C-J's Rick Bozich's Predictions

[bullwark]

Big East: Rick Bozich's predictions

How they'll finish

1. South Florida

2. Louisville

3. West Virginia

4. Rutgers

5. Pittsburgh

6. Cincinnati

7. Syracuse

8. Connecticut

My argument

When in doubt, go with the schedule. South Florida surged to a 9-4 record last season, knocking Louisville into the Orange Bowl by winning at West Virginia late in the season.

The Bulls returned nine starters on offense, including improving quarterback Matt Grothe. But their biggest advantage is that they get West Virginia, Cincinnati and Louisville at home. WVU has two Heisman Trophy contenders -- halfback Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White -- to Louisville's one (Brian Brohm), but the Mountaineers have questions at linebacker and on their offensive front.

Don't leave Rutgers out of your coin toss. The Scarlet Knights have a better schedule than Louisville or West Virginia, playing their first five games at home and then getting South Florida and West Virginia to visit New Brunswick in October. But it's tougher to win when you're no longer overlooked.

[HarveyGlass]

The Louisville Courier-Journal's Eric Crawford and the Lexington Herald-Leader's John Clay each have the Bulls in their top25.(and that's really saying something coming from Clay in SEC-land)

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070826/COLUMNISTS02/70825030

http://heraldleader.com/444/story/159779.html