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smazza · October 21, 2006

Weekend Preview: Big East big guns headed away from home

Updated 10/20/2006 3:38 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | Subscribe to stories like this

Enlarge By Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Brian Brohm and Louisville hope to improve on their performance against Cincinnati this week at Syracuse.

NCAA WEEK 8 PREVIEW

Weekend Forecast: Erick Smith makes all the picks in the Top 25 | Chat transcript

Weekend Preview: Unbeatens from the Big East hit the road for tests

Whiteside: Is culture of violence creating a generation of brawlers?

Pitt rebounding nicely: After tumultuous start, Wannstedt has Panthers in groove

Replay reversals few: Coaches' challenges not lucky in NCAA

Trouble in the Ivy League: Off-field problems plaguing conference

TV games: Where to find the top games

Player to watch: Stewart Bradley, LB, Nebraska

AP

For most players there is nothing positive about getting injured. But for Nebraska linebacker Stewart Bradley, injury presented an opportunity for improvement. "It's sort of a blessing in disguise," says Bradley of his season-ending knee injury last October.

Before the injury, Bradley was enjoying his finest season as a Cornhusker with 26 tackles and three sacks through five games. Rather than bemoan his ill-timed injury, he set about rebuilding himself.

Bradley added 10 pounds to his 6-4, 240-pound frame while enduring drills aimed at enhancing his speed. "I really worked on my speed and my whole body. I feel better with the added weight. I am more of a physical presence now, and I'm faster."

Through seven games this season, Bradley leads Nebraska in tackles with 44. When Nebraska faces Big 12 rival Texas on Saturday, Bradley will be relied upon to make plays all over the field to help alleviate pressure on the Cornhuskers' defensive line. Beating Texas would be momentous for Nebraska.

"We're comfortable playing with anybody, and a victory against Texas would just confirm that. It's the sort of victory that you could really hang your hat on, and would provide a big boost for our team," says Bradley.

SPOTLIGHT ON DIVISION III

No. 20 Springfield (Mass.) (6-0) at

No. 9 St. John Fisher (N.Y.) (7-0)

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

The skinny: The lead in the Empire 8 is at stake with the host Cardinals 3-0 and the Pride 2-0. The league champ gets an automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs. Expect a ground battle. ... Springfield junior QB Chris Sharpe is second in Division III in rushing (158.2 yards a game) and paces the most productive running attack in the division (370.7 yards a game). ... Sharpe leads Division III in scoring (18 points a game). St. John Fisher -- led by senior RB Mark Robinson, the school's career rushing leader -- is eighth at 268.3 a game.

Worth noting: The Cardinals are off to the best start in program history and have three shutouts this season. ... Legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, whose name is attached to the NCAA Division III title game, coached Springfield in 1890 and '91, its first two seasons of football as well as Stagg's first two seasons as a college coach. He was 10-11-1. ... St. John Fisher has been in the playoffs once (2004); Springfield has been in four times, most recently in 2003.

By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY

The league's three undefeated teams all take to the road in this vital weekend that could challenge the perception that the conference is a two-horse race. Perhaps the pair of clubs with the most to prove square off at Heinz Field as Pittsburgh hosts No. 19 Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were pushed in their first league road game at South Florida, but the Panthers could be an even bigger test. Pitt is rolling thanks to RB LaRod Stephens-Howling adding another dimension to the attack, complementing the aerial combo of QB Tyler Palko and WR Derek Kinder. DE Rameel Meekins must set the tone for the Rutgers' defense with constant pressure. Scarlet Knights QB Mike Teel is coming off a solid outing at Navy. He'll need to be sharp again to give RB Ray Rice openings. Panthers LB H.B. Blades is likely to have frequent encounters with Rutgers FB Brian Leonard in running lanes.

Meanwhile, those two lead horses have one more game to get ready for their Nov. 2 showdown. No. 4 West Virginia starts out the weekend Friday night at Connecticut. The Mountaineers' top-ranked rushing attack, a four-legged backfield monster comprised of QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton, figures to have its way against the Huskies' 105th-rated run defense. But don't be surprised if White sends WR Darius Reynaud deep in the early moments to break the ice. UConn's best chance to play spoiler is to keep its offense on the field for long stretches. That will only be possible if QB Matt Bonislawski improves his 45.9% completion rate and RB Terry Caulley has a big night.

No. 6 Louisville's road trip is to Syracuse and the Carrier Dome, where the Cardinals are 1-1 all-time. Louisville QB Brian Brohm's return from thumb surgery was a success in terms of outcome and stats, but he'll need better ground support to fend off DE Jameel McClain and the Orange pass rush. Syracuse is still seeking its first league win. QB Perry Patterson lacks Brohm's weapons in the passing game but must do enough to give RBs Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley opportunities to make first downs.

NO MENTION OF BULLS