From: v262xxve@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Timothy C Pitts)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Big East Preview, Oct. 3
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:21:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Big East Preview for October 3

Standings as of Sept. 26, 1992

Team             Rank       Overall    Conference
                             W-L-T        W-L-T
Miami              2         3-0-0        0-0-0
Syracuse          17         2-1-0        0-0-0
Boston College    22         4-0-0        1-0-0
West Virginia     25         3-0-1        2-0-0
Rutgers          (36)        3-1-0        1-1-0
Virginia Tech                2-2-0        1-1-0
Temple                       1-3-0        0-1-0
Pittsburgh                   2-2-0        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 8, Arizona 7
BOSTON COLLEGE 14, Michigan State 0
RUTGERS 40, Navy 0
Kansas State 35, TEMPLE 14
WEST VIRGINIA 16, VIRGINIA TECH 7
PITTSBURGH 41, Minnesota 33

 Last week overall:     4-2
        vs. non-BE:     3-1
    Season to date:    19-9-1
        vs. non-BE:    14-4-1
My picks last week:     6-0
           to date:    20-4-1


MIAMI (3-0)
Last week:  Edged Arizona (1-2-1), 8-7.  This game was a battle of defenses  
and the Hurricane defense won out.  The real difference in the game was a
fantastic play by the Miami defensive line tackling the Arizona running back
in the end zone for the go-ahead safety.  Gino Torretta looked good at times,
passing for 289 yards and the game-winning touchdown, and absolutely miserable
at times, throwing passes to nobody in particular and getting rattled by
the 'Zonies.  The Hurricane running game was non-existent, gaining a total
of two yards against the inspired Wildcats.  While the offensive line managed
good pass protection, the run blocking was pitiful.  Let's hope FSU and Penn
State didn't watch the Arizona defensive scheme too closely.  Arizona had
a chance to win this one, but a 51-yard field goal sailed wide right (a 
tendency that my teams have lived and died by going back to the Superbowl in
'91).  Credit the Miami defense for stopping the Arizona offense that far
out.  Despite the tight score, Miami extends its overall win streak to 21
(tied for 37th all-time) and its home streak to 47 (second all-time).
This week:  Florida State (4-0).  Miami has squeaked by with one-point 
victories in this series four times in the past 12 years.  The rule:  if
it's close, Miami wins.  The last time the score was within a touchdown and
FSU won was 1971 (20-17), compare that with seven times for the Hurricanes
in that period.  If FSU thinks that last week proves that Miami is not that
good, Miami will blow them out.  FSU needs to control the Miami running 
game, even to the point of leaving the wide-outs in single coverage.  Expect
Miami to use screen passes and quick outs to simulate a running game that
doesn't exist behind the inexperienced and shallow offensive line.  Some
of the former Hurricane players like Irvin and Blades will return this week
to let the Miami offense know that the Hurricanes ``don't play that.''
Prediction:  Miami rebounds, 24-20.
Last meeting:  Miami won 17-16 last year (wide right).
Series:  Miami leads 21-14.
Next week:  At Penn State (4-0).

SYRACUSE (2-1)
Last week:  Did not play.
This week:  At Louisville (1-3).  After an inspired heart-breaker against 
Ohio State and a win over Memphis State, Louisville has lost two straight.
Syracuse needs to regain some lost glory with a huge win here.
Prediction:  Syracuse 21, Louisville 12.
Last meeting:  Syracuse won 24-13 in 1989.
Series:  Syracuse leads 2-0.
Next week:  Rutgers (3-1,1-1).

BOSTON COLLEGE (4-0,1-0) at WEST VIRGINIA (3-0-1,2-0)
Last week:  WVa beat VaTech, 16-7.  BC shut out Michigan State, 14-0.  This 
was BC's third straight shutout, good for only allowing 5 points per game 
(2nd in the BE to Miami's 4.6).  Granted, the only decent team they played 
scored 20 on them, but the defense still looks impressive since Michigan 
State managed 31 points on Notre Dame.  On the other side of the ball, BC 
is 5th in rushing offense and Glenn Foley is 6th in passing efficiency.
This week:  This game will set up the main opposition for Syracuse.  The
loser will be virtually out of the conference title chase.  BC has been
consistent on both sides of the ball.  West Virginia has been strong 
offensively, but erratic defensively.  The Mountaineers have been tested
by some decent competition, BC (outside of the opener) has not.  The question
is which West Virginia defense will show up.
Prediction:  BC 29, WVa 13.
Last meeting:  West Virginia won 31-24.
Series:  West Virginia leads 13-7.
Next week:  Both teams are idle.

PITTSBURGH (2-2,0-2)
Last week:  Beat Minnesota (0-4), 41-33.  Alex van Pelt looked more consistent
this week than he has all year.  He threw 22 of 33 for 364 yards and 3 TDs
to become the first 9,000 yard passer in Pitt history.  Pitt jumped out to
a 31-6 half-time lead and held on for the victory.
This week:  At Maryland (0-4).  Pitt faces the two teams tied for the longest 
losing streak (nine) back-to-back.  Hackett is worried about Maryland, they
have come close in two of the games only to lose in the end.  To keep 
respectable, Pitt needs this win.  (When I was in Pittsburgh on Sunday 
watching the Pirates clinch the NL East, I drove by Pitt Stadium and the 
team was out practicing late in the evening.  I took a few pictures and 
watched 'em through binoculars for a while :-)  That's a beautiful campus!).  
Prediction:  Pitt 35, Maryland 28.
Last meeting:  Pitt won 24-20 last year.
Series:  Tied 2-2.
Next week:  Notre Dame (3-0-1).

VIRGINIA TECH (2-2,1-1)
Last week:  Lost to West Virginia, 16-7.
This week:  Idle.
Next week:  At Louisville (1-3).

TEMPLE (1-3,0-1)
Last week:  Lost to Kansas State (2-0), 35-14.
This week:  At Washington State (3-0).  The Cougars could be the surprise team
in the Pac-10 this year.  Whether they are or not is immaterial to this one,
last in the Pac-10 would be enough to beat this team.
Prediction:  Wazoo 33, Temple 7.
Last meeting:  None.
Series:  First meeting.
Next week:  Idle.

RUTGERS (3-1,1-1)
Last week:  Dismantled Navy (0-3), 40-0.  Navy hasn't managed a point yet
this year.
This week:  Penn State (4-0).  Penn State will be looking ahead to the Miami
visit the following week.  Rutgers is much more consistent than it was in the
season-opener against BC.  Under Graber, New Brunswick is a tough place to play.
Add it all up and the Pennheads are ripe for an upset.
Prediction:  Penn State 20, Rutgers 18.
Last meeting:  Penn State won 37-17.
Series:  Penn State leads 18-2.
Next week:  At Syracuse (2-1,0-0).

___

Timothy C. Pitts             
Canada US Trade Center
Department of Geography
University at Buffalo        
V262XXVE@UBVMS.BITNET