From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview for November 14, 1992
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:55:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


Big East Preview for November 14

Standings after November 7, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              1         8-0-0        2-0-0
Syracuse           9         8-1-0        5-0-0
Boston College    15         7-1-1        2-0-1
West Virginia    (39)        4-3-2        2-2-1
Rutgers                      5-4-0        2-2-0
Pittsburgh                   3-6-0        1-3-0
Virginia Tech                2-6-1        1-4-0
Temple                       1-8-0        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:

SYRACUSE 28, VIRGINIA TECH 9
Notre Dame 54, BOSTON COLLEGE 7
Cincinnati 26, RUTGERS 24
Akron 29, TEMPLE 15
WEST VIRGINIA 41, East Carolina 28

 Last week overall:     2-4
        vs. non-BE:     1-3
    Season to date:    37-29-4
        vs. non-BE:    22-14-2
My picks last week:     3-2
           to date:    43-9-3


TEMPLE (1-8,0-4) at MIAMI (8-0,2-0)
Last week:  Temple lost to Akron (6-3), 29-15; Miami was idle.  Temple's
loss here makes it 8 in a row, and 12 in a row against I-A competition
(the last win was Oct. 19, 1991, over Navy, 21-14).  The offense shows
some promise, however, and since it is mostly sophomores and juniors, 
it might pull them out of the Big East cellar next year.
This week:  This one won't even be worth watching.  Why did the Big East 
Network take this one as the game of the week?  The Owls ought to start
looking to next year for their next win over a I-A team.  Temple's offense
is good enough to score once or twice, especially on the Miami reserves 
that will be playing half the game, but the defense will be overwhelmed.
Prediction:  Miami 45, Temple 10.
Last meeting:  Temple won 34-0 in 1930.
Series:  Temple leads 1-0.
Next week:  Temple hosts Rutgers (5-4,2-2); Miami visits Syracuse (8-1,5-0).

SYRACUSE (8-1,5-0) at BOSTON COLLEGE (7-1-1,2-0-1)
Last week:  Syracuse beat Virginia Tech (2-6-1,1-4), 28-9; BC lost to Notre
Dame (7-1-1), 54-7.  Syracuse jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter
to coast to victory on the strength of Graves' 198 yards and 2 touchdown 
passes.  Despite 2 interceptions, the Hokies could only manage one touchdown.
Syracuse has never lost a Big East conference game.  BC was blown out by
the Irish.  Glenn Foley was paralyzed all game, singlehandedly destroying
several scoring opportunities by falling to the ground while defensive 
lineman were still a yard or two away.  The game was out of reach by the
half with the Irish up 37-0, the last touchdown scored on the strength of 
a fake punt.  Reggie Brooks laid claim to the Heisman with 178 yards on
18 carries to push him over the 1000 yard mark.
This week:  Syracuse often struggles against the Eagles, and this week will
be no different.  Even with the embarrassing blowout last week, BC is 
capable of knocking off the Orangemen.  Alumni Field is a tough place to
play in the cold, especially if Syracuse is looking ahead to the Miami
game next week.  Strangely enough, the loser will play on New Years Day
(Hall of Fame Bowl), while the winner might be relegated to the John
Hancock Bowl.  BC will jump to an early lead before the Syracuse offense
clicks to come charging back for the win in the second half to extend the
longest Big East win streak to 11 games.
Prediction:  Syracuse 24, BC 17.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 38-16 last year.
Series:  Syracuse leads 20-12.
Next week:  Syracuse hosts Miami (8-0,2-0); BC visits Army (3-5).

WEST VIRGINIA (4-3-2,2-2-1) at RUTGERS (5-4,2-2)
Last week:  West Virginia beat East Carolina (4-5), 41-28;  Rutgers lost
to Cincinnati (2-7), 26-24.  The Pirates scored two 97-yard touchdowns
(one on a punt, the other a fumble recovery) to stay in this one, but the
balanced West Virginia offense scored 24 straight points to seal the win.
Heralded Adrian Murrell (94 yards) was upstaged by teammate Rodney Woodard
with 135 yards.  QB Darren Studstill scored a couple of his own, as well.
Rutgers was shocked by the Bearcats (whose only other win this season was
over Kent), virtually ending any chance at a bowl bid.  Cincinnati hit
a last second field goal to pull this one off.
This week:  This game should decide fourth in the Big East.  Neither team
has much chance at a bowl this year.  The Mountaineers need this one to
even qualify.  If West Virginia could erase the month of October from the
calender, it would be playing on New Years Day.  Adrian Murrell should run 
roughshod over the pourous Rutgers defense, but the Knights in Scarlet 
should put up a few points of their own.  The stronger offense will prevail
in this one.
Prediction:  West Virginia 35, Rutgers 21.
Last meeting:  West Virginia won 28-3 last year.
Series:  WVa leads 15-2-2.
Next week:  WVa hosts Louisiana Tech (5-4); Rutgers visits Temple (1-8,0-4).

PITTSBURGH (3-6,1-3)
Last week:  Did not play.
This week:  Louisville (4-6).  Neither team can salvage a winning season 
this year, though Pitt can still achieve .500 if it wins its last three.  
Louisville has played far better teams than the Panthers close, and Pitt
won't pull this one off.  Van Pelt can pass for 400 yards, but with Hackett
in charge, this team might not win another game this year.
Prediction:  Louisville 20, Pitt 14.
Last meeting:  Louisville won 27-20 in 1990.
Series:  Pitt leads 4-1.
Next week:  At Penn State (6-3).

VIRGINIA TECH (2-6-1,1-4)
Last week:  Lost to Syracuse (8-1,5-0).  While Tech was never really ``out
of'' this game, it was never in it, either.  After the first half, the
Hokies never closed the gap to single digits.
This week:  Southern Mississippi (6-4).  After a modest beginning, Southern
Miss has put together a decent season, including a near-upset of Florida
last week.  A win in the final regular season game could bring a bowl bid.
Tech is probably thinking more about salvaging the season when Virginia
comes to visit next week than this one.  It'll show on the field as the 
Hokies give up 4+ touchdowns for the fourth straight week.
Prediction:  USM 31, VaTech 21.
Last meeting:  Tech won 20-16 in 1990.
Series:  Tied 3-3.
Next week:  Virginia (6-4).


___

Timothy C. Pitts             
Canada US Trade Center
Department of Geography
University at Buffalo        
V262XXVE@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college