Admittedly it is early, very early, in the season.
But there is no better time than the present to give props to the Big East and to bash the ACC.
ESPN.com - NCF - Schlabach: On (and off) the Mark:
On the Mark
Big East. In the second season of Big East Lite, the depleted conference is proving to be better than expected. Six of its eight teams have unblemished records. West Virginia is ranked No. 5, Louisville No. 12. Rutgers and Pittsburgh are knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Big East can bolster its reputation further in three big matchups this week: Maryland at West Virginia on Thursday (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET), and Miami at Louisville (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and Michigan State at Pittsburgh on Saturday (ESPN2, noon ET).
Off the Mark
ACC. We're going to start charging ACC commissioner John Swofford rent for this space. A week after I wrote the ACC race would come down to three teams, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech, the Seminoles nearly lost to Troy. At least Clemson confirmed my belief that the Tigers aren't ready to challenge for the league championship. As for the rest of the ACC, Boston College is pretty good, Georgia Tech is OK, Maryland is mediocre, North Carolina is below-average, NC State is worse, Wake Forest is struggling, Virginia is bad and Duke is, well, Duke. Watch out Pac-10. You're next.
On the Mark
Big East. In the second season of Big East Lite, the depleted conference is proving to be better than expected. Six of its eight teams have unblemished records. West Virginia is ranked No. 5, Louisville No. 12. Rutgers and Pittsburgh are knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Big East can bolster its reputation further in three big matchups this week: Maryland at West Virginia on Thursday (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET), and Miami at Louisville (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and Michigan State at Pittsburgh on Saturday (ESPN2, noon ET).
Off the Mark
ACC. We're going to start charging ACC commissioner John Swofford rent for this space. A week after I wrote the ACC race would come down to three teams, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech, the Seminoles nearly lost to Troy. At least Clemson confirmed my belief that the Tigers aren't ready to challenge for the league championship. As for the rest of the ACC, Boston College is pretty good, Georgia Tech is OK, Maryland is mediocre, North Carolina is below-average, NC State is worse, Wake Forest is struggling, Virginia is bad and Duke is, well, Duke. Watch out Pac-10. You're next.
Mark my words, we have to enjoy this Big East lovefest while we can, because after the meat and potatos of the conferance schedule arrives I can only think of one word to best describe the Big East: cannibalism. What? What! What?
Thats right, the Big East will devour itself. It always has and it, likely, always will. Unfotunately, the reputation will suffer if my prognostication is correct. The Big East is not a league of superstars. It is a league of competitors. Yes, WVU and Louisville are seen as the top dogs. But anyone who follows Big East Football knows that any team can be defeated, particularly from within.
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