Big East Football Preview '07: Schedule Superlatives

Over the last couple of weeks, FanHouse has highlighted a number of schedules and games that deserve particular recognition. For instance, Rutgers took home honors for having the schedule loaded with the most calories and the Louisville- West Virginia game was named the conference's biggest game.

This essay focuses on some schedule aspects that have not been considered previously. Its sexiness is unquestioned.

Game of Endless Pointlessness

Who: Norfolk State at Rutgers

When: September 15, 2007

Watchability: I'd rather drink gasoline.

I do not care how bad Rutgers was before the Schiano Revolution; playing Norfolk State is unforgivable. In the last two seasons, the Spartans have accumulated all of eight wins against 14 losses. And the team hasn't even improved its winning percentage during that period (Norfolk State has put together consecutive 4-7 campaigns).

Even Mike Teel -- he of a 13-12 touchdown to interception ratio -- should look like an NFL lock against the Spartans.

Best Schedule

Who: Syracuse

When: All season long.

Watchability: I guess that presupposes whether you actually want to watch the Orange.

Syracuse has not put together much in the way of victories the last two season (five, for those keeping count), but the Orange have put together a couple of nice dockets. 2007 is no different: Syracuse will face three BCS conference teams this season (Washington, Iowa, and Illinois) as well as a functional MAC squad (Miami (OH)). The lone blemish is a home game against upstate New York compatriot Buffalo. To chastise the Orange for playing the Bulls, however, is pretty rough considering Buffalo served as Syracuse's only victory in 2005.

Game to Determine Big East Cellar Dweller

Who: Syracuse at Connecticut

When: November 17, 2007.

Watchability: If you love car wrecks and RealTV, a must-see. If not, then volunteering at a leper colony would be a better option.

This is going to be ugly. Not like bearded lady at the carnival ugly, but like judging the swimsuit competition at the Obesity Festival ugly.

Syracuse and Connecticut fans, however, do have a paramount interest in the game. Since 2005, the team that has won this game has won the basketball season series between the two schools. To wit: in 2006, Syracuse throttled Connecticut 20-14. The Orange went on to take two out of three against Jim Calhoun's Huskies on the hardwood, including a dismantling in the first-round of the Big East Tournament.

2005 saw the exact opposite occur. Connecticut dropped a 26-7 atomic bomb on Syracuse at Rentschler Field on a rain soaked October evening. The Huskies, of course, took two out of three from Syracuse during roundball season, falling only to the Orange during the Big East Tournament.