From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview for October 10, 1992
Date: 9 Oct 92 15:16:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: acsu.Bvv13F.MKJ
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Big East Preview for October 10

Standings as of October 3, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              2         4-0-0        0-0-0
Syracuse          15         3-1-0        0-0-0
Boston College    21         4-0-1        1-0-1
West Virginia     24t        3-0-2        2-0-1
Rutgers          (38)        3-2-0        1-1-0
Virginia Tech                2-2-0        1-1-0
Temple                       1-4-0        0-1-0
Pittsburgh                   2-3-0        0-2-0

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 19, Florida State 16
SYRACUSE 15, Louisville 9
BOSTON COLLEGE 24, WEST VIRGINIA 24
Maryland 47, PITTSBURGH 34
Penn State 38, RUTGERS 24
Washington State 51, TEMPLE 10

 Last week overall:     2-3-2
        vs. non-BE:     2-3
    Season to date:    21-12-3
        vs. non-BE:    16-7-1
My picks last week:     4-1-1
           to date:    24-5-2


MIAMI (4-0)
Last week:  Beat Florida State (4-1), 19-16.  Miami's defense won the game
for them.  The special teams were outscored 7-2, and FSU's punt returning
unit set up another field goal.  The Miami offense continued to sputter,
but give credit for that to the outstanding Seminole defense.  This one
was even in just about every category but turnovers:  Miami gave up only 2
to FSU's 4.
This week:  At Penn State (5-0).  Miami hasn't played back-to-back Top
Ten teams since Notre Dame and South Carolina way back in 1987.  Miami
is somewhat beat up after playing the tight defenses of Arizona and FSU
the past two weeks.  The Miami running game should pick up more yards
this week than it has the past two combined.  Still, Penn State should
have the horses and the intangibles to take this one from the Hurricanes.
A long drive will fall just short in the final minute of play, field goal
sails wide right.  The win streak will end at 22 (tied for 32nd all-time).
Prediction:  Penn State 20, Miami 17.
Last meeting:  Miami won 26-20 last year.
Series:  Penn State leads 6-4.
Next week:  Texas Christian (1-2-1).

RUTGERS (3-2,1-1) at SYRACUSE (3-1,0-0).
Last week:  Syracuse beat Louisville (1-4), 15-9.  After trailing 9-7 at
the half, Syracuse managed a 63-yard drive to win it in the third.  In an
ugly one, Syracuse outgained the Cardinals 317-161.  Rutgers lost to Penn 
State (5-0), 38-24.
This week:  Homecoming in the Dome.  Syracuse is somewhat shaky this year
after such high hopes.  The Dome hasn't been particularly kind to the Orange.
Rutgers plays decent defense, too bad it's usually against the likes of
Colgate and Navy.  Rutgers' quarterback situation resembles West Virginia's:
the starter has sucked no matter which one he is, and his replacement has
excelled.  Rutgers is still a year away and Syracuse wants this win.
Prediction:  Syracuse 30, Rutgers 20.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 21-7 last year.
Series:  Syracuse leads 17-4-1.
Next week:  Syracuse visits WVa (3-0-2,2-0-1), Rutgers hosts Army (1-2).

WEST VIRGINIA (3-0-2,2-0-1)
Last week:  Tied Boston College, 24-24.  After leading 14-3 early in the 
second, the Mountaineers had to come back in this one, scoring on a long
run by Adrian Murrell in the fourth quarter to tie it.  A late BC field goal
attempt was blocked to preserve the tie.
This week:  Does not play.
Next week:  Syracuse (3-1).

PITTSBURGH (2-3,0-2)
Last week:  Lost to Maryland (1-4), 47-34.  Pitt continues to struggle
and the defense is weak.  Maryland is certainly better than their record
indicates, but Pitt should have been able to take this one.
This week:  Notre Dame (3-1-1).  Alex Van Pelt always plays well against the
Irish, but rarely well enough to win it.  This game will be no different.
The underachievers will fold in the face of an angry Lou Holtz.
Prediction:  Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 14.
Last meeting:  Notre Dame won 42-7 last year.
Series:  Notre Dame leads 36-16-1.
Next week:  At Temple (1-4,0-1).

BOSTON COLLEGE (4-0-1,1-0-1)
Last week:  Tied West Virginia (3-0-2,2-0-1), 24-24.  Despite numerous 
chances to win this, the Eagles could not get it done.  View this as a
tribute to West Virginia, not an indictment of BC.  The runner up spot
is wide open in the Big East with Syracuse, WVa, and BC all contending.
Too bad the Eagles miss Miami this year or they could challenge for the
title.
This week:  Does not play.
Next week:  At Penn State (5-0).

VIRGINIA TECH (2-2,1-1)
Last week:  Idle.
This week:  At Louisville (1-4).  Louisville has played Ohio State and
Syracuse close.  Tech is no Syracuse or Ohio State.
Prediction:  Louisville 19, VaTech 10
Last meeting:  Virginia Tech won 41-13 last year.
Series:  Louisville leads 3-2.
Next week:  NC State (4-2).

TEMPLE (1-4,0-1)
Last week:  Lost to Washington State (4-0), 51-10.
This week:  Idle.
Next week:  Pittsburgh (2-3,0-2).


___

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