Big East Breakdown: TCU will be a welcome addition

Please hurry, TCU. The Big East desperately needs you, and fast. Yes, you are joining in 2012,… Please hurry, TCU. The Big East desperately needs you, and fast. Yes, you are joining in 2012, but that’s just not soon enough. The Big East representative this year might not even be ranked. That’s a terrible thought. Connecticut could win the conference this year and yet I had them at the bottom of my power rankings a month ago. The preseason favorite, Pitt, choked again and now the Huskies of all teams are in the driver’s seat. Next season cannot come quickly enough.

Power Rankings

Connecticut — The Huskies can complete a mid-season turnaround and win the Big East — and the automatic BCS berth that goes with it — with a win this week against South Florida. The Bulls are a dangerous opponent, but the surging Huskies — they have won four straight — and running back Jordan Todman should take care of business. Remember, I said should.

West Virginia — Bill Stewart probably saved his job and kept the Mountaineers alive for the conference title with WVU’s dominating performance in the Backyard Brawl. WVU’s season thus far hasn’t lived up to expectations thanks to injuries and underperformance, but with a little help from South Florida it can still clinch the BCS bowl berth. With a Connecticut win, it will likely settle in as the conference’s No. 2 selection and go to the Champs Sports Bowl. Notre Dame also has a tie-in with this bowl and could get picked over WVU, but this is unlikely.

South Florida — The Bulls inserted themselves into Florida football with their overtime win against Miami last week. Not much was expected of this year’s Bulls team, but by beating “the U,” Skip Holtz showed that there is another worthy program in the Sunshine State. With the rich recruiting area, downfall of Miami and a surprisingly average year by Florida, this team will be a threat in the coming years.

Pittsburgh — No comment.

Syracuse — After a strong start, it dropped three of its last four, including a 16-7 loss to a very beatable Boston College team last week. Anyway, still a great season given expectations, which were very low. It has already accepted an invitation to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Louisville — The Cards played hard this season and were rewarded with bowl eligibility. Just like Syracuse, they severely surpassed expectations. They blew out Rutgers this past week and will most likely grab the Big East’s last bowl spot or at least an at-large bid for a bowl.

Cincinnati — The Bearcats knew coming into the season that they didn’t have as good a team as the past several years, but to not even reach six wins and bowl eligibility is nonetheless disappointing. Their turnover margin was second worst in the entire nation, something that head coach Butch Jones and his team need to work on for next season.

Rutgers — The Scarlet Knights just want this season to end. They have lost five straight, endured much emotional turmoil and embarrassed the entire state of New Jersey — which is hard to do — when their offense takes the field. And this week they travel to Morgantown, W.Va., to take on a rejuvenated WVU squad. Things can’t get much worse.

Hardware time, everybody. I know how excited everybody gets when I start handing out my weekly awards.

Offensive Player of the Week: Jordan Todman, running back Connecticut

This is getting to be a weekly occurrence for this guy, who rushed for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries.

Defensive Player of the Week: Brandon Hogan, cornerback WVU

Hogan recorded an interception on the Pitt’s first drive last week, which he returned 53 yards to the Panthers 2-yard line. He also forced and recovered a fumble, helping West Virginia stomp Pitt in the Backyard Brawl.

Team of the Week: TCU

Thank god someone has come to rescue Big East football, even if it isn’t exactly from the East.