Big East Previews

Cincinnati. Most preseason magazines pick Cincinnati to finish in the middle of the Big East in 2009. As third-year Coach Brian Kelly showed in unexpectedly winning the league last year, though, underestimating the Bearcats is a big mistake. Cincinnati will switch to a 3-4 defense this season with a new defensive coordinator. Quarterback Tony Pike returns, after throwing for 19 touchdowns. Cincinnati was 6-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less last season. Cincinnati opens the season at Rutgers and ends the season at Pitt.

LAST YEAR: 11-3 (6-1 in Big East, 1st), BOWL GAME: Orange Bowl, lost to Virginia Tech, 20-7, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 6-7, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-2

UCONN. After winning a share of the 2007 Big East title, Connecticut slipped to the lower half of the league last season. The Huskies will have a new offensive coordinator in 2009, who must replace star running back Donald Brown and quarterback Tyler Lorenzen. Five starters are gone on defense, too, led by high NFL draft pick Darius Butler. Connecticut's road schedule is especially dangerous in 2009, with trips to Baylor, Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame on tap. UConn will open the season with a tricky opener at Ohio.

LAST YEAR: 8-5 (3-4 in Big East, 5th), BOWL GAME: International Bowl, def. Buffalo, 38-20, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 6-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-1, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-1

Louisville. It's rare for a third-year college football coach to be on the hot seat. Louisville Coach Steve Kragthorpe fits the bill, though. After Louisville won 12 games and a Big East title in 2006 before Coach Bobby Petrino left for the NFL, Kragthorpe's two Cardinal teams have won a total of 11 games and missed bowl games. Kragthorpe will serve as his own offensive coordinator this season, and he'll have to break in a new quarterback. Seven defensive starters return for a new coordinator on that side of the ball, too. Louisville must play at Cincinnati, at West Virginia, and at South Florida in the last half of the season.

LAST YEAR: 5-7 (1-6 in Big East, tie-7th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 4-7, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-1

Pittsburgh. After missing bowl games in each of Coach Dave Wannstedt's first three seasons, the Panthers posted a nine-win season in 2008. Panther fans now want to take another step and win their first league title since 2004. Senior quarterback Bill Stull returns, but he had a poor 9-to-10 TD-to-interception ratio last year. Replacing star running back LeSean McCoy will be tough, too. Pitt must travel to West Virginia in late November in a game that could decide the league title. The rest of the Panther schedule is manageable, although September road trips to Buffalo and North Carolina State will be interesting.

LAST YEAR: 9-4 (5-2 in Big East, tie-2nd), BOWL GAME: Sun Bowl, lost to Oregon State, 3-0, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 6-7, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-1

Rutgers. Coach Greg Schiano has led a dismal Rutgers program to the respectability of four straight bowl berths. With seven consecutive wins to end the 2008 season, though, the Scarlet Knights may have enough momentum to sneak into the league championship picture this season. Rutgers will have to replace quarterback Mike Teel, who threw for 9,378 career yards, and several defensive starters. However, the schedule is favorable for the Scarlet Knights, as Cincinnati, Pitt, South Florida, and West Virginia all must play at Rutgers. The toughest road game may be a late September trip to Maryland.

LAST YEAR: 8-5 (5-2 in Big East, tie-2nd), BOWL GAME: Papajohns.com Bowl, def. North Carolina State, 29-23 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-4-1, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 0-1

South Florida. After earning in-season Top 10 rankings each of the past two seasons before fading badly, South Florida hopes 2009 is the season it finally breaks through with a strong finish and a league title. Led by veteran quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie, the Bulls have a chance to improve on their recent successes. South Florida will have new offensive and defensive coordinators, however, for 13th-year Coach Jim Leavitt. South Florida has a pair of in-state powerhouses on the non-conference schedule -- Florida State and Miami.

LAST YEAR: 8-5 (2-5 in Big East, 6th), BOWL GAME: St. Petersburg Bowl, def. Memphis, 41-14), 2008 VS. SPREAD: 5-7, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-4

Syracuse. Syracuse has averaged only 2.5 wins per season the past four years, leaving new Coach Doug Marrone with a huge challenge. Unlike most Big East teams, at least the Orange will have an experienced quarterback under center in Cameron Dantley. Syracuse also will welcome back wide receiver Mike Williams, who missed 2008 for academic reasons. Syracuse will play six straight home games in September and October before playing three road games in November.

LAST YEAR: 3-9 (1-6 in Big East, tie-7th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 5-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: N/A

West Virginia. A new era begins for West Virginia football in 2009, as the Mountaineers adjust to life without graduated quarterback Pat White, who helped West Virginia win 42 games and two league titles over the past four years. The Mountaineers can rely on running back Noel Devine, who had 1,289 yards last season. West Virginia faces one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules, with games against East Carolina, Auburn, and Colorado. Inside the league, West Virginia must play dangerous Friday night ESPN road games against South Florida and Cincinnati.

LAST YEAR: 9-4 (5-2 in Big East, tie-2nd), BOWL GAME: Meineke Car Care Bowl, def. North Carolina, 31-30, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 4-8, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-3