other write-ups:
There were only three games in the Big East this week, with Pitt trouncing Syracuse in the only inter-conference meeting this week. Miami tore through future Big East member Connecticut and West Virginia had a disappointing showing against Maryland.
#1 Miami ? 48 vs. UConn ? 14
Miami (5-0) pounded the Huskies (2-4) early, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 28 points in the second quarter, then cruised late, beating UConn 48-14.
Miami completely dominated the game, out gaining the Huskies, who are in their first year in Division I-A, 498 yards to 190 yards. Miami rushed for 214 yards and passed for 284, most coming in the first half as the Hurricane starters got most of the second half off.
UConn, whose defense had absolutely no answer for the Hurricane offense, could only muster 90 yards rushing and 100 yards passing, with most of these yards coming in the second half against the Miami reserves.
Ken Dorsey, in just over one half of play, threw for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Dorsey threw touchdown passes of 5, 8 and 15. Willis McGahee rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game, totaling 107 yards on just 11 carries. McGahee also scored three times on runs of 15, 15 and 11 yards. Jason Geathers also added 82 yards on 9 carries.
Miami?s defense also assisted in the scoring when defensive tackle Vince Wilfork hit Husky quarterback Dan Orlovsky causing a fumble. Andrew Williams scooped the ball up and returned in 56 yards for the touchdown.
Miami plays host to Florida State next weekend in their yearly showdown.
Prediction: Miami ? 35 FSU - 13
Pittsburgh ? 48 vs. Syracuse ? 24
Pitt (5-1) had not beaten Syracuse (1-4) in 11 years, and they have not been victorious in the Carrier Dome since Dan Marino was calling the signals in 1982. The hex was broken on Saturday as Pitt pounded the Orangemen 48-24.
The Pitt offense has improved each week thus far this season, and this week seemed to be their breakout game. The Panther defense was so suffocating that Syracuse did not score a touchdown until the end of the third quarter, when Coach Walt Harris decided to give his starters a rest and play some of his reserves. Pitt led 48-3 at that point, and gave up some late touchdowns after the game was out of reach.
The Panthers have been concerned with their running game. Three tailbacks have rotated as starters this season because the coaching staff does not think there has been one guy that has been consistent enough. The tailback-by-committee approach was used again this weekend, but this week it was successful. Pitt rolled to 180 yards on the ground with 3 tailbacks, one fullback and two quarterbacks contributing. Starting tailback Raymond Kirkley tallied 46 yards on 8 carries, Brandon Miree (who has started two games this year) carried 8 times for 22 yards and 2 touchdowns (his first in a Panthers? uniform). Fullback Lousaka Polite had 58 yards and one touchdown.
Rod Rutherford again continued his development at quarterback, throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 completions ( on 15 attempts). Rutherford also added 28 yards rushing to the Pitt total.
Syracuse?s defense could not do anything to stop the Pitt starters, and the Orangemen offense did not fair any better. Although they totaled 275 yards of total offense, most of these yards came in the second half when the Pitt reserves were in the game. The Syracuse offense could only muster 39 total yards in the first half, and the Panther defense forced 5 fumbles, recovering 4 (one for a touchdown).
Starting quarterback, RJ Anderson was only 3 of 10 for 11 yards when he injured his shoulder in the second quarter. Pittsburgh native Troy Nunes, who has been a Panther killer the last few years, replaced him. It looked as though Nunes might just do it again as his first few passes were on target and he moved the Orangemen down the field, but the drive stalled and the Orangemen could not score any points.
Syracuse had been averaging over 200 yards rushing per game coming into the contest. They had only 3 yards on 12 carries at the half, and ended the game with 144 yards in the ground.
Pitt travels to Notre Dame (5-0) next weekend. A victory by the Panthers in South Bend would be just what the program needs to finally push it to the next level. Syracuse travels to Temple next weekend.
Predictions:
Pitt ? 27 ND ? 20
Syracuse ? 24 Temple - 21
West Virginia ? 17 vs. Maryland ? 48
West Virginia (3-2) was hoping that this weekend?s contest with Maryland (4-2) would be the springboard to a successful season. Instead, it turned out to be an eye-opening loss to Maryland, 48-17.
Maryland jumped out to a 35-0 lead in the second quarter, and the Mountaineers could not recover. Other than the score, the game was relatively close statistically, Maryland was just able to capitalize and put the ball into the end zone early and often.
West Virginia, who was averaging an NCAA leading 345.5 yards a game, could only muster 186 yards on the ground. Avon Cobourne gained 123 yards on 30 carries, breaking the Mountaineer record for most 100-yard games (22). Other than Cobourne, there were no other bright spots for the Mountaineers.
Quarterback Rasheed Marshall was 12 of 24 for only 105 yards. He did throw a touchdown in the third quarter, but he also tossed two interceptions.
Maryland quarterback, Scott McBrien, is a West Virginia transfer who actually started a few games for the Mountaineers in 2000. McBrien completed only 8 of 18 passes, but these 8 completions went for 162 yards and a touchdown. McBrien opened the scoring with a 21-yard run, and threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
The Mountaineer defense and special teams gave up too many big plays for the offense to handle. Maryland had touchdown runs of 21, 70, 1, and 72 yards, a touchdown pass of 45 yards and an 80-yard punt return.
West Virginia hopes to get on track next week when it travels to Rutgers for a Big East match-up.
Prediction: WVU ? 35 Rutgers ? 10
Other Big East Match Ups
Virginia Tech at Boston College, Thursday Night
Prediction ? V Tech ? 31 BC 17.
MY picks will come later once i've sifted through this plethora of info!!!!
