Big East Breakdown – Week 6

With the Cards pulling out a tough victory over Southern Miss on Saturday, the focus of the Big East remains on Thursday night’s showdown between Cincinnati and South Florida. Here’s this week’s Big East Breakdown, including a beatability index for Louisville’s remaining conference opponents.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats took the weekend off as they prepare for Thursday night’s game at South Florida (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Beatability index (10=sure win, 0=no shot): 1.0

Connecticut: In the most exciting Big East game of the weekend, UConn built up a 21-6 third quarter advantage on Pittsburgh, but ended up losing on a last-second field goal, 24-21 at Heinz Field. Running back Andre Dixon ran for 95 yards and a touchdown off 16 carries, while Robert Vaughn returned an interception 20 yards to the house in the third quarter. This week, the Huskies host Louisville at noon.
Beatability index: 7.5

Pittsburgh: The Panthers managed to put up 18 unanswered points in the second half, including a game-winning field goal by Dan Hutchins at the buzzer to take down Connecticut, 24-21. Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin caught eight balls for 104 yards and both of the Panthers’ scores. Quarterback Bill Stull threw for 268 yards and had two interceptions, one of which was returned for a score. Pitt takes to the road on Friday night with an 8 p.m. game at Rutgers.

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights routed Division I-AA Texas Southern 42-0 on Saturday for the program’s 600th all-time win. Running back Joe Martinek had eight carries for 51 yards and a pair of scores, while fellow backfield mate De’Antwan Williams ran for 132 yards off 19 carries and put the final points on the board. Pittsburgh makes the trip to Piscataway on Friday night as RU gets back into Big East action.
Beatability index: 8.0

South Florida: The Bulls took the weekend off as they prepare for Thursday night’s game against Cincinnati (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Beatability index: 1.5

Syracuse: The Orange were shutout in the first half at home on Saturday against West Virginia, eventually falling 34-13. The loss was Syracuse’s eighth straight to the Mountaineers. SU finally got on the board in the third quarter when backup quarterback Ryan Nassib’s pass to Mike Williams for 50 yards hit payday. That was one of only four balls Williams would secure on the day, finishing with 89 yards. Syracuse has this weekend off before hosting Mid American Conference opponent Akron on Oct. 24.
Beatability index: 8.5

West Virginia: The Mountaineers dominated Syracuse in both sides of the ball on Saturday in a 34-13 win at the Carrier Dome. Running back Noel Devine got the scoring started with an 11-yard pass from Jarrett Brown in the first quarter, while Ryan Clarke had two scores off seven carries for a total of 14 yards. Devine completed his day with another score, totaling 91 yards off 22 carries. The WVU defense shutdown Syracuse too, as the Orange were 0-11 on third down conversions. The intrastate rivalry commences on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as Marshall comes to Morgantown for the two school’s annual matchup.
Beatability index: 1.0