Big East Football: Previewing the Weekend Slate
The final week of the college football season is upon us and the race in the Big East is tighter than any other conference. Three teams still have a shot to win the league and represent the Big East in a BCS bowl game. Here is a preview of the three remaining Big East games set to take place this weekend.
West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) vs. South Florida (5-6, 1-5): The South Florida Bulls will be playing for their bowl lives against a West Virginia team who will be playing for a share of the conference championship. This Thursday night game on ESPN will go a long way toward determining the conference champion. It will pitt two teams with excellent quarterbacks in Geno Smith of West Virginia and B.J. Daniels of South Florida. The Bulls will be able to hang in at home and possibly keep this close, but in the end, West Virginia will be too much.
Prediction: West Virginia 27, South Florida 21
Connecticut (5-6, 3-3) vs. Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2): The Cincinnati Bearcats will need a win and a West Virginia loss to qualify for the Orange Bowl and when they take the field Saturday, they will know if that is a possibility. Connecticut will be looking for a win to become bowl eligible. The Huskies have been impressive this season at home in conference games, but have yet to get a road win. In the end, there will be too much Isaiah Pead for Connecticut to handle and Cincinnati will come out victorious at home.
Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Connecticut 16
Syracuse (5-6, 1-5) vs. Pittsburgh (5-6, 3-3): While this game does not have as much meaning toward the Big East title as the other two, there are still huge implications with the winner receiving a bowl bid and the loser going home for the winter. The Orange have struggled mightily since the victory over West Virginia a month ago and Pittsburgh has been up and down all season. The Panthers are at home and likely have too much for a Syracuse team that has struggled in recent weeks.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, Syracuse 13
