Big East

Saving the worst conference for last before a more in depth SEC preview is the Big East. Last year a surprise came to the conference as the Cincinnati Bearcats, led by a veteran defense won the conference going 11-2. This year the squad loses 10 starter on defense but has the same offense in tact. Cincinnati's offense averaged nearly 26 points a game last season and should improve, however the losses on defense will cost them a chance to repeat as conference champions.

Each year it seems like South Florida has a squad that can win the Big East, but they always find a way to lose down the stretch and end up in a bottom tier bowl game. This year will be the senior year for Matt Grothe, who has thrown for 8,157 yards in his career and is primed to be the Bulls top passer for a career by the end of this year. Grothe and the Bulls have a tough Big East schedule and must go to the Pittsburgh and Rutgers.

The preseason favorite the Pittsburgh Panthers. They return 15 players overall and finished the season winning thier last two games of the regular season. Pittsburgh's toughest challenge will be at Rutgers. Rutgers has won the last 4 meetings.

Speaking of Rutgers, this team underachieved at the beginning of the season but turned it on late winning thier last 6 and thier bowl game to finish the season 8-5. If the Scarlet Knights can replace quarterback Mike Teel, Rutgers can win the Big East and quite possibly go unbeaten. Thier non-conference is one of the easiest in FBS and thier Big East sleight also seems easy as they play thier top opponents in New Brunswick.

Big East

1) Rutgers 10-2
2) Pittsburgh 9-3
3) South Florida 9-3
4) Cincinnati 7-5
5) West Virginia 6-6
6) Louisville 6-6
7) Uconn 4-8
8) Syracuse 4-8