Rivals.com BIG EAST: PROJECTED 2007

[TyBull]

Go to Rivals.com for entire article. Here is how they project the teams will finish.

BIG EAST: PROJECTED 2007 FINISH (With 2006 records)

1. Louisville (12-1, 6-1): The defending Big East champions got a big boost in the spring with the return of starting quarterback Brian Brohm and his top two receivers, Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas. The offense could be just as prolific under new coach Steve Kragthorpe. There are several openings on defense that need to be filled - not the least of which is the void left by star tackle Amobi Okoye's departure to the NFL.

2. West Virginia (11-2, 5-2): The Mountaineers will remain a Big East challenger at least as long as their top two playmakers – Pat White and Steve Slaton – are on board. The challenge in Morgantown during the spring will be to improve a defense that ranked 62nd in the country in total defense. Rich Rodriguez resisted overtures from Alabama to stay in Morgantown, but three offensive assistants left. During the spring, keep an eye on how West Virginia works on developing depth beyond White with QB Jarrett Brown and a host of running backs behind Slaton.

3. South Florida (9-4, 4-3): Get ready for South Florida to be a trendy pick for breakout team in the conference. The Bulls beat West Virginia last year and Louisville the previous year. Freshmen such as starting quarterback Matt Grothe made major contributions last year and should continue to develop. The arrival of Mike Ford at running back should give the offense a boost, but the dismissal of promising defensive end Josh Julmiste will hurt. We'll find out how seriously to take the Bulls after a Sept. 8 trip to Auburn.

4. Rutgers (11-2, 5-2): We'll start by saying the new and improved Rutgers, like its coach, has some staying power. The Scarlet Knights return running back Ray Rice, who should contend for the Heisman Trophy as a junior. Rutgers could improve offensively if quarterback Mike Teel becomes more consistent. Fullback Brian Leonard didn't show up on the stat sheet as much as he did in past years, so how Rutgers responds to losing its senior leader will be a storyline of the spring. Defensively, the Scarlet Knights must replace five starters off a top-10 defense.

5. Cincinnati (8-5, 4-3): Out with defensive-minded Mark Dantonio, in with Brian Kelly and his spread offense. No team in the Big East will have as much of a makeover during the spring as the Bearcats. Cincinnati, which lost to Ohio State and Virginia Tech out of conference early in the season, ended the year on a high note. The Bearcats handed Rutgers its first loss of the season and earned a win under Kelly in the bowl game against Western Michigan.

6. Pittsburgh (6-6, 2-5): A 6-1 start to the season brought plenty of optimism, but that was quickly eroded by a five-game losing streak to end the year. Dave Wannstedt is 11-12 in his return to his alma mater. Wannstedt has brought in back-to-back top-25 signing classes, but expect some growing pains as the Panthers replace the star players off last year's team.

7. Connecticut (4-8, 1-6): Connecticut is looking for a rebound season. Its win total has decreased every year since 2003. The Huskies have their work cut out for them this spring. They hope to improve a pass offense and rush defense that were among the worst in the country. A chief concern is finding a quarterback, something the Huskies have not been able to do since Dan Orlovsky's departure. All-time leading rusher Terry Caulley is gone, but running back Donald Brown is more than capable as a replacement.

8. Syracuse (4-8, 1-6): It's baby steps for the Orange. After winning one game in 2005, Syracuse won four last season. Despite adding to the win total, Syracuse is still struggling to keep up with the rest of the conference. The Orange's offense and defense were among the worst in the country. Andrew Robinson will step in at quarterback for three-year starter Perry Patterson, but at least he will have the luxury of working under the same offensive coordinator. On defense, coach Greg Robinson has ceded the coordinator duties to linebackers coach Steve Russ.

[crambone]

Nice...!

[SeaBull]

Imagine what will happen if Mike Ford actually delivers. Our offence will be SCARY. And these predictions come based mostly on a young quarterback and an unknown RB.

Little do these guys know, that we're pretty loaded at the DE/LB postions. Our defence is on par with the best, with or without Julmiste

[smazza]

still a bridesmaid

[fishinBULL]

if we play the way we did torwards the end of the season, we will have a very good shot at winning the big east.

[Jihme]

would that put us back into the car care bowl?  i would love to see us in the gator bowl, personally.  we don't have the crowd yet to go for the bcs just yet.  when grothe is a senior then we should go for the bcs, right before ford leaves early for the nfl  

[mulheap]

and right after he just edges out Mike Ford for the Heisman

[ctbrown24]

They have Teachey as the #1 Punter in the BE.

Maybe because he's a dual threat.

[Guest]

???

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

They have Teachey as the #1 Punter in the BE.

Maybe because he's a dual threat.

As in rugby & football?