From: mln@sunkj.larc.nasa.gov (Michael L Nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East [P]review
Date: 16 Oct 1992 13:49:31 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sunkj.larc.nasa.gov

(posted for Tim and Bob)
Standings as of October 10, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              1         5-0-0        0-0-0
Syracuse          14         4-1-0        1-0-0
Boston College    18         4-0-1        1-0-1
West Virginia     24         3-0-2        2-0-1
Virginia Tech                2-3-0        1-1-0
Rutgers                      3-3-0        1-2-0
Temple                       1-4-0        0-1-0
Pittsburgh                   2-4-0        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 17, Penn State 14
SYRACUSE 50, RUTGERS 28
Notre Dame 52, PITTSBURGH 21
Louisville 21, VIRGINIA TECH 17


 Last week overall:     2-3
        vs. non-BE:     1-2
    Season to date:    21-15-3
        vs. non-BE:    17-9-1
My picks last week:     3-1 (though if PSU hadn't missed two field goals, I
           to date:    27-6-2           would have been right on the money)


MIAMI (5-0,0-0)
Last week:  Beat Penn State (5-1), 17-14.  Penn State missed two field goals
(though one didn't count because of a Hurricane penalty) and had another
blocked as the Hurricanes extended the nation's longest winning streak to
23 games (tied for 27th all-time).  The Lions led in nearly every statistical
category but the final score.  Miami seems to have turned over a new leaf
with only two penalties all game.
This week:  Texas Christian (1-3-1).  The Horned Toads haven't been able
to score consistently on such weak teams as SMU and Western Michigan.  How
can they score on the number two scoring defense in the country?  The answer
is, they won't.  On the other side of the ball, Miami's offense has been 
stifled by three good defenses.  The running game was good enough against 
Penn State to sustain a scoring drive, this defense will be child's play.
Prediction:  Miami 30, TCU 0.
Last meeting:  TCU won 21-17 in 1977.
Series:  Miami leads 5-3.
Next week:  At Virginia Tech (2-3,1-1).

SYRACUSE (4-1,1-0) at WEST VIRGINIA (3-0-2,2-0-1)
Last week:  Syracuse beat Rutgers (3-3,1-2), 50-28; West Virginia was idle.
This week:  This should help clear up the picture for the top of the Big
East.  West Virginia has looked surprisingly strong against good teams,
but still has that ugly tie against MiamiU.  Syracuse is up and down.
Graves looked good last week against Rutgers, will he be the same this
week?  The Mountaineers will make a good run for it, but in the end, 
Syracuse's balance will wear them down.
Prediction:  Syracuse 27, West Virginia 24.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 16-10 last year.
Series:  Syracuse leads 23-16.
Next week:  Syracuse visits Temple (1-4,0-1);  WVa hosts Penn State (5-1).

PITTSBURGH (2-4,0-2) at TEMPLE (1-4,0-1)
Last week:  Pitt lost to Notre Dame (4-1-1), 52-21; Temple was idle.
This week:  The Panther's offense was clicking last week, and yet it
couldn't get it done against the Irish.  Pitt needs this win to get it
out of the Big East cellar.  Temple hasn't been able to stay within
three touchdowns of anyone save miserable and winless Boston U.
Prediction:  Pitt 40, Temple 17.
Last meeting:  Pitt won 26-7 last year.
Series:  Pitt leads 16-5-1.
Next week:  Pitt hosts East Carolina (2-3), Temple hosts Syracuse (4-1,1-0)

BOSTON COLLEGE (4-0-1,1-0-1)
Last week:  Did not play.
This week:  At Penn State (5-1).  BC is in the top ten nationally in most 
team categories, including 6th in yards rushing, 2nd in scoring defense, 
and 6th in total defense.  Additionally, the Eagles have arguably the best
quarterback in the Big East in Glenn Foley.  Penn State is angry over the
close loss to Miami last week.  The Lions want to make this Homecoming 
game their ticket back into the national title chase.  BC wants this to
be the game that shows the program has arrived nationally.  I give this
one to the home team, but wouldn't be surprised by the upset.
Prediction:  Penn State 21, BC 20.
Last meeting:  Penn State won 28-21 last year.
Series:  Penn State leads 19-1.
Next week:  At Tulane (2-3).

VIRGINIA TECH (2-3,1-1)
Last week:  Lost to Louisville (2-4), 21-17.
This week:  NC State (5-2).  Even at home, the Hokies don't have enough
to beat the Wolfpack.  Still, this game may represent Tech's best chance
to win a game for the next month.  Tech will stay with the Wolfpack, but
won't pull off a Homecoming win.
Prediction:  NC State 24, Virginia Tech 17.
Last meeting:  NC State won 7-0 last year.
Series:  VaTech leads 23-17-3.
Next week:  Miami (5-0,0-0).

RUTGERS (3-3,1-2)
Last week:  Lost to Syracuse (4-1,1-0), 50-28.
The score was 33-0 in the 2nd qtr before Bryan Fortay came in and
generated some offense.  But, was that because the game was already
settled or because Bryan Fortay is the QB to lead RU the rest of
the way?  Some of both, perhaps.
This week:  Army (2-2).
A funny game to figure.  Consider this: RU has 6 starters out on defense,
traditionally RU has trouble with the wishbone, and Army's QB can actually
pass the ball.  However, Army has trouble with teams like Holy Cross,
The Citadel, and Lafayette.  Look for Bryan Fortay get his act together
and the RU offensive line to open up some nice holes for the RBs to eat
up the clock and keep the wishbone off the field.
Prediction:  Rutgers 28, Army 10.
Last meeting:  Rutgers won 14-12 last year.
Series:  Army leads 16-9.
Next week:  Does not play.

___

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