Big numbers from Big East openers

Sure, USF is a strong favorite in its opener Saturday against Division I-AA Elon, but are the Bulls really 10 times better? That's how high the Big East has set the bar after its opening night of college football on Thursday. Louisville, Rutgers and Cincinnati combined to maul their opponents by a score of 160-16, a dominating start against decidedly lesser competition.

Everyone knew Louisville's offense would still be powerful, but it's hard to be more efficient than the Cardinals were in a 73-10 win against Murray State. Scoring 73 is impressive, but scoring 70 points with 7:43 left in the third quarter is ridiculous. Louisville didn't punt, didn't turn the ball over, didn't settle for a field goal until its final full possession.

I'm all for projections and extrapolations and all sorts of mathematical silliness, but it's hard not to laugh at this page at ESPN.com, showing Rutgers receiver Tiquan Underwood on pace for 2,976 receiving yards this season. Underwood went off for 248 yards and two touchdowns in Rutgers' 38-3 win against Buffalo -- if Mike Teel can be that kind of quarterback in Big East play, Rutgers will be a very tough team to beat.

And while it's just Southeast Missouri State, Cincinnati showed some real offense in Thursday's 59-3 win, piling up 615 yards. Former Wake Forest quarterback Ben Mauk has earned the starting nod there and went 18-for-27 for 244 yards and two scores. The surprise star? Former Flagler Palm Coast standout Marshwan Gilyard (Marshwan, from the Dwyane Wade Not-A-Typo School of Name-Spelling), a converted cornerback who was dismissed from the team last year because of academic problems. He caught eight passes for 134 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. USF is getting a lot of sleeper talk, but Cincinnati is lurking right in USF's shadow with a lot of upside and a similarly favorable schedule as well.

Comments

[Philip Van Dusen]

How can you be a sleeper when everyone is talking about you?

The Bearcats are not getting the press, but if they can put some offence together to go with that great defense watch out.

By the way their new coach is supposed to be good at doing just that.

[Ted]

Seeing the highlights from the Cinn game looks scary. Cinn is a great team and always gives USF fits. If Mauk has a breakout year, Cinn will be playin spoiler. Luckily we'll have them home this year.

By the way, where's cee? Does she only comment on arrest and injuries?

Syracuse is an embarrassment to the Big East, losing 42-12 to Washington. Way to represent the BE "Orangemen".

[Dave]

Greg Robinson is the only coach worse than Wanny in the BE- except at least Wanny recruits well. At the same time, I don't know why UW has been lambasted so much- they have a good coach who recruits well (reason #1 for Charlie Weis' success) and that RS Fresh QB is the next Pac-10 superstar. Anyways, Syracuse needs a talent upgrade (which I hate to say, but they are the weakest and slowest team in the BE- a bad combo) and a coaching change. I don't think that a strong 'Cuse is needed, though, as long as Rutgers is pulling in NYC fans. Plus, the Dome up there is a much tougher road game if the fans have anything to cheer for.