JasonS
Football Moderator
Make-or-break stretches in the Big East
May, 25, 2010 By Brian Bennett
Every game counts, you've got to take 'em one game at a time, blah blah blah.
We all know that not every game on the schedule is created equally. And each team usually faces a make-or-break stretch during their season. Today I'm going to try and identify the most important three- or four-game sequence on each Big East team's schedule in 2010:
Cincinnati: The two-time defending Big East champs have it relatively easy out of the gate in conference play, a road game at Louisville followed by home tilts with USF and Syracuse. But then the final four are a doozy. Games at West Virginia, at home against Rutgers and at UConn will determine whether the season finale against Pitt will once again have title implications.
Connecticut: The Huskies' first three games of conference play will tell us whether they're a serious contender. They have to open Big East play at Rutgers on Oct. 8, then get two weeks off before going to Louisville. After that, it's a short week until a Friday nighter at home against West Virginia, whom they've never beaten.
Louisville: The Cardinals need to gain some momentum right at the beginning of the schedule. They have a toss-up rivalry game at home against Kentucky to start the year, followed by a visit from FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky. A very difficult test awaits at Oregon State in Week 3, but then there's a bye week before a road trip to Arkansas State. A 3-1 start is possible and could provide reason to hope for a bowl game.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers have probably the most difficult schedule in the league, and the final four games offer a stern test. Pitt closes out with road contests against UConn, South Florida and Cincinnati, with a home date against rival West Virginia thrown in there. The potential preseason favorite will have to survive that tricky stretch to get over the hump and win the conference title.
Rutgers: Once again, the Scarlet Knights' schedule serves up plenty of breathers. The stretch between Games 3 and 5 -- home games against Top 25 opponent North Carolina, Tulane and UConn -- could be vital. Win all three of those, and Rutgers should start the season 6-0 and gain a lot of positive momentum.
South Florida: Maybe Skip Holtz can end the Bulls' habit of going into midseason swoons. USF had better hope so, because beginning Oct. 14 it has to travel to West Virginia and Cincinnati on back-to-back weeks, followed by Rutgers coming to Raymond James Stadium two weeks later.
Syracuse: Can the Orange really make it to a bowl in 2010? A strong start likely is needed to have any chance. They have to avoid an upset on the road at Akron to open the year and then try to pull off a mild surprise at Washington in Week 2. Do that, and Syracuse should be 4-0 heading into league play with two FCS schools on the docket.
West Virginia: Is this the year the Mountaineers get back on top the Big East and in the national discussion? We should find out early. Games three through six include visits from Maryland and UNLV and a daunting trip to LSU before conference play opens against current league nemesis South Florida. If the Mountaineers get through that stretch and stand no worse than 5-1, they could be primed for a run.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/9808/make-or-break-stretches-in-the-big-east-2
May, 25, 2010 By Brian Bennett
Every game counts, you've got to take 'em one game at a time, blah blah blah.
We all know that not every game on the schedule is created equally. And each team usually faces a make-or-break stretch during their season. Today I'm going to try and identify the most important three- or four-game sequence on each Big East team's schedule in 2010:
Cincinnati: The two-time defending Big East champs have it relatively easy out of the gate in conference play, a road game at Louisville followed by home tilts with USF and Syracuse. But then the final four are a doozy. Games at West Virginia, at home against Rutgers and at UConn will determine whether the season finale against Pitt will once again have title implications.
Connecticut: The Huskies' first three games of conference play will tell us whether they're a serious contender. They have to open Big East play at Rutgers on Oct. 8, then get two weeks off before going to Louisville. After that, it's a short week until a Friday nighter at home against West Virginia, whom they've never beaten.
Louisville: The Cardinals need to gain some momentum right at the beginning of the schedule. They have a toss-up rivalry game at home against Kentucky to start the year, followed by a visit from FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky. A very difficult test awaits at Oregon State in Week 3, but then there's a bye week before a road trip to Arkansas State. A 3-1 start is possible and could provide reason to hope for a bowl game.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers have probably the most difficult schedule in the league, and the final four games offer a stern test. Pitt closes out with road contests against UConn, South Florida and Cincinnati, with a home date against rival West Virginia thrown in there. The potential preseason favorite will have to survive that tricky stretch to get over the hump and win the conference title.
Rutgers: Once again, the Scarlet Knights' schedule serves up plenty of breathers. The stretch between Games 3 and 5 -- home games against Top 25 opponent North Carolina, Tulane and UConn -- could be vital. Win all three of those, and Rutgers should start the season 6-0 and gain a lot of positive momentum.
South Florida: Maybe Skip Holtz can end the Bulls' habit of going into midseason swoons. USF had better hope so, because beginning Oct. 14 it has to travel to West Virginia and Cincinnati on back-to-back weeks, followed by Rutgers coming to Raymond James Stadium two weeks later.
Syracuse: Can the Orange really make it to a bowl in 2010? A strong start likely is needed to have any chance. They have to avoid an upset on the road at Akron to open the year and then try to pull off a mild surprise at Washington in Week 2. Do that, and Syracuse should be 4-0 heading into league play with two FCS schools on the docket.
West Virginia: Is this the year the Mountaineers get back on top the Big East and in the national discussion? We should find out early. Games three through six include visits from Maryland and UNLV and a daunting trip to LSU before conference play opens against current league nemesis South Florida. If the Mountaineers get through that stretch and stand no worse than 5-1, they could be primed for a run.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/9808/make-or-break-stretches-in-the-big-east-2