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SYRACUSE

INSIDE SLANT

For the second time during his stay at Syracuse, Greg Robinson has a chance at a two-game winning streak.

If you've forgotten, the first time was last season, when the Orange beat Buffalo to even their record at 1-1, with Virginia coming in. Syracuse lost a close one to the Cavaliers and then didn't win again the rest of the year.

They didn't win again, in fact, until last week, when they won at Illinois for Robinson's first road victory.

Now the Orange (1-2, 0-0 Big East) has to try to build on the win, hosting Miami (Ohio) and Wyoming at the Carrier Dome the next two weeks.

The Orange was thrilled to see the school-record 11-game losing streak come to an end even though Robinson says it wasn't about that in his mind.

"I really wasn't dwelling much about the losing streak," he said. "People would have to tell me how many games in a row and all that stuff because I'm thinking about the team we're playing.

"I do know that we were wanting to win in the worst way and that's really where my mindset is."

The team Syracuse is playing this week is 0-3, following two losses to Big Ten teams, the latest a 38-31 loss at Purdue. Miami lost to Kent State in the Mid-American Conference opener last week.

NOTES, QUOTES

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Senior QB Perry Patterson, as predicted by his coach, has been getting better and more efficient running the offense. Last week, the Orange moved freshman Delone Carter into the No. 2 tailback spot and he came through with 65 yards on 19 carries. Taj Smith burst onto the scene at wide receiver, scoring twice last week, once on a 41-yard fumble recovery and again on a 65-yard pass from Patterson.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: After giving up 61 yards of passing in the first three quarters last week, the Orange were burned by touchdown passes of 76 and 69 yards in the win at Illinois. The breakdown gave Greg Robinson something to focus on as his team prepared for Miami (Ohio) this week.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "After playing a Top-15 team like Iowa (into double overtime), we knew we could play at a high level. We held ourselves accountable and made sure we executed a little bit more." -– Syracuse quarterback Perry Patterson

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Miami (Ohio) at Syracuse, Sept. 23 –- With one win in the bank, SU goes for the first two-game winning streak of the Greg Robinson era and faces an 0-3 Miami team. However, the RedHawks lost by only a touchdown at Purdue two weeks ago.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Taj Smith -– Making his first start, Smith picked up a Perry Patterson fumble and romped 41 yards for his first career touchdown, then caught a 65-yard bomb from Patterson for his second, part of a five-catch, 106-yard game that earned him a spot on the Big East's weekly honor roll.

QB Perry Patterson –- SU coach Greg Robinson maintained all along he had confidence in the senior, promising he would play better after a rough opener. He has. Patterson is 30-for-56 for 377 yards with three touchdowns and only one interception in the past two games.

RB Delone Carter –- Moving up to No. 2 on the tailback depth chart for last week's game, the freshman responded with 65 yards on 19 carries.

ROSTER REPORT: The Orange are healthy.

Safety/punt returner Bruce Williams, out with a broken hand, traveled to Illinois but did not play. He's still wearing protection on the hand.

Carter jumped ahead of Paul Chiara on the depth chart and made the most of it. Chiara had only one carry at Illinois.

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WEST VIRGINIA

INSIDE SLANT

Three opponents have yet to stop the high-octane Mountaineers.

Maybe seeing them take to the road will slow down West Virginia.

West Virginia, now up to No. 4 in the AP poll after hammering Maryland on national television, plays four of its next five games on the road, starting with this Saturday's game at East Carolina.

An off week follows before facing Mississippi State, Syracuse at home and games at Connecticut and Louisville.

The game against the Cardinals might must-see television. It looks like Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm will be back for that Nov. 2 date with the Mountaineers.

But that's down the road. First, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has to see how a roster filled with young players reacts to going away from friendly Morgantown.

"Sometimes on the road it's easier to focus because you get away from certain distractions," Rodriguez told Monday's Big East media conference call. "What you worry about is young guys and how they handle it. Do they handle it like a business trip, like the veterans do?"

One thing that should help –- beside the Mounties' veteran leadership -– is the fact WVU comes into this week's road game as a 21-point favorite over Skip Holtz's Pirates.

NOTES, QUOTES

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Mountaineers are first in the country in rushing (348.67 yards per game), second in scoring (46.33, behind only Louisville) and fourth in total offense (486.33). They don't throw the ball much, but they're still fourth in passing efficiency. Until someone stops RB Steve Slaton, West Virginia will continue to roll up yardage by the hundreds.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: West Virginia is third in the country in turnover margin, but coach Rich Rodriguez saw Maryland do enough things after getting blown out early to have something to hammer home. Still, the Mountaineers forced the Terrapins into five turnovers.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have enough veterans that I think can explain to the guys about how to do it. But four of the next five is a lot of road games. Our guys have to understand how to take care of business." –- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

THIS WEEK'S GAME: West Virginia at East Carolina, Sept. 23 -– On paper, this doesn't figure to be much of a contest. The Mountaineers go in as 21-point road favorites. The results on the field should be the same as what's expected coming in, and it's clear already this season Rich Rodriguez's team knows how to deal with the hype.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Steve Slaton  He ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter against Maryland, fumbling away a likely third score that was recovered for a TD by teammate Brad Palmer. Slaton earned a spot on the Big East weekly honor roll.

WR/KR Darius Raynaud -– Joining the kick-return team for the first time, he fumbled his first kick, then picked it up and ran 96 yards for a touchdown. He went on to win Big East Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also caught a touchdown pass in the game.

QB Patrick White –- The Mountaineers just need him to be steady and that's what he's been. The dynamic runner ran for one score and passed for another while gaining 85 yards on the ground last week. His fumble in the third quarter produced the Mountaineers' first turnover of the season.

ROSTER REPORT: Rodriguez was hoping to get starting SS Ridwan Malik and backup Doug Slovanic back from injury this week but said Monday he wouldn't know anything until he saw them in pads Tuesday. Neither has played this season.

CINCINNATI

INSIDE SLANT

Coach Mark Dantanio says the program has "embraced" the ridiculous schedule facing the Bearcats this season.

Kind of like grabbing a couple of dozen roses by the long stems and squeezing your fingers around the thorns.

"If you want your program to go forward, you've got to play those people," Dantonio said Monday. "This only will make the University of Cincinnati a better program at the end."

The schedule is a killer, and the numbers have actually gotten worse since the season started. Their opponents keep moving up the polls.

In the latest AP poll, Ohio State is No. 1, West Virginia is fourth, Louisville eighth and Virginia Tech 11th. And all are Cincinnati opponents. All of those games are on the road.

Not that the Bearcats (1-2, 0-1 Big East) have a great home-field advantage. It's just that playing those teams on the road just makes it that much tougher.

Last week, Cincinnati stayed with Ohio State for much of the game in Columbus. This week, it's on to Virginia Tech, for what could be the third loss in a row. The Bearcats opened with a home loss to Pittsburgh.

"We need to have a measuring stick to see where we're at as a program," Dantonio said.

One good thing for the Bearcats, who have lost five straight games to Division 1-A opponents by a combined 183-47  After this week, Cincinnati plays five of its next six games at home.

NOTES, QUOTES

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Coach Mark Dantonio has a simple enough task for his offense as it heads into always tough Lane Stadium to play Virginia Tech. "We can't turn the ball over in that environment," he said. Meaning, of course, the Hokies are known for creating turnovers on defense. Throw in Tech's excellent special teams play and it's obvious what will happen if the Cincy offense isn't efficient. QB Dustin Grutza was on the run all last Saturday and should be again.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Dantonio took his team into Columbus knowing the defense had to produce some turnovers, and the Buckeyes played clean all day. It would seem the only chance the Bearcats have of even being in the game as huge underdogs against the Hokies is if they can force a turnover or two.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I believe in our guys. I believe in our team. Sometimes, things don't roll your way, we've got to deal with it, we've got to put this behind us and beat Virginia Tech."  Cincinnati TE Brent Celek

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Cincinnati at Virginia Tech, Sept. 23 -– The old frying pan into the fire thing, though this is actually the other way around as Cincy goes from playing No. 1 to just having to travel to No. 11. The Hokies are playing well and should be able to feast on the visitors in this one.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Dustin Grutza  Managed to complete 18 of 22 passes last week despite being on the run all day at Ohio State. He was sacked seven times for 59 yards and was guilty of intentional grounding. But his 23-yard scramble did set up a 22-yard scoring pass that gave his team the lead.

TE Brent Celek –- He shook it off because his team lost, but Celek became the school's all-time leader among tight end in receiving yards, reaching 800 in the loss at Ohio State. With 68 career receptions, he is 14 away from passing Kris Bjorson (1989-92) on that list. He has also caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games.

WR/KR Dominick Goodman –- Continuing to be one of the important players on this team, Goodman had a 53-yard kickoff return that almost set his team up for a second score.

ROSTER REPORT: The Bearcats remain healthy as they head to Virginia Tech this week.

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CONNECTICUT

INSIDE SLANT

That sigh of relief you might have heard coming from the northeast was likely from Huskies coach Randy Edsall.

The Connecticut coach, who watched tailback Terry Caulley head for the hospital last Saturday after Caulley suffered what appeared to be a rib or spleen injury, got a positive report on Caulley, who is now scheduled to play Saturday when the Huskies visit Indiana.

Caulley ran for 81 yards on 15 carries and became UConn's all-time leading rusher before leaving last week's loss to Wake Forest with the injury.

"Everything checked out fine, which was great news," Edsall said.

The coach could use some great news. Last week, his team owned the stat sheet but lost a home game that could have had a positive effect on the rest of the season.

Instead, Edsall was left looking for answers before facing a tough road game before Navy comes calling. The Huskies (1-1, with the win over Division I-AA Rhode Island) then head to South Florida for the start of Big East play.

"We have to play better and eliminate the mistakes we made this past week," Edsall said Monday.

If they don't, they could be looking at a long losing streak.

NOTES, QUOTES

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Last week's game turned the wrong way early, when UConn QB D.J. Hernandez, calling an audible with his team about to take the lead, threw the ball right to Wake Forest's Jeremy Thompson, who turned it into an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown. UConn coach Randy Edsall likes Hernandez and thinks his quarterback is capable of eliminating a lot of those mistakes, The coach was relieved in a big way when he found out star RB Terry Caulley should be able to play at Indiana.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Edsall saw some good things from his defense last week, with the offense and special teams probably the major reasons for the loss to Wake. Now, he needs a big week out of his D at Indiana, just in case Hernandez and the offense have a hangover from last week. Safety Donta Moore had a huge game against Wake. The Huskies only gave up 209 yards of offense in that game, but Edsall was concerned because 149 of those yards came on five plays.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's very frustrating, is what it is. You see yourself moving the ball and doing good things and all of a sudden you come up empty-handed."  UConn coach Randy Edsall

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Connecticut at Indiana, Sept. 23 -– Sounds like a good, old-fashioned basketball matchup, doesn't it? Well, it's a football game, and the Huskies go to Bloomington smarting from last week's home loss to Wake Forest. A loss Saturday, with Navy and a trip to South Florida coming up, could mean a four-game losing streak and a 1-4 start. UConn finished last season with a 1-5 run.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB D.J. Hernandez –- His audible and interception, which was returned 86 yards for a score, was huge. Hernandez continues to grow into the position. He won the starting job because he can play, but playing against Rhode Island and playing against I-A teams are two different things.

S Donta Moore –- Once in a battle for a starting job, Moore is now No. 1 at his position after making 12 tackles, including 6 1/2 for loss and one sack, against Wake Forest to earn a spot on the Big East's weekly honor roll.

LB Danny Lansanah –- He had 10 tackles in last week's home loss to Wake Forest, giving him 19 in two games, two behind Moore for the team lead.

ROSTER REPORT: TE Dan Murray (ankle) is expected to miss a third straight game this week.

RB Terry Caulley (abdominal strain) is probable for this week.

C Keith Gray (shoulder) is out at least two weeks. He will be replaced by Alex LeMagdelaine.

Not happy with the kickoffs, Edsall opened Desi Cullen's position up to competition from Matt Nuzie and Craig Vicidomino in practice this week. Nuzie, who missed an extra point and a 28-yard field goal last week, got a vote of confidence from his coach in the days since.

Nuzie knows fans are down on him. "There are a lot of people doubting me right now," he said. "If I doubt myself, that's when I might as well take off my cleats and hang it up. But I don't."

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LOUISVILLE

INSIDE SLANT

Bobby Petrino is a realist.

The Louisville coach knows he's lost the two players on the cover of the Cardinals' media guide  "The Derby City Duo"  to injuries.

Michael Bush is gone for the year and Brian Brohm is out 3-6 weeks. But Petrino also knows people a