2005 Big East Football Preview

2005 Big East Conference Predictions

The final installment of our 2005 College football preview examines the Big East Conference. This season the Big East welcomes 3 new teams into the league, Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. While the Bearcats and Bulls don’t figure to make an immediate impact on the league, the Cardinals are head and shoulders above the rest of the league and a top 10 team in America.

This is the weakest of the 6 major conferences so it was only fitting we finished the 2005 Big East predictions last. After Louisville and Pittsburgh the talent drops off considerably, but 4 bowl bids are probable. Of those 4 bids there is a very good chance Rutgers could snag one up and break a 27 year postseason drought. Onto to our Big East predictions and how we see the season playing out.

Big East

1) Louisville - Lost a bunch of weapons, but Louisville is still head and shoulders above the rest of the Big East and has a great chance to go undefeated and play in a BCS game.
2005 Louisville Cardinals Preview

2) Pittsburgh - New coach with new philosophy won't slow the Panthers down in 2005. Not as good as Louisville but will challenge for the Big East crown.
Pittsburgh Panthers Football Preview

3) West Virginia - The Mountaineers will win enough games to become bowl eligible and be towards the top of the Big East, but with only 8 returning starters and an awful passing game, West Virginia doesn't have the balance to move any higher than third in the conference.
West Virginia 2005 College Preview

4) Rutgers - The Scarlet Knights have a ton of player makers on the offensive side of the ball and figure to score a lot of points with some smart QB play. Have a great possibility to go to only their second ever bowl game in school history.
Scarlet Knights preview and schedule

5) Syracuse - Good defense, but new coach and new offense scheme figure to give the Orange some growing pains.
2005 Syracuse Orange football

6) Connecticut - After losing Orlovsky, 3 offensive linemen, and its best defensive players, 2005 will be a transition year for the Huskies.
Connecticut 2005 football schedule

7) South Florida - The Bulls are more talented than last years team but a jump in wins is not expected due to the upgrade in conference opponents and a tough schedule.
The full 2005 South Florida Bulls Preview

8) Cincinnati - Bearcats move from Conference USA to the Big East. Have the fewest returning starters of all teams in the conference. Young players will need to develop before Bearcats are a contender.
Click here for the Cincinnati football team preview