Football: Multiple teams have shot at Big East title

The Big East is overwhelmed with mediocrity.

It’s the only BCS conference with no teams ranked in the Associated Press or USA Today’s preseason top 25 polls. Still, the Big East should entertain this year, with up to six teams that could challenge for this year’s conference crown. Pretty much every conference game will be a meaningful one.

Each team has question marks entering the year, making it very difficult to select a favorite in this conference.

For now, let’s look at all the teams and see what challenges await them this year.

Cincinnati Bearcats

The Gist: The defending Big East champion Bearcats return their star offensive duo of quarterback Tony Pike and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. But the Bearcats also lost 11 players who made 50 or more tackles last year, including three cornerbacks — DeAngelo Smith, Brandon Underwood and Mike Mickens — who were all drafted by NFL teams.

Schedule Outlook: Cincinnati plays a usually tricky game to open the year when it travels to Rutgers. The Bearcats also play a formidable out-of-conference schedule. After that, an away game against South Florida and a home game against West Virginia will ultimately decide if the Bearcats can win the Big East.

The Bearcats will repeat if: they conquer a tough out-of-conference schedule (at Oregon State, Fresno State and Illinois) and head coach Brian Kelly transforms a bunch of new starters into a stingy defense.

Connecticut Huskies

The Gist: The Huskies play a lot like Pitt: great defense and a reliable running game. And like Pitt, they are replacing a star running back, Donald Brown, who went to the NFL Draft. Linebacker Scott Lutrus (106 tackles last year) returns to lead the Big East’s best defense into the season, and redshirt senior Andre Dixon tries to fill Brown’s void.

Schedule Outlook: A tough draw, the Huskies play West Virginia, Pitt, Cincinnati and Notre Dame on the road this year. Not to mention, they host North Carolina and play Baylor on the road in back-to-back weeks.

The Huskies will win the Big East if: newcomers at quarterback and running back fill in nicely and their defense plays even better than expected against key Big East opponents.

Louisville

The Gist: Louisville returns to the field after a woefully disappointing 2008 season in which it ruined a 5-2 start with a five-game losing streak to close the year. Head coach Steve Kragthorpe takes on offensive play-calling this year after the Cardinals averaged a measly 16.6 points during their five-game slide to end last season.

Schedule Outlook: Louisville travels to play BCS Cinderella Utah in its third game of the season. As far as the Big East, the Cardinals travel to Cincinnati, West Virginia and South Florida but get Rutgers and Pitt at home.

The Cardinals will win the Big East if: an improved Louisville defense leads the way and Justin Burke, a junior transfer quarterback, helps win tough, in-conference road games all year.

Rutgers

The Gist: Head coach Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights pulled off one of the more impressive mid-season turnarounds last year after starting the season 1-5 and then reeling off seven straight victories. This year’s team features 16 starters from that team, but gone are the Scarlet Knights’ quarterback, Mike Teel, and top two receivers, Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, thanks to the NFL Draft.

Schedule Outlook: Rutgers lucks out, hosting Cincinnati, Pitt, South Florida and West Virginia this year. Its toughest test might be travelling to play Maryland.

The Scarlet Knights will win the Big East if: new starters at the quarterback and wide receiver positions take advantage of an experienced offensive line.

South Florida

The Gist: South Florida comes into this season with mostly the same talented and underachieving group from last year yet still remains a conference favorite. Head coach Jim Leavitt assembled a roster full of speedsters and athletes with talent that can’t be ignored. In a conference without a lot of big-name players, the Bulls have two of the biggest in quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie.

Schedule Outlook: After three cupcake games to open the season — home against Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern — the Bulls play No. 18 Florida State on the road. It would be South Florida’s toughest game of the season, except Miami comes to town on Nov. 28. Luckily for the Bulls, they play Cincinnati and Rutgers after byes and host West Virginia this year.

The Bulls will win the Big East if: a team loaded with talent finally utilizes it on the field to put together a championship season.

Syracuse

The Gist: The Orange begins their rebuilding project under new coach and Syracuse alumnus Doug Marrone. That being said, the Orange are in the spotlight after former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus transferred to Syracuse this year and was named starting quarterback.

Schedule Outlook: To start the season, Syracuse looks like it’s a Big 10 team, playing Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern. It’s slightly possible that the Orange could survive that stretch with one win but luck out in conference play by having to travel only to play Pitt, Louisville and Connecticut.

The Orange will win the Big East if: Paulus wins the Heisman Trophy, they actually plays defense and each of their opponents delivers their playbook to Marrone’s front door before every game.

West Virginia

The Gist: One of the biggest question marks in the Big East is how senior Jarrett Brown will replace four-year starter Pat White at quarterback. If Brown is nearly as explosive as White, the Mountaineers could be dangerous. Coach Bill Stewart has promised the Mountaineers will throw more to take advantage of Brown’s strong throwing arm, but they can rely on the run if they want. Running back Noel Devine has the talent to be one of the conference’s best backs.

Schedule Outlook: It’s rough, to say the least. Besides games against upstart East Carolina at home and SEC power Auburn on the road, the Mountaineers must play South Florida, Cincinnati and Rutgers on the road.

The Mountaineers will win the Big East if: Brown has a great start to the season and keeps the offense motoring all year, because their defense is going to be great with one of the best groups of linebackers in the Big East.