From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview for Nov. 7, 1992
Date: 5 Nov 92 06:33:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Big East Preview for November 7

Standings after October 31, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              1         8-0-0        2-0-0
Syracuse          t9         7-1-0        4-0-0
Boston College    t9         7-0-1        2-0-1
West Virginia    (34)        3-3-2        2-2-1
Rutgers          (35)        5-3-0        2-2-0
Pittsburgh                   3-6-0        1-3-0
Virginia Tech                2-5-1        1-3-0
Temple                       1-7-0        0-4-0

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:

MIAMI 35, WEST VIRGINIA 23
SYRACUSE 41, PITTSBURGH 10
BOSTON COLLEGE 45, TEMPLE 6
RUTGERS 50, VIRGINIA TECH 49

 Last week overall:     4-4
        vs. non-BE:     0-0
    Season to date:    33-25-4
        vs. non-BE:    21-11-2
My picks last week:     4-0
           to date:    40-7-3


MIAMI (8-0,2-0)
Last week:  Thumped West Virginia (3-3-2,2-2-1), 35-23.  The game wasn't
as close as the score seems to indicate.  After jumping to a 21-3 half
time lead, Miami continued to press on to a 35-3 lead late in the fourth
quarter on the strength of 363 yards passing by Gino ``Marino'' Torretta.
In the final four minutes of play, West Virginia exploded for three
touchdowns against Miami's second and third strings.
This week:  Miami's 26 game winning streak (16th all-time, and longest
since Alabama's 28 game streak from 1978-1980) stays alive as Miami does
not play.
Next week:  Extends total and home win streaks with another bye-week versus
Temple (1-7,0-4).

VIRGINIA TECH (2-5-1,1-3) at SYRACUSE (7-1,4-0)
Last week:  Virginia Tech lost to Rutgers (5-3,2-2), 50-49;  Syracuse
pummelled Pitt (3-6,1-3), 41-10.  Virginia Tech blew a 49-44 lead with
14 seconds to go by allowing successive big passes by Bryan Fortay for,
respectively, 46 and 15 yards and the winning score as time expired.
Syracuse scored 41 straight points from the waning seconds of the first
quarter to the end of the third to dispatch the Van Pelt-less Panthers.
Qadry Ismail had 201 total yards and two touchdowns to lead the Orangemen.
This week:  Virginia Tech has played some solid teams strongly, but Syracuse
isn't just solid.  Syracuse's balanced attack will move the ball effectively
while the defense should contain the Tech offense.
Prediction:  Syracuse 38, Virginia Tech 17.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 35-0 in 1988.
Series:  Syracuse leads 3-2.
Next week:  VaTech hosts Southern Mississippi (6-3); Syracuse visits Boston
College (7-0-1,2-0-1).

WEST VIRGINIA (3-3-2,2-2-1)
Last week:  Lost to Miami (8-0,2-0), 35-23.  West Virginia showed it can
score in a hurry by coming back with 20 points in four minutes at the end
of this one.  It was too little, too late, though.  Still, the disappointment 
of losing three in a row hurts, and the Mountaineers needed one of those 
to have a real chance at a bowl bid.
This week:  East Carolina (4-4).  West Virginia will take its frustrations
out on the Pirates.  The Mountaineers have to win this to have any chance
at even a minor bowl (they need six wins to meet the NCAA requirements).  
The Pirate offense might gain some yards, but the miserable defense will 
be run roughshod over by the Mountaineer offense led by Adrian Murrell's 
running.
Prediction:  West Virginia 30, East Carolina 17.
Last meeting:  West Virginia won 30-10 in 1988.
Series:  West Virginia leads 7-0.
Next week:  At Rutgers (5-3,2-2).

PITTSBURGH (3-6,1-3)
Last week:  Lost to Syracuse (7-1,4-0), 41-10.  Alex Van Pelt was knocked
out of the game with a concussion in the second quarter and that was the
end of the Panther threat.  Pitt had jumped out to a 3-0 lead late in the
first quarter, but Marvin Graves took the ball in for a touchdown a minute 
and a half later to put the Orangemen up for good.  Pitt moved the ball 
effectively (Van Pelt was 4 of 9 for 44 yards in the first, his replacement, 
John Ryan, went 11 of 20 for 194 yards, and Curtis Martin ran the ball for 
108 yards), but couldn't get it into the end-zone enough.
This week:  Does not play.
Next week:  Louisville (4-5).

BOSTON COLLEGE (7-0-1,2-0-1)
Last week:  Beat Temple (1-7,0-4), 45-6.  Chuckie Dukes gained 184 yards
for a total of 1024 this year.  Glenn Foley passed 9 of 18 for 178 yards
and one touchdown.  The defense didn't allow a score as the Owls only
touchdown came on a kickoff return in the second half.
This week:  At Notre Dame (6-1-1).  The Irish haven't won a game over
a currently ranked team this year and that streak won't end this
week.  BC's ground game is gaining momentum and should be able to move
the ball effectively against the suspect Irish defense.  This will be 
the best test of the heralded BC defense all year.  Notre Dame will score, 
but not enough to win this one.
Prediction:  BC 28, Notre Dame 20.
Last meeting:  Notre Dame won 45-17 in 1987.
Series:  ND leads 3-0.
Next week:  Hosts Syracuse (7-1,4-0).

TEMPLE (1-7,0-4)
Last week:  Lost to Boston College (7-0-1,2-0-1), 45-6.  The Owls' Lew 
Lawhorn took his second kickoff return for a touchdown this year.  Despite
his efforts, Temple has yet to beat a Div. 1-A team this year.
This week:  At Akron (5-3).  This is the Owls' best chance for a 1-A win all
year.  Temple will move the ball better than it has most of the year, but
will fall short.
Prediction:  Akron 21, Temple 18.
Last meeting:  Akron won 37-32 last year.
Series:  Temple leads 8-3.
Next week:  At Miami (8-0,2-0).

RUTGERS (5-3,2-2)
Last week:  Beat Virginia Tech (2-5-1,1-3), 50-49.  Bryan Fortay had more
interceptions (5) than touchdowns (4), but managed to drive over 60 yards 
for the winning touchdown as time ran out.  Rutgers overcame 7 turnovers 
and a 28-7 deficit early in the game to even up its conference record.
This week:  At Cincinnati (1-7).  Rutgers can ensure its second straight
winning season by dispatching the hapless Bearcats this weekend.  Pencil
in this win, though Cincinnati might keep it close for a quarter or so.
Prediction:  Rutgers 30, Cincinnati 17.
Last meeting:  Tied 17-17 in 1989.
Series:  Rutgers leads 5-2-1.
Next week:  West Virginia (3-3-2,2-2-1).


___

Timothy C. Pitts             
Canada US Trade Center
Department of Geography
University at Buffalo        
V262XXVE@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu