took awhile to get untracked but once the Beavers decided to give the ball to Yvenson Bernard (who ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns - the Beavers rushed for 241 yards as a team) the Black Bandits rolled to victory. The quarterback Law firm (Canfield, Moevao and Gunderson combined) went 12/30 - 129 yards - 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions so look for a ball controlled offense by the Beavs because the last time they traveled East they were out dueled by another East Coast Law Firm - better known as Braum, Bush and Petrino as the Cardinals drilled O-State 63-27.
The Bearcats man-handled SE Missouri State to the tune of (59 - 3), but they did give up 175 yards rushing so on the surface - advantage Beavers. It should be a very competitive game, but I’m not sold on OSU’s ability to travel as Mike Riley has struggled a bit on the road, especially early in the season.
Rutgers should handle Navy, but you never know when you run up against a wishbone set, especially when you only see it once a year. Could be trouble if they turn the ball over. Ray Rice, who ran for over 200 yards last week should pad his Heisman stats again - I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets 300 and four-to-5 touchdowns against the Mid-Shipmen.
Based on South Florida’s woeful 28-13 win over Divison I-AA Elon (North Carolina), you wonder how the Bulls will handle the trip to Auburn. I think South Florida left out a considerable portion of their offense, much like Steve Spurrier did in his win over Louisiana-Lafayette. I expect a close game against Auburn and if the Tigers take the Bulls lightly, South Florida could come away with another performance reminiscent of the game against Louisville which knocked the Cardinals out of the national championship picture a couple seasons ago. The Bulls may become another rising power in the East!
Other than that, the Big-East has become the Big-Easy considering the remaining weekend match-ups involving UCONN - Maine, Louisville - Middle Tennessee, Pittsburgh - Grambling and Army - Rhode Island. Syracuse does take on Iowa, but the Orange men may wish they would have scheduled some easy prey based on their performance against the Huskies (42-12 loss). It was uglier than it looked. The Big-East doesn’t earn any style points with the voters this coming weekend!
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Week #2 Match-Ups |
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 00 (0-0) (1-0) Last: L - W. Mich (62 - 24) Next: @ Maryland |
@ |  00  (0-0) (0-1) Last: L - Miami (31 - 3) Next: New Hampshire |
 00(0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Buffalo (38 - 3) Next: Norfolk State |
VS |  00 (0-0) (0-1) Last: L - Temple (30 - 19) Next: Ball State |
 00(0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Duke (45 - 14) Next: Temple |
VS | Maine 00 (0-0) (0-1) Last: Next: |
 00(0-0) (0-1) Last: L - Wash. (42 - 12) Next: Illinois |
@ |  00  (0-0) (0-1) Last: W - N. Illinois (16 - 3) Next: @ Iowa State |
 00(0-0) (0-1) Last: L - Akron (22 - 14) Next: @ Wake Forest |
VS | Rhode Island 00 (0-0) (0-1) Last: Next: |
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Week #1 Outcomes |
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 58(0-0) (2-0) (Game Recap) Last: W - Murr. St (62 - 24) Next: @ Maryland |
VS |  42  (0-0) (0-2) Last: L - Flor-Atl. (27 - 14) Next: @ LSU |
 00(0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Elon (28 - 13) Next: N. Carolina |
@ |  00  (0-0) (1-0) Last: B - K-State (23 - 13) Next: Mississippi State |
 00(0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Ea. Mich (27 - 03) Next: @ Michigan State |
VS | Grambling 00 (0-0) (1-0) Last: Next: |
 34(0-0) (2-0) (Game Recap) Last: W - SE Miss (59 - 03) Next: @ Miami (Oh) |
VS |  03  (0-0) (1-1) Last: W - Utah (24 - 07) Next: Idaho State |
| 00 (0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Temple (30 - 19) Next: Ball State |
@ | 00  (0-0) (1-0) Last: W - Buffalo (38 - 03) Next: Norfolk State |
| BCS Bone-Yard |
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| Non-BCS Bone-Yard |        |
I’ve mentioned it before, and I think it’s worth mentioning again, there have been a minimum of five teams back out of playing UL in the season opener. Georgia Tech, Vandy both paid big money to get out of the opener this year. This was a last ditch effort, the Murray game.
The big talk around town (Louisville) is that Jurich (UL’s AD) should schedule a team w/o a return game. Jurich stands pat that why should he cave to this? What are your thoughts?
I’m torn. On one hand, go on the road to an SEC, Big 12, ND, Big 10 school, kick their ass, and then play out the rest of the season. I think there have only been 5-6 teams in the last three years that could beat them. On the other hand, UL has a BCS win, they’ve had three striaght seasons of winning, why cave?
Like I’ve said before they scheduling issue is a sticky thorn for the non-BCS teams and also the BCS teams who lack a significant branding identity within the history of college football.
You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t and it is really an unfair stigma. Kind of like Herbstreit dissing Appy St this past weekend, saying Michigan didn’t show up. I watched the game and the Mountaineers flat laid it on em.’
Which is why I like the idea of earning your schedule in the last four weeks (really only the last two if you consider the first two weeks are focused on determining a true conference champion.
It will eliminate this mess and since the last two weeks are regionalized as best as possible, the fans can attend. Imagine Louisville last year playing Ohio State, Tennessee or Penn State or Arkansas the last two weeks. That’s a do-able trip for fans and provides for great drama - college football would go nuts!