Big East Revisited ... Again

The Big East is, apparently, 32-8 in non-conference games. Big East teams are 11-7 against teams from other BCS conferences (Pac-10, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC). That means that Big East teams are 21-1 against teams from non-BCS conferences. It is good that teams from the Big East are beating teams that they should beat. Unfortunately, I don't think the Big East has a marquee win this year.

West Virginia: Marshall, Eastern Washington, Maryland (ACC), East Carolina, Mississippi State (SEC) - (5-0), (2-0)
Pittsburgh: Virginia (ACC), Citadel, Toledo, Central Florida, Michigan State (Big 10) - Loss - (4-1), (1-1)
Louisville: Kentucky (SEC), Temple, Miami (ACC), Kansas State (Big 12), Middle Tennessee State - (5-0), (3-0)
Rutgers: North Carolina (ACC), Illinois (Big 10), Ohio, Howard, Navy - (5-0), (2-0)
South Florida: McNeese State, Florida International, Central Florida, North Carolina (ACC), Kansas (Big 12) - Loss - (4-1), (1-1)
Connecticut: Rhode Island, Indiana (Big 10), Army, Wake Forest (ACC) - Loss, Navy - Loss - (3-2), (1-1)
Syracuse: Illinois (Big 10), Miami (OH), Wyoming, Wake Forest (ACC) - Loss, Iowa (Big 10) - Loss - (3-2), (1-2)
Cincinnati: Eastern Kentucky, Miami (OH), Akron, Ohio State (Big 10) - Loss, Virginia Tech (ACC) - Loss - (3-2), (0-2)
Just checking myself, that is 32 wins with 11 against BCS conference schools. And, I count 8 losses with 7 of those against BCS schools. Poor UConn, they are the only team to lose to a non-BCS conference school (Navy).

Where is the signature win for the conference? ACC losers Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina (x2), and Miami aren't among the top 25 teams in the country. The big name, Miami, beat the Houston Cougars at home by 1 point. Wake Forest is in the AP top 25 but not the USA Today list, but the Demon Deacs won their games against the Big East. MS State and Kentucky aren't among the dominant teams in the SEC ... they're bottom feeders. Indiana and Illinois (x2) reside in a similar spot in the Big 10. And, Kansas State can't even compete in the Big 12 North!

If one of the top Big East teams(WVU, Louisville, Rutgers) runs the table, they may be worthy of playing for a national championship. Unfortunately, while the league has done well in the W & L column, the strength of schedule is ridiculous. No Big East team has beaten a top 10 team from another conference. No top 15's or top 20's. None of the top 25. Miami is in the "others receiving votes" in the AP and USA Today polls.

Is there another BCS conference with the same shortcoming? Michigan beat Notre Dame and Ohio State beat Texas. Check the Big 10 off the list. USC beat Nebraska and Arkansas. The Pac-10 is represented. Tennessee knocked off #11 California. The SEC got it done despite having only 4 non-conference games per team instead of the Big East's 5.

Each Big East team plays 5 non-conference games (8 teams in the conference, so 7 games are accumulated playing everyone else). How can they not find time to schedule solid teams from someplace?

Oklahoma went to Eugene and beat the Oregon Ducks ... oh, wait ... what happened? Oregon won? No they didn't. That would be the big Big 12 win, if the Pac-10 officiating crew wasn't either corrupt or blind ... take your pick. Texas Tech beat UTEP, who is 4-2 but not in the top 25. But, the Big 12 does have the defending national champion Texas Longhorns. The ACC has a near miss with GA Tech losing to Notre Dame, 14-10. Florida State has a date with Florida later in the year and Ga Tech takes on Georgia, too. So, there are possibilities there for the ACC to right the ship.

So, recapping, Big East ... NOPE! Big 10, SEC, and Pac-10 ... CHECK! Big 12 ... ROBBED! ACC ... JURY'S OUT! Look for this topic to be revisited once more (at least) if a Big East team ends the season undefeated and is lobbying for a spot in the title game.