Big East schedules: Thanksgiving Week

“This was a heckuva win for our football team, for a lot of reasons. We needed to bounce back [from the Connecticut loss] and the encouraging thing is, we still have yet to put together a complete game.”—Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt after beating USF 17-10 on Saturday

The week before championship week is the final weekend for two Big East teams, but for the other six, it’s positioning week for Championship Saturday. It could also be a trap week for those six teams if they are looking ahead to the final week.

Here’s the Thanksgiving weekend schedule. Sit back, eat some turkey, watch some football—sounds like a plan to me.

Week 13 Big East schedule
Fri., Nov 26-Rutgers vs Louisville
Nov 26-Pittsburgh vs West Virginia
Sat., Nov 27-Syracuse vs Boston College
Nov 27-USF at Miami (FL)
Nov 27-Cincinnati at Connecticut

AN: OK, a ton of things going on this week in Big East play. The “Backyard Brawl” will take place on the day after Thanksgiving again, and two Saturday games feature former Big East (and current ACC) members against current Big East members.

But, let’s be honest, the only game that matters in week 13 might be Pitt-WVU. Jake, your take on the always exciting “Backyard Brawl”?

JM: The Brawl is always a heated rivalry, and it has taken on even more importance over the last several years as Pitt and WVU are always near the top of the Big East Standings. Right now, Pitt is on top of those standings and can move one step closer to the BCS by beating the hilljacks sorry, Mountaineers.

Pitt’s main task will be stopping the talented and explosive duo of quarterback Geno Smith and running back Noel Devine. The Panthers defense has had a good deal of success slowing down WVU’s vaunted spread option attack over the last three years, and I see that trend continuing this year.

Offensively, the Panthers have looked shaky the last couple of weeks, getting erratic play from quarterback Tino Sunseri. I expect a heavy dose of power runs early and often throughout the game as Pitt tries to attack the weakness of WVU’s 3-3-5 scheme.

With a Pitt win and a UConn loss, Pitt can clinch the conference title. UC makes the trip to Hartford, and I know I’ll be rooting hard for the Bearcats. How do you see things shaping up?

AN: Arguably the ugliest loss in the Brian Kelly era came in 2008 in Connecticut. On BK’s birthday, October 25th, the UC Bearcats headed into Rentschler Field and hung with the Huskies for a half. Then Donald Brown took over. The current Indianapolis Colts running back took the ball on that gray day 29 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Last season the Bearcats hopped out to a 30-10 halftime lead, and led 40-24 as the fourth quarter opened up. UConn battled back and brought it to within two points, after a Jordan Todman touchdown, but the two point conversion failed. UC got some breathing room in front of a national audience (including the TV tandem of Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit) on ABC on a late TD run from Isaiah Pead. Even though the Huskies scored with 13 seconds left, it just wasn’t enough. The ‘Cats won 47-45.

Now, coming off a huge win against Rutgers on Saturday, Butch Jones and the Bearcats are in for a dogfight of sorts with the Huskies. Win and stay alive for bowl consideration; lose, and well, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.”

And given UConn’s home record this season, it could be trouble for the Bearcats. Both West Virginia and Pitt have lost at “The Rent” this season, and UConn’s rushing attack could spell trouble for UC, who has had a lot of defensive woes to deal with this season. And don’t expect another video game type outburst from UC this week. UConn’s defense is far better than that of Rutgers.

And to be honest, I’ll be watching the “Backyard Brawl” with as much intensity as Jake will be, so why waste time re-iterating what he said. Is there anything on the Big East schedule this week besides the Brawl that interests you Jake?

JM: Good slate of action this weekend in the Big East. While on Friday my attention will be turned solely toward the Brawl, I’ll have all-day Saturday to kick back and watch some football. I’m very interested to see that USF-Miami matchup. The Bulls have been getting better each week, and could be primed to upset a pretty good opponent from the ACC.

AN: Well, let’s sign off for another week of Big East schedules.