From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview for Sept. 19, 1992
Date: 15 Sep 92 02:59:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Big East Preview for Sept. 19

Standings as of Sept. 12, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              1         1-0-0        0-0-0
Syracuse          10         2-0-0        0-0-0
Boston College   (28)        2-0-0        1-0-0
West Virginia    (31)        1-0-1        1-0-0
Pittsburgh       (46)        1-1-0        0-1-0
Virginia Tech                1-1-0        0-0-0
Temple                       1-1-0        0-0-0
Rutgers                      1-1-0        0-1-0

Officially, the team that is ranked highest in the USAToday/CNN poll at the
end of the regular season is the conference champion.  Next year, the 
conference will have in place a full round-robin schedule and will select 
its champion in the traditional way.


Last week's games:

SYRACUSE 31, Texas 21
BOSTON COLLEGE 49, Northwestern 0
RUTGERS 41, Colgate 0
East Carolina 30, VIRGINIA TECH 27
Penn State 49, TEMPLE 8
WEST VIRGINIA 44, PITTSBURGH 6

Conference records
 Last week overall:     4-3
        vs. non-BE:     3-2
    Season to date:    10-4-1
        vs. non-BE:     8-2-1
My picks last week:     4-2  (I went 6-0 in Bob's pool, but changed some picks
           to date:     9-3-1        for the preview )-;)


MIAMI (1-0)
Last week:  Did not play.
This week:  Florida A&M (2-0).  The Rattlers played well against GaSouthern,
but will be hard-pressed to *score* against the Hurricanes.  This will be 
Miami's first 1-AA opponent since stomping this same team back in 1980.
Backup QB Costas will get a full half of playing time and the Hurricanes 
will try to work on the running game.
Prediction:  Miami 45, A&M 0.
Last meeting:  Miami won 49-0 in 1980.
Series:  Tied 1-1.
Next week:  Arizona (1-1).

SYRACUSE (2-0)
Last week:  The Orangemen squeaked by Texas with surprisingly uninspired play.
The Syracuse defense has got to stiffen up if it expects to end up in second
in the Big East, let alone win it.  The offense was solid enough, but a few
trick plays blew up in their face to keep the score close.  Ismail wasn't
much of a factor in the game.
This week:  Ohio State (2-0).  The Buckeyes are coming off a big win over 
enigmatic Bowling Green and a tight one over Louisville.  Playing in the
Carrierdome should work in Pasqualoni's favor as the crowd should be able
to help out the embattled secondary.  If Syracuse can get the ball to
Ismail more as well as to the backs to test the Ohio State line, they'll break 
this one open.
Prediction:  Syracuse 33, Ohio State 21.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 24-17 in last year's Hall of Fame Bowl.
Series:  Ohio State leads 3-2.
Next week:  open.

WEST VIRGINIA (1-0-1)
Last week:  The Mountaineers shocked the nation with a shellacking of favored
Pittsburgh away.  Jake Kelchner solidified his hold on the starting qb job
and the running backs balanced the offense.  The already suspect Pitt defense
didn't stop West Virginia all day.  If the Mountaineers can play like this
every week, they might upset someone in October.
This week:  Maryland (0-2).  Although the Terps kept it close with NCState,
they still lost 14-10 last week.  Even after such a big win for WVa, this 
game will be much closer than it ought to be.  Maryland's Run-and-Shoot 
should struggle against the experienced Mountaineer defense, but neither 
will West Virginia be setting scoring records.  Kelchner probably won't pick 
up too many yards in the air:  Adrian Murrel will be asked to test the 
Maryland line that gave up nearly 200 yards rushing a game last year.  
Prediction:  West Virginia 19, Maryland 10.
Last meeting:  West Virginia won 37-7 last year.
Series:  Maryland leads 14-13-2.
Next week:  at Virginia Tech (1-1).

PITTSBURGH (1-1) at RUTGERS (1-1) Thursday night.
Last week:  Pitt hosted WVa.  If Hackett's job was in question before the game,
it's not now:  don't expect him back next season.  How can the guy do so little
with so much talent year after year?  Pitt will go after a proven winner to
take his place for next year and restore the Panthers to their deserved 
prominence.  Colgate visited Rutgers.  Rutgers destroyed the Red Raiders 
after struggling offensively early.
This week:  Alex van Pelt looked miserable in the first half last week, but 
improved to mediocre in the second.  If he can further improve, Pitt will 
win this one.  Bryan Fortay is not panning out so far this year for the 
Knights, but McCord may be able to take the team to the next level.  Pitt 
needs this game to keep from going into a tailspin before they get to the 
heart of the season.  Rutgers needs it if it wants to keep the bowl hopes 
alive.
Prediction:  Rutgers 24, Pitt 18.
Last meeting:  Pitt won 22-17 last year.
Series:  Pitt leads 9-0.
Next week:  Pitt hosts Minnesota (0-1), Rutgers at Navy (0-1).

BOSTON COLLEGE (2-0)
Last week:  The BC defense shut down Northwestern while the offense rolled up 
49 points.  The Eagles look to challenge Syracuse for second place in the
Big East if they can keep this up.
This week:  Navy (0-1).  More of the same for BC this week.  Virginia managed
53 points on the Midshipmen, can BC do better?  That's about the only 
interesting question in this game.  The Eagles will crack the Top 25 after 
the rout.
Prediction:  Boston College 42, Navy 0.
Last meeting:  BC won 28-17 in 1990.
Series:  BC leads 11-10.
Next week:  Michigan State (0-1).

VIRGINIA TECH (1-1) at TEMPLE (1-1)
Last week:  The Hokies lost a heartbreaker to East Carolina 30-27.  Virginia
Tech was outplayed, but still managed to lead with a couple minutes to go.
Defense ruled this one for the first half, but the same defense that scored
a touchdown for the Hokies couldn't stop the Pirates from driving for the 
winning score.  Temple was dismantled by Penn State, an outcome Temple might
just as well get used to.
This week:  Virginia Tech can lick its wounds while it draws a bye.  Temple 
is little more than a sparring partner, even for Virginia Tech, as the Hokies 
get ready for a real game the following week.
Prediction:  Virginia Tech 35, Temple 14.
Last meeting:  Temple won 31-28 in 1990.
Series:  Temple leads 3-2.
Next week:  VaTech hosts West Virginia (1-0-1), Temple visits Kansas 
State (0-0).

___

Timothy C. Pitts             
Canada US Trade Center
Department of Geography
University at Buffalo        
V262XXVE@UBVMS.BITNET