With the season now in full swing, this week’s slate of games in the Big East offer several interesting challenges, as four teams – Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville and West Virginia – will be traveling to take on other power conference opponents.
Those games, along with Syracuse hosting the “Journalism Bowl” and Pittsburgh going up against a Navy team that nearly won in Columbus a couple weeks ago, should make this week a telling one for how the conference will fare throughout the rest of this season.
No. 17/21 Cincinnati (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0)
Time: 6:45 p.m., FSN
Line: Cincinnati -1
Players to watch: For Cincinnati, the combination of quarterback Tony Pike and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard has already gotten off to a fantastic start. Pike has thrown for 591 yards and six touchdowns while completing 77 percent of his passes, while Gilyard has caught 14 of those passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
For Oregon State, everything revolves around the Beavers’ dynamic sophomore tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, who has rushed for 269 yards and four touchdowns already this season, and has also proved to be a pass-catching threat with 14 catches for 97 yards. He has, however, been limited this week with a sprained ankle, and is questionable for tomorrow’s game. His brother, James Rodgers, is the other main target for quarterback Sean Canfield, catcher eight passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Key matchup: The Bearcats have to limit Jacquizz Rodgers’ effectiveness. If Cincinnati can keep him mostly under wraps, it’s going to be tough for Oregon State to come away with a victory, whether it’s a home game or not.
Prediction: The combination of Pike and Gilyard should be enough for Cincinnati to come away with a big road win, despite the long trip to Corvallis and the talent of the Rodgers brothers. Cincinnati 34, Oregon State 27
West Virginia (2-0) at Auburn (2-0)
Time: 7:45 p.m., ESPN2
Line: Auburn -7
Players to watch: Much like it did under former quarterback Pat White, West Virginia’s offense almost totally revolves around its new signal caller, Jarrett Brown. He’s done his best impression of White so far, too, as he threw for four touchdowns and ran for another 73 against East Carolina last week.
Despite being under a new head coach in Gene Chizik, Auburn has always relied on the running game, and that hasn’t changed. Running backs Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb have combined for nearly 550 yards in the first two games.
Key matchup: If West Virginia wants to pull the upset, they are going to need to limit the damage Tate and McCalebb can apply, and forcing Auburn quarterback Chris Todd to beat them.
Prediction: I like Brown’s ability to give Auburn’s defense troubles, and it’s hard to forget West Virginia’s recent history against SEC schools (5-0). Auburn still has to prove they really are improved under Chizik – I don’t buy it yet. West Virginia 31, Auburn 21
Louisville (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0)
Time: Noon, ESPNU
Line: Kentucky -13
Players to watch: Running back Victor Anderson, who had over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman, had a good start to the season against Indiana State with 91 yards and two scores. Doug Beaumont also had a good game, grabbing five catches for 69 yards.
Mike Hartline had a great start to the season for the Wildcats, throwing for 227 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s season opener. Receiver Randall Cobb finished with seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Key matchup: Louisville entered the season with trouble at the quarterback position, and that didn’t change against Indiana State. Whoever the Cardinals line up under center tomorrow, they need to perform or it’s going to be a similar result to last year’s 27-2 drubbing in Louisville.
Prediction: The Cardinals have struggled mightily under coach Steve Kragthorpe, and it seems unlikely to change anytime this year, let alone this week. Kentucky should have little trouble repeating last year’s result – rivalry game or not. Kentucky 30, Louisville 10
Florida International (0-1) at Rutgers (1-1)
Time: 5 p.m.
Line: Rutgers -15
Players to watch: Freshman quarterback Tom Savage has firmly placed himself as the team’s quarterback after helping the Scarlet Knights bounce back from being demolished by Cincinnati at home by doing the same thing to Howard last week. Tim Brown has gotten off to a good start as well, with 10 catches for 218 yards and a score.
The combination of quarterback Paul McCall and receiver Greg Ellingson combined for Florida International’s only offensive touchdown against Alabama.
Key matchup: Rutgers obviously should win handily, but they’ll expect further improvement from Savage as they look ahead to a trip to Maryland next week.
Prediction: The Scarlet Knights need to take care of business, rather than looking ahead to next week’s clash in College Park. I expect that they will. Rutgers 37, Florida International 13
Connecticut (1-1) at Baylor (1-0)
Time: 5 p.m.
Line: Baylor -10.5
Players to watch: Jordan Todman has had over 100 yards on the ground each of the first two weeks, and also has two touchdowns. Zach Frazer has been up-and-down, throwing for over 200 yards and two scores, but also throwing four picks.
Baylor is led by dynamic sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III, who threw for 136 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another in the Bears’ hard-fought win at Wake Forest, 24-21, two weeks ago. Jay Finley added 91 rushing yards, and David Gettis caught five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Key matchups: Connecticut’s defense has been dominant so far this season, and will need to be again to slow down Griffin III. If the Huskies allow him to run wild, their limited offensive attack will keep them from a chance at the upset.
Prediction: Connecticut’s chances for an upset were last week, when they held a 10-0 lead on ranked North Carolina entering the fourth quarter, only to see it slip away. Traveling to Waco and the talents of Griffin III should be too much to overcome. Baylor 27, Connecticut 10
Navy (1-1) at Pittsburgh (2-0)
Time: 6 p.m.
Line: Pittsburgh -7.5
Players to watch: Freshman Dion Lewis has done a great job filling in for current Philadelphia Eagle LeSean McCoy, rushing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns through two games. Quarterback Bill Stull has also gotten off to a good start, throwing for five touchdowns through two games.
Ricky Dobbs is the beginning and the end of Navy’s triple-option offense. He’s thrown for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and also has ran for 130 yards and scored four more times. Running back Marcus Curry has ran for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Key matchups: As always is the case against Navy, this game will be determined by how well Pittsburgh can handle the triple-option. If Navy is able to run the ball effectively, as they did at Ohio State when they nearly pulled off the upset, then the Panthers could be in some trouble.
Prediction: This shouldn’t be an easy game for the Panthers. The Midshipmen have talent, and you know they will be disciplined. With a trip to North Carolina State looming next week, Pittsburgh absolutely cannot overlook this game. I think they’ll survive a close call. Pittsburgh 27, Navy 21
Charleston Southern (0-2) at South Florida (2-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
Line: No line
Players to watch: As it has for years, everything about the Bulls begins and ends with two players: quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie. Grothe broke White’s all-purpose yardage record last week, and has already thrown for over 350 yards and ran for another 93 through two weeks. Selvie has 10 tackles and a sack.
Key matchups: Playing a school like Charleston Southern, the only matchup for South Florida is against itself.
Prediction: This game should be anything but close. The Bulls will only be using the game as a tune-up to make sure all systems are go heading into next week’s huge matchup against Florida State in Tallahassee. South Florida 48, Charleston Southern 3
Northwestern at Syracuse
Time: 7 p.m.
Line: Northwestern -3.5
Players to watch: Everything for Syracuse this season begins and ends with Greg Paulus. The former Duke point guard has been inconsistent, as could be expected given he hadn’t played a game in four years. Through two games he’s thrown for 270 yards, two touchdowns and three picks. His main target has been Mike Williams, who has 12 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Northwestern has three key players: quarterback Mike Kafka (350 yards), running back Stephen Simmons (150 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receiver Andrew Brewer (163 yards and a touchdown).
Key matchups: As it’s going to be practically every game this season for the Orange, the biggest key to victory is how well Paulus plays. He had a solid showing against Minnesota in his first game – despite throwing an interception in overtime that essentially lost Syracuse the game – and another one last week in Happy Valley against Penn State. He’ll need another one to get a win this week.
Prediction: Syracuse battled Minnesota – considered to be an upper-half of the Big Ten squad – to a standstill in the opening week. Northwestern isn’t as good, and Paulus should be better. Syracuse 17, Northwestern 13
tbontemps@nypost.com
