The first pair of conference games didn't exactly shake things up.

1. South Florida (1) (5-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat North Carolina State (41-10)

This Week: vs. Pittsburgh

The showing up every other week thing needs to end quickly with a Pitt team very much capable of playing up to the level of their competition coming to town on Thursday night.

2. Connecticut (2) (5-0, 1-0)

Last Week: Beat Louisville (26-21)

This Week: At North Carolina

If Zach Frazer can be as good as he looked at times against Louisville, then the Huskies have as good a shot as anyone to wear the Big East crown.

3. West Virginia (4) (2-2, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Marshall (27-3)

This Week: vs. Rutgers

A convincing win over a D-1 opponent is a nice start, but if the Mountaineers can't take care of a struggling Rutgers squad in their conference opener then the talk of a death spiral will immediately resume.

4. Cincinnati (3) (3-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Akron (17-15)

This Week: At Marshall

Brian Kelly should try and trade one of his defensive backs for Jarrett Brown.

5. Louisville (5) (2-2, 0-1)

Last Week: Lost to Connecticut (26-21)

This Week: Off

Every stat from last Friday night outside of the only one that matters says U of L should be No. 2 in this poll. The Cards desperately need this bye week to get healthy.

6. Pittsburgh (6) (3-1, 1-0)

Last Week: Beat Syracuse (34-24)

This Week: At South Florida

I thought they would lose to Syracuse, so maybe I ought to have bumped the Panthers to No. 5 as a form of apology. Regardless, a win on Thursday will be more than enough to launch them to at least No. 2.

7. Rutgers (7) (1-3, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Morgan State (38-0)

This Week: At West Virginia

Yeah, BUT it was the FCS team with the kid who made that ridiculous catch two weeks ago.

   8. Syracuse (8) (1-4, 0-1)

Last Week: Lost to Pittsburgh (34-24)

This Week: Off

Being in the game for four quarters and only losing by 10 to an average team in a home conference tilt is like a blowout win by Greg Robinson standards.