From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview, Sept. 12
Date: 11 Sep 92 14:17:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Big East Preview, Sept. 12, 1992

Standings as of Sept. 5

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              1         1-0-0        0-0-0
Syracuse           9         1-0-0        0-0-0
Pittsburgh       (26)        1-0-0        0-0-0
Boston College   (40)        1-0-0        1-0-0
Virginia Tech    (47)        1-0-0        0-0-0
Temple                       1-0-0        0-0-0
West Virginia                0-0-1        0-0-0
Rutgers                      0-1-0        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 42, East Carolina 21
BOSTON COLLEGE 37, RUTGERS 20
VIRGINIA TECH 49, James Madison 20
TEMPLE 35, Boston University 0
WEST VIRGINIA 29, Miami University 29
MIAMI 24, Iowa 7
PITTSBURGH 51, Kent 10

 Last week overall:     6-1-1
        vs. non-BE:     5-0-1
    Season to date:     6-1-1
        vs. non-BE:     5-0-1
My picks last week:     5-1-1
           to date:     5-1-1


This week's games:
MIAMI is idle.  Next week:  Florida A&M (1-0).

Texas (0-1) at SYRACUSE (1-0):  In the dome, Syracuse is capable of beating 
anyone.  Last week, the Orangemen looked strong beating East Carolina,
but then it's not the same Pirate team that stunned them last year.  Texas
looked sloppy to say the least in it's home loss to Mississippi State.  
If UT's defense can slow down the Missile, the 'Horns can keep it within 10.
The Orange defense will have no problem shutting down Gardere and Co.
Prediction:  Syracuse 44, Texas 7.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 23-14 in the Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1, 1960.
Series:  Syracuse leads 1-0.
Next week:  Ohio State (1-0).

WEST VIRGINIA (0-0-1) at PITTSBURGH (1-0):  This is the make-or-break game for 
both teams.  If Pitt wins, it could propel them into the Top 25, if West 
Virginia does it, it could make up for last week's embarassing tie.  Last 
week, Pitt rolled over a pitiful Kent team.  We'll see if that continues this 
week.  West Virginia was tied by a team that should end up rather competitive.
Hackett's job is on the line this year and he has to perform in games like 
this to be around next year.  Studstill is out at QB for the Mountaineers, a 
big plus according to the West Virginia fans.  Jake Kelchner will take over.
Prediction:  Pitt 17, West Virginia 14.
Last meeting:  Pittsburgh won 34-3 last year.
Series:  Pitt leads 55-26-3.
Next week:  WVa hosts Maryland (1-0), Pitt visits Rutgers (0-1).

Northwestern (0-1) at BOSTON COLLEGE (1-0):  Last week BC showed it was for 
real and Glenn Foley racked up some gaudy numbers.  Northwestern showed it 
could hang in there for half the game with the likes of Notre Dame.  Still, 
the Eagles have too many horses and should wear out the Wildcats before 
halftime.  Prediction:  BC 28, Northwestern 14.
Last meeting:  Northwestern won in 1961 (score?).
Series:  Northwestern leads 1-0.
Next week:  Navy (0-0).

VIRGINIA TECH (1-0) at East Carolina (0-1):  This one is usually tight.  Last
week the Pirates were clobbered by a very good Syracuse team and the Hokies
rolled over I-AA James Madison.  As yet we know nothing about either except
that East Carolina isn't as good as it was last year (but we already knew
that before the game was played).  This one's a tossup.
Prediction:  VaTech 21, East Carolina 20.
Last meeting:  East Carolina won 24-17 last year.
Series:  Tied 3-3.
Next week:  at Temple (1-0).

TEMPLE (1-0) at Penn State (1-0):  Penn State looked shaky last week at 
inspired Cincinnati, but I don't think there's anything the Owls can do to
make the Lions look anything short of spectacular this week.  The drubbing
of Boston University just put some false hope in Bill Cosby's head:  Temple
will be back below .500 next week.  Prediction:  PSU 45, Temple 0.
Last meeting:  PSU  won 24-7 last year.
Series:  PSU leads 25-3-1.
Next week:  VaTech (1-0).

Colgate (0-0) at RUTGERS (0-1):  This is one of three gimmees for the
Knights.  Last week, they hung in with BC, but showed they are still a 
year away.  If they can get it together this week, they might make Thursday's 
game with Pitt into a solid matchup.  Prediction:  Rutgers 31, Colgate 7.
Last meeting:  Rutgers won 28-17 in 1990.
Series:  Rutgers leads 25-15.
Next week:  Pitt (1-0).

___

Timothy C. Pitts             
Canada US Trade Center
Department of Geography
University at Buffalo        
V262XXVE@UBVMS.BITNET
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college