Which Big East teams can improve their win totals in '09?

[OSU8085]

Which Big East teams can improve their win totals in '09? - Big East - ESPN (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/bigeast/0-4-149/Which-Big-East-teams-can-improve-their-win-totals-in--09-.html)


2. Rutgers: Let's assume the Scarlet Knights don't get off to a 1-5 start again. Yes, they have question marks at quarterback and receiver. But given their ludicrously easy nonconference schedule -- which includes Florida International, Howard, Army and probably another FCS opponent -- they stand an excellent chance of surpassing last year's eight-win mark.

1. Syracuse: We don't know much yet about Doug Marrone's first team. But all the Orange would have to do to meet our standard is win four games. Assuming they can beat Maine and Akron in the nonconference schedule, only two more victories would be needed.

[Hawkeye]

It will be tough for Cincy just because it's hard to top 11 wins for any team.

I think Pitt is going to find it hard to do that after losing McCoy, LSH, Kinder and McKillop. They have talent at WR yet, but they need a decent QB.

WVU topping nine wins without White and switching to more of a passing game? I don’t see that.

I think it’s going to be tough for Rutgers to get eight wins with questions at QB and RB to start the season. The make or break games for them will be Maryland, Pitt, Louisville and WVU.

UConn could win two of their five non-conference games, but they will need to do better than that to approach eight wins.

USF has two 1-AA opponents and a transition team in their first three games, so that’s a good start. They do also face FSU and Miami though and it will be crucial to at least split those games. I was high on them last year, but they disappointed, so until they become more than the Matt Grothe show, I can’t buy into the hype this year.

Syracuse has a killer schedule this year as I see them losing probably seven games (Minnesota, PSU, Northwestern, USF, WVU, Cincy and Pitt). Of the others, Akron may not be a pushover either.

Louisville is like a box of chocolates in that you just don’t know what you’ll get from that team.

[Who Dey]

I agree with you about the Bearcats. Replacing almost all of the defensive starters from last season isn't going to help either. I think UC will take a step or two back next season.