ShareThisCapsule previews for Thursday's Cincinnati-South Florida and Friday's Pitt-Rutgers games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
THURSDAY:
No. 8 CINCINNATI (5-0) at No. 21 SOUTH FLORIDA (5-0), 7:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Cincinnati by 4
COACHES: Brian Kelly (27-6 in third year at Cincinnati) and Jim Leavitt (65-35 in 13th year at USF).
LAST GAME: Cincinnati won at Miami of Ohio, 37-23, on Oct. 3. South Florida won at Syracuse, 34-20, on Oct. 3.
SERIES HISTORY: Cincinnati leads, 4-2.
LAST MEETING: Cincinnati won, 24-10, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Fast-striking Bearcats are third in nation in scoring (42 ppg) but last in nation in time of possession (23:47).
GAME FACTS: Home team has won five of last six in what has emerged as key Big East battle. With Cincy riding its highest ranking since 1951, senior QB Tony Pike (leads Big East in QB rating, 116-of-174, 1,493 yards passing, 13 TDs, 3 ints.) could use strong performance on national stage to impress Heisman voters. Senior WR Mardy Gilyard (leads Big East with 832 all-purpose yards) is exciting, versatile threat (scored TDs on catch, run and punt return). DE Alex Daniel had four sacks in romp at Miami of Ohio. This will be test of how good Bulls really are as wins over I-AAs Wofford, Charleston Southern, Western Kentucky, Florida State and Syracuse add up to fifth-easiest schedule in nation so far. Freshman QB B.J. Daniels (835 total offense, 5 TD passes, 2 TD runs, 2 ints. in last three games) has been phenomenal taking over for senior Matt Grothe (out for year with knee injury). Junior Carlton Mitchell (21 catches, 3 TDs) has emerged as go-to WR. Since leading nation with 14-1/2 sacks in 2007, senior DE George Selvie has just 7-1/2 in last 18 games. Leavitt doesn't want it coming down to FG as juniors Delbert Alvarado, Eric Schwartz are are combined 2-of-8 on FGs.
FRIDAY:
PITTSBURGH (5-1) at RUTGERS (4-1), 8, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Pitt by 3.
COACHES: Dave Wannstedt (30-24 in 5th year at Pitt) and Greg Schiano (50-52 in 9th year at Rutgers).
LAST WEEK: Pitt beat Connecticut, 24-21. Rutgers beat Texas Southern, 42-0.
SERIES HISTORY: Pitt leads, 19-7.
LAST MEETING: Rutgers won, 54-34, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Panthers last four years, Scarlet Knights have averaged 33 points per game.
GAME FACTS: With South Florida, Cincinnati and West Virginia still ahead, Panthers must snap Rutgers jinx to have shot at first Big East crown since 2004. QB Bill Stull overcame two early ints. to rally Panthers from 21-6 third-quarter hole last week. Following Stull's 27-yard TD pass to his roommate, TE Dorin Dickerson, Stull (fourth in nation in QB rating) drove team down field to set up Dan Hutchins' game-winning 18-yard FG on final play. Freshman RB Dion Lewis is fifth in nation with 737 rushing including 158 tough yards last week. Since pitiful 47-15 loss at home to Cincinnati in opener, Scarlet Knights have dispatched Maryland, Florida International and I-AA patsies Howard and Texas Southern by combined 144-35. WR Tim Brown had four catches for 132 yards, 2 TDs in last years win at Pitt, but that was with departed Mike Teel throwing it to him, not this year's unproven freshman Tom Savage (48-of-85, 693 passing, 4 TDs, int., in four games). The last time defense (leads Big East, 6th in nation vs. run, 65.2 ypg) faced a team with Pitt's kind of firepower, Cincinnati shredded them for 565 total yards, 26 first downs. Time to step up.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
