Big East Power Poll: Week Four

Since I spent last week helping kittens down from trees and rescuing old ladies being accosted in dark alleys, the number you see in parentheses will be the team's ranking two weeks ago.

1. South Florida (1) (4-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Florida International (17-9)

This Week: At North Carolina State

Even with a hangover after opening the season with wins in a pair of intense games, there's no excuse for the Bulls not sleep walking to at least a two score victory over FIU. A loss at NC State would make it impossible to name a clear-cut favorite in the league.

 2. Connecticut (3) (4-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Baylor (31-28)

This Week: At Louisville

The good news for the Huskies is that Hunter Cantwell doesn't move as well as Robert Griffin does. The bad news is that Donald Brown probably won't be able to win this one by himself.

3. Cincinnati (4) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Miami of Ohio (45-20)

This Week: Off

If I allowed ties then the Bearcats probably wouldn't be alone here. At least they know Tony Pike can hold his own in the Brian Kelly system.

4. West Virginia (2) (1-2, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Colorado (17-14, OT)

This Week: vs. Marshall

Time will tell just how bad the losses to East Carolina and Colorado were, but the Pirates' performance over the last two weeks certainly hasn't made life in Morgantown any better. Again, if Marshall wins on a blown coverage in the last minute, go ahead and take the next 12 months or so off.

5. Louisville (7) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Kansas State (38-29)

This Week: vs. Connecticut

Like West Virginia's losses, it's too early to tell how much stock we should put into a win over Kansas State, but the Cards certainly looked better than most of their conference brethren in week four. A win over Connecticut would likely vault them up to at least position three.

6. Pittsburgh (6) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Iowa (21-20)

This Week: At Syracuse

The Panthers have a golden opportunity to prove the first two weeks of the season were a fluke by pounding Syracuse on Saturday and then upsetting South Florida on national television five days later.

7. Rutgers (5) (0-3, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Navy (23-21)

This Week: vs. Morgan State

Rutgers instantly jumped to the top of the "Big East Program Most Mired in Chaos" power poll the moment its senior quarterback took a swing at a teammate just after the final gun sounded in a loss to previously 1-2 Navy.

  8. Syracuse (8) (1-3, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Northeastern (30-21)

This Week: vs. Pittsburgh

Yeah, but the real season starts on Saturday.