One of the most fun and unpredictable conferences over the past 5 years, the Big East looks (once again) to be up for grabs.  It’s what makes college football fun and addictive for fans and players alike.  Every team in the Big East is probably sitting there right now thinking, “There isn’t one team in this league that we should fear.  Pat White is gone.  Tony Pike is gone.  Larry Fitzgerald is gone. Matt Grothe is gone.  Ray Rice is gone.“ Well, you get the point.  In 2010, the Big East is shaping up to be filled with great finishes and great individual efforts.  Yeah, all the guys mentioned about are gone, but guess who is back: Noel Devine, Dion Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin, Mohammed Sanu, Zach Collaros, BJ Daniels, Delone Carter, Greg Lloyd, Lawrence Wilson, Greg Romeus, etc).  The Big East is flush with young talent.  Which is exactly what makes this conference so unpredictable yet so exciting.  So, strap in your seat belt and get ready for the ride.  It promises to be an eventful one.  Here’s how our panel at The Best Damn Poll in the Land sees the Big East race shaping up in 2010:

 1. Pittsburgh Panthers: 2009 record (10-3, 5-2, Finished 3rd in the Big East)

Key Departures: QB Bill Stull, TE Dorin Dickerson

Key Returning Players: RB Dion Lewis, WR Jonathan Baldwin, DE Greg Romeus, CB Dom Decicco

                Dave Wannstedt has built a very consistent winner in Pittsburgh. The 2010 Big East Championship looks like it could be Pittsburgh’s to lose. The offense will be led by Heisman Trophy candidate Dion Lewis, who posted 1,799 yards in 2009. That was good for 3^rd in the Nation, and he could have an even bigger season in 2010. Tino Sunseri should be the starter, but look for freshmen Mark Meyers to possibly push Pat Bostick for the backup role. Regardless of who is at the helm, they will have a veteran line to protect them and open up holes for Lewis to run through. Led by seniors Jason Pinkston and Alex Karabin, this could be one of the best offensive lines at Pitt in the last 7 years.

                The Panthers are stout on defense, returning superstar Greg Romeus to one of the best pass rushing defenses in the country. Pitt has some holes to fill in the secondary, and Jarred Holley will get his shot to start at safety. There is a lack of experience and depth in the defensive backfield, but not shy on talent. They will get tested early, as they face Utah and Miami, and the schedule ends with sending the Panthers on the road for 3 out of their last 4 games. Again, should this team really come together early, they may be able to overcome what seems to be a habitual late season nose dive, nonetheless the schedule is brutal, but the Panthers have arguably the most talented team in the Big East.

Predicted Finish (10-2, 6-1 (Loss UCONN)in the Big East, Big East Champions)

2. West Virginia Mountaineers: 2009 Record: (9-3, 5-2, 2^nd in the Big East)

Key Departures: QB Jarrett Brown, LB Reed Williams, OT Selvish Capers

Key Returning Players: RB Noel Devine, WR Jock Sanders, LB JT Thomas, FS Robert Sands

                2009 was a roller coaster for Mountaineer fans and Head Coach Bill Stewart.  The season started with a ton of promise with some early victories and a fast first quarter at Auburn.  Then, Auburn stormed back and took some of the wind out of the sails of the young WVU squad.  They, however, rebounded very nicely going 6-2 the rest of the way (including a big win against rival Pitt in the 102^nd Backyard Brawl). That finish earned the Mountaineers a New Year’s Day Bowl appearance for the 5^th time in 6 seasons.  They lost that game to Bobby Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles in Coach Bowden’s last game, but the Mountaineers haven’t let that loss overshadow their aspirations to return to the top of the Big East in 2010. 

                The biggest question mark (and possibly the only question mark) for the Mountaineers is at the Quarterback position.  The job appeared to be returning Sophomore Geno Smith’s job unquestionably.  Then, Smith broke a bone in his foot for the second time since he’s been in Morgantown.  This has raised flags, and not just flags, but bright neon yellow flags about Smith’s ability to make it through an entire College Football season with his health intact.  Incoming True Freshman Barry Brunetti may be counted much more than anyone cheering for Old Gold and Blue would like.  The upside to all of this is that whichever youngster is under center, they will have the best running back in the conference lining up behind him in Noel Devine.  Devine meant everything to the WVU offense last season.  When he was going well, the offensive playbook was wide open and the opposition didn’t know what to look for.  When he was shut down, the offense hit a wall and struggled to keep the defense off the field. 

                The WVU defense could (for the first time in a long time in Morgantown) be the strength of this team, and one major reason this author thinks the Mountaineers can “sneak up” on people in the conference and nationally.  The defense returns 9 starters from a unit that ranked in the Top 25 in Total Defense last season.  Returning All-Big East performers in NT Chris Neild, LB JT Thomas, and FS Robert Sands will look to punish other offenses and become the best defense in the Big East.

Predicted Finish: (9-3, 5-2, Losses: Pitt and Cincinnati) and 2^nd in the Big East

3. Connecticut Huskies 2009 Record: (8-5)(3-4) --- Finished 5th in the Big East

Key Departures: RB Andre Brown, WR Marcus Easley, DE Lindsey Witten, S Robert Vaughn, CB Robert McClain
Key Returning Players: QB Zach Frazer, RB Jordan Todman, DE Greg Lloyd, DT Kendall Reyes, LB Lawrence Wilson

                Despite losing top running back Andre Brown last year, the Huskies return a 1000 yard rusher in Jordan Todman plus 4 of their 5 offensive linemen that helped pave the way for the pair of 1000 yard rushers. Zach Frazer impressed, especially late in the season, at quarterback and will have the position again this season. He did lose his top two receivers, but word is out that Kashif Moore has been impressive during the Spring and could provide a nice target for Frazer this year. The front seven of the defense is mostly all back, though there will be a new starting linebacker as Greg Lloyd will move to defensive end with Witten gone. Marcus Campbell is back at defensive end after missing last year due to academics and will line up with Lloyd, Kendall Reyes, and Twyon Martin as Jesse Josephs and Trevardo Williams should also see time. There is plenty of depth on the D-line. An All-Big East selection in Lawrence Wilson returns as the Huskies’ leading tackler at linebacker. The problems on defense could occur in the secondary though as McClain and Vaughn are gone. Jerome Junior and Blidi Wreh-Wilson return, but the only other defensive backs with experience are Gary Wilburn and Dwayne Gratz. The secondary is thin on experience and may prevent the Huskies from being a top team in the Big East. Randy Edsall is a brilliant coach though and will find another way to get 8-9 wins this year. Looking at the schedule, it could be a little tough in the non-conference as the Huskies go to Ann Arbor on the first game of the season before finishing easy with Texas Southern, @ Temple, Buffalo, and Vanderbilt. The make or break games in the conference season could be at home against West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. This could be a great opportunity for the Huskies to make some noise in the Big East.

Predicted Finish: (10-2, 5-2, Losses: Rutgers and WVU) and 3^rd in the Big East )

4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 2009 Record: (8-4, 3-4, 4^th in the Big East)

Key Departures: WR Tim Brown, LT Anthony Davis, CB Devin McCourty

Key Returning Players: QB Tom Savage, WR/RB Mohammed Sanu, RB Joe Martinek

                2009 was the year of young guns in Piscataway.  With the help of an awfully beneficial schedule, Rutgers was allowed to focus more on the future, while still piling up the wins.  Head Coach Greg Schiano decided at halftime of the season opener to give the offense to True Freshman Tom Savage.  Savage showed fans and the Big East why he was such a heralded recruit. Combined with fellow Freshman WR/RB Mohammed Sanu, Savage led the Scarlet Knights to a 4^th place finish, as well as, the school’s 5^th consecutive Bowl appearance. 

                Due to the influx of young talent in the program, the future prospects in New Jersey are looking very rosy.  The fans desperately want Schiano to take the team and program to somewhere that they’ve never been.  The top of the Big East and a BCS Bowl Invitation.  2010 doesn’t figure to be the year, but the groundwork is being laid for 2011 to be the year.  That doesn’t mean Rutgers is going to fade into oblivion this coming season. Anytime you return your leading Passer, leading Rusher (returning RB Joe Martinek), and your leading all purpose yardage gainer (Sanu), the potential for a breakout year is there.  Rutgers’s biggest question marks will be revamping an Offensive Line, that took a big hit when LT (and NFL 1^st Round Draft Pick) Anthony Davis left school. Rutgers will again be competitive,  but like I said earlier, 2011 looks to be their year.  Not 2010.

Predicted Finish: (8-4, 4-3, Losses: Pitt, WVU, and USF) and 4^th in the Big East

5. Cincinnati Bearcats: 2009 Record: (12-0, 7-0, Won the Big East)

Key Departures: QB Tony Pike, WR Mardy Gilyard, HC Brian Kelly

Key Returning Players: QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, WR Armon Binns, DE Demetrius Jones

                2009 was another banner year for the Bearcats.  Led by Head Coach Brian Kelly, the Bearcats once again ascended their program to the apex of the Big East Conference.  With an offense prone to point explosions at any moment, the Bearcats ran through the conference with an unblemished 7-0 record and 2^nd consecutive lead title.  However, they got blown off the field in the Sugar Bowl and lost Head Coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame.  This could lead as a transition year for the Bearcats in 2010.  New Head Coach Butch Jones inherits plenty of weapons (on the offensive side of the ball) and the same lingering questions about the defense.  QB Zach Collaros, who picked up where the now departed Tony Pike did when Pike went down last season, returns, and this time the job is his as long as he stays healthy.  Collaros is an exceptional athlete and is tailor made to run Jones’s version of the spread that saw Dan LeFevour put up record setting numbers under Jones at Central Michigan University.  But, Collaros won’t have to do it all.  The return of leading rushed Isaiah Pead to the backfield will still the Bearcats one of the most explosive backfields in the Big East.  Add returning WR Armon Binns, and you can tell the Bearcats will still strike fear into their opposition’s defense. 

                The breakdown for the Bearcats appears once again to be their defense.  Last season, they move some parts around and ended up starting the season with 10 new starters on that side of the ball.  They were good enough to win, but didn’t flatter anyone with their play.  This season, they return 7 of those starters (including former Notre Dame QB and transfer Demetrius Jones).  Look for the Bearcats to be in more 28-24 and 31-21 games.  Not the “Tecmo Bowl” style shootouts that flooded their schedule in 2009.  All in all, Butch Jones has a major job on his shoulders.  Do you go for broke to keep the fans happy with double digit wins, or do you lay the foundation for your program for the foreseeable future?  I think the latter happens, and the Bearcats don’t make it a three peat. 

Predicted Finish: (8-4, 4-3, Losses: Pitt, UCONN, and Rutgers) and 5^th in the Big East

6. South Florida Bulls 2009 Record: (8-5)(3-4) --- Finished 6th in the Big East

Key Depatures: QB Matt Grothe, RB Mike Ford, WR Carlton Mitchell, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE George Selvie, CB Jerome Murphy, S Nate Allen
Key Returning Players: QB B.J. Daniels, WR Dontavia Bogan, LB Sam Barrington, CB Mistral Raymond, CB Quenton Washington

                The Bulls return 9 starters next year on offense, though B.J. Daniels will be returning from shoulder surgery when fall rolls around. It will be tough to replace Carlton Mitchell, but word from Spring practice is that Dontavia Bogan has impressed. It’s also important to note that potential starting wide receiver A.J. Love got injured during the Spring game. Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor are no longer on the football team, cutting down the running game, putting a lot of weight on Moise Plancher’s shoulders at running back. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulls only return 4 starters, losing Pierre-Paul, Selvie, Jerome Murphy and Nate Allen. The front seven seem to have suitable replacements with Sam Barrington impressing at linebacker as well as Craig Marshall and David Bedford on the D-line. It will be important for those experienced replacements to step up if the defense does not want to suffer a disappointment this year.

                Looking at the schedule, an easy game against an FCS team before they have to go to Gainesville and face the Gators in what will be an extremely tough test for this relatively new defense. After Florida, there are 2 more non-conference games, against Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic at home, before they start their conference schedule with a home game against Syracuse. If the new starters are broken in, then it’s quite possible that USF will be successful this year in the Big East. On November 27th, the Bulls travel to Miami and face the Hurricanes in what could be a tough non-conference showdown.

Predicted Finish: (6-6,  3-4, Losses: Louisville, Cincinnati, WVU, and Pitt) and 6th in the Big East

7. Syracuse Orange 2009 Record: (4-8)(1-6) --- finished last in the Big East

Key Departures: QB Greg Paulus, WR Mike Williams, C Jim McKenzie, DT Arthur Jones
Key Returning Players: RB Delone Carter, LB Doug Hogue, LB Derrell Smith, S Mike Holmes

                The success on the offensive side of the ball for Syracuse will hinge on Delone Carter, a 1000 yard rusher from last season. Not only on how he does, but how often he’ll play due to some trouble he has gotten into. Carter’s running ability will be important in taking the pressure off of the new QB, whether it is Ryan Nassib or Charley Loeb. On the defensive side of the ball, the defensive line returns 3 of 4 starters from last year (Arthur Jones is gone) and the top 2 tacklers at linebacker return as well. All of the defensive backs have experience as well, include their leader in interceptions in 2009 Mike Holmes at safety. Their defense is much improved from 2008, ranking 13th in rush defense last year. Syracuse may also improve on their turnover margin and 85th ranked pass defense as they return a lot of defensive players. Looking at their schedule, it is a relatively easy non-conference schedule though they do have to go to Washington. It looks like, though, that they should start 3-1 heading into conference season. The game Syracuse has the best chance of winning in conference play is at home against Louisville as Pitt and Connecticut are their other two conference home games and the rest are on the road against tough opponents. The Orange round out the season against Boston College at home which is also a potential loss.

Predicted Finish: (4-8, 1-6, Losses: USF, Rutgers, Cincinnati, UCONN, WVU, and Pitt) and 7th in the Big East)

8. Louisville Cardinals: 2009 record (4-8, 1-6, Finished 7^th in Big East)

Key Departures: Abdul Kuyateh, L.T. Walker

Key Returning Players: RB Victor Anderson, QB Adam Froman, DE Malcolm Tatum

                Defensive genius Charlie Strong finally gets his shot to be a head coach, and Louisville fans are in for a pleasant surprise. Strong is going to be very successful and should do a decent job of wiping the memory of the Kragethorpe Catastrophe. Mike Sanford has quickly installed the spread offense, and by all accounts, it looks like this veteran offense is going to be pretty good within that system. An experienced and intact offensive line returns for the Cardinals, and with the senior leadership of quarterback Adam Froman, Louisville should show signs of improvement in the win column. Froman will have some talent to throw the ball to, including Stephon Ball, Jahmal Lawson, and Josh Chister. All three are big athletic targets for Froman to get the ball to. In the backfield, running back by committee may be the theme for Sanford’s offense. Victor Anderson is coming back from injury, but he could emerge as the #1 back once two-a-days are finished in late August.

                The defensive side of the football promises to be improved by both scheme and talent. De’Antre Rhodes is a 4 star athlete that could very well make an early impact on what promises to be a very pass rush/ cover man defense. The defense is going to seem smallish, and will have to rely on shooting gaps and being quicker to the ball, instead of imposing their will on the opposition. Malcolm Mitchell, Malcolm Tatum, Tim High, and Greg Scruggs are going to have to improve greatly as pass rushers and the secondary must play smarter to avoid the 371 yards per game and 26.3 points per contest performance of 2009. Things look very promising in Louisville, they have their coach, he can recruit, and he will compete in the Big East. However, it is not going to be this year, The Cardinals will be improved, no doubt, and maybe even win 5-6 games with a few breaks, but it will be a few years before they are up there with the Cincinnati’s, Pitt’s, and West Virginia’s of the Big East.

Predicted Finish (4-8, 1-6 (Losses: Syracuse, Rutgers, Cincinnati, UCONN, WVU, and Pitt)in the Big East, 8^th in the Big East)

Postseason Awards

Big East Offensive Player of the Year:  Dion Lewis, RB Pitt

Big East Defensive Player of the Year:  Greg Romeus, DE Pitt

Big East Coach of the Year:  Dave Wannstedt, Pitt

Big East Special Teams Player of the Year:  Tyler Bitancurt, K, WVU

Big East Newcomer of the Year:  Ryne Giddins, DE, USF