Big East

With everyone Rutgers has lost over the last 2 seasons I am not surprised to see the team struggle at times this year. The big positive is that they have many freshman and sophomores getting playing time this year. Next year I think could finally be the year everything comes together for them and they win the Big East.

As for Cincinnati, the Big East needs them to beat Pitt and hopefully make it to the National Championship. I would hate to see another situation of Pitt beating the conference leader, like they did against West Virginia a few years ago and cost them a shot at the National Championship. For years now the talk has been whether or not the Big East deserves an automatic BCS bid, and if Cincy can go undefeated that should silence all of those critics.

I don't know about that. After watching today's Cincy/Illinois game, I think there is still a bit of a separation from Big Ten schools/the rest of the NCAA from the Big East. Sure, Cincinnati won the game 49-36, but they gave up 36 points to a now 3-8 bottom feeder of the Big Ten. I'd be willing to bet if Cincinnati (the best of the Big East) were to play a Big Ten schedule, they'd probably do something like this:

Most likely 14+ point losses to: Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin
Most likely hard fought losses to: Iowa, Michigan State, and either Northwestern/Purdue
Probable wins against: Minnesota, and Michigan
Most likely easy wins against: Illinois and Indiana

Factor in that Big Ten schools play only 8 teams in the conference each season and depending on who Cincinnati drew if they were a part of the conference, I'd see them going no better than 5-3, but more likely 2-6, which would put them tied for 2nd to last with Illinois.

Additionally, throughout the game it just seemed to me as if Cincinnati was not used to the way Illinois was hitting them. I counted 6 different Bearcat players get helped to the sidelines after the Illini just layed the wood to them time and time again. I'm not sure the best of the Big East could hold up with other big time schools on a week in and week out basis, they'd get beat up. I mean Brian Kelly admitted that to himself before the game.

Also, I gotta point out that this Pittsburgh/West Virginia game tonight has been an absolute snore-fest... Pitt's Bill Stull seems to be really struggling for some reason, but Dion Lewis looks as good as he has been this entire season, he'll definitely be a premiere back next season no doubt.

Cincy played well, Pike at times looked good, but I do agree with msj (and Brian Kelly); they were not used to the way a team like Illinois played. I think most times, Cincy would destroy the Illini, but today wasn't a good showing for them.

Pitt is playing like absolute crap tonight. WVU hasn't been much better either which goes to show you the quality of play right now. An offensive struggle.

Rumors are also abound that the Mountain West may offer Nevada and Boise State a spot in the conference in hopes of a BCS game. That would destroy the WAC but still....it would be interesting.