2008 Big East Schedule Predictions

Prepared by

West Virginia
6-1
9-3
South Florida
5-2
8-4
Cincinnati
5-2
10-3
Pittsburgh
5-2
9-3
Rutgers
3-4
7-5
Louisville
2-5
6-6
Connecticut
2-5
6-6
Syracuse
0-7
3-9
Cincinnati Aug 28 Eastern Kentucky - W
Sep 06 @ Oklahoma - L
Sep 20 Miami (OH) - W
Sep 27 @ Akron - W
Oct 03 @Marshall - W
Oct 11 Rutgers - W
Oct 25 @ Connecticut - W
Oct 30 South Florida - W
Nov 08 @ West Virginia - L
Nov 14 @ Louisville - W
Nov 22 Pittsburgh - L
Nov 29 Syracuse - W
Dec 06 @ Hawai'i - W

Prediction:
10-3 (5-2 Big East)

The Bearcats will be a good team this year, how good depends on who the starting QB is. The Defense will be really good this year. The Oklahoma game in week 2 will show how good Cincinnati will be.

Connecticut Aug 28 Hofstra - W
Sep 06 @ Temple - W
Sep 13 Virginia - W
Sep 20 Baylor - W
Sep 26 @ Louisville - W
Oct 04 @ N Carolina - L
Oct 18 @ Rutgers - L
Oct 25 Cincinnati - L
Nov 01 West Virginia - L
Nov 15 @ Syracuse - W
Nov 23 @ South Florida - L
Dec 06 Pittsburgh - L

Prediction:
6-6 (2-5 Big East)

UConn had the best defense in the league last year. The main question concerning the Huskies is how will their offense perform in 2008.

Louisville Aug 31 Kentucky - L
Sep 06 Tennessee Tech - W
Sep 17 Kansas State - W
Sep 26 Connecticut - L
Oct 10 @ Memphis - W
Oct 18 Middle Tennessee - W
Oct 25 South Florida - L
Nov 01 @ Syracuse - W
Nov 08 @ Pittsburgh - L
Nov 14 Cincinnati - W
Nov 22 West Virginia - L
Dec 04 @ Rutgers - L

Prediction:
6-6 (2-5 Big East)

The Cardinals had some winnable games last year, but the team quit in the end. Quarterbacks and Running Backs will be the strong point for the Cards in 2008. Coach Kraigthrope hired several new defensive coaches in the offseason -- will this be enough to turn the team around in 2008?

Pittsburgh Aug 30 Bowling Green - W
Sep 06 Buffalo - W
Sep 20 Iowa - W
Sep 27 @ Syracuse - W
Oct 02 @ South Florida - L
Oct 18 @ Navy - L
Oct 25 Rutgers - L
Nov 01 @ Notre Dame - L
Nov 08 Louisville - W
Nov 22 @ Cincinnati - W
Nov 28 West Virginia - W
Dec 06 @ Connecticut - W

Prediction:
9-3 (5-2 Big East)

If the Panthers are completely healthy, unlike the last few seasons, Pitt will be a contender from the very start. The one question mark heading into 2008 is how good will the quarterbacks be for Pitt.

Rutgers Sep 01 Fresno State - W
Sep 11 North Carolina - L
Sep 20 @ Navy - W
Sep 27 Morgan State - W
Oct 04 @ West Virginia - L
Oct 11 @ Cincinnati - L
Oct 18 Connecticut - W
Oct 25 @ Pittsburgh - L
Nov 08 Syracuse - W
Nov 15 @ South Florida - L
Nov 22 Army - W
Dec 04 Louisville - W

Prediction:
7-5 (3-4 Big East)

Several question concerning the Scarlet Knights: 1) How will the special teams unit perform, 2) Who will fill Ray Rice's spot, and 3) how will the pressure on the starting QB effect the running and passing game in 2008.

South Florida Aug 30 Tennessee-Martin - W
Sep 06 @ Central Florida - W
Sep 12 Kansas - L
Sep 20 @ Florida International - W
Sep 27 @ N.C. State - L
Oct 02 Pittsburgh - W
Oct 18 Syracuse - W
Oct 25 @ Louisville - W
Oct 30 @ Cincinnati - L
Nov 15 Rutgers - W
Nov 23 Connecticut - W
Dec 06 @ West Virginia - L

Prediction:
8-4 (5-2 Big East)

Can the Bulls make another championship run, like in 2007?

USF only loses one offensive starter from last years Sun Bowl team, and few key players on the Defensive side. Last season, USF struggled on the road at the end of the season. Will the bulls be able to win in cold weather? They'll have to, because the biggest game on the schedule is the season finale at West Virginia (The Bulls have won the last two meetings).

Syracuse Aug 30 @ Northwestern - W
Sep 06 Akron - W
Sep 13 Penn State - L
Sep 20 Northeastern - W
Sep 27 Pittsburgh - L
Oct 11 West Virginia - L
Oct 18 South Florida - L
Nov 01 Louisville - L
Nov 08 @ Rutgers - L
Nov 15 Connecticut - L
Nov 22 @ Notre Dame - L
Nov 29 @ Cincinnati - L

Prediction:
3-9 (0-7 Big East)

Greg Robinson has do better in 2008 or he'll be on the hot seat from the get go. With a young team from previous years, will the experience help? The weakness for the Orange in 2008 will be the young offensive line.

West Virginia Aug 30 Villanova - W
Sep 06 @ East Carolina - L
Sep 18 @ Colorado - W
Sep 27 Marshall - W
Oct 04 Rutgers - W
Oct 11 Syracuse - W
Oct 23 Auburn - L
Nov 01 @ Connecticut - W
Nov 08 Cincinnati - W
Nov 22 @ Louisville - W
Nov 28 @ Pittsburgh - L
Dec 06 South Florida - W

Prediction:
9-3 (6-1 Big East)

In his debut as Mountaineer head coach, Bill Stewart did a great job winning the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma. The Defense will replace 7 starters, whil the offense should have another great year with all the linemen returning. Can WVU finally get to the BCS Title game in 2008, or will they suffer another season ending collapse?