Big East Picks: Rutgers Getting in Gear

Last week Greg Schiano hit the century mark. Schiano coached his 100th game at Rutgers, a closer-than-expected win against Florida International.

The 100th game milestone was recognized by the Newark Star-Ledger, which proclaimed the Scarlet Knights' program is "stuck in neutral."

I'm guessing the newspaper isn't comparing Rutgers to Switzerland. It's not the most flattering endorsement, but at least the Scarlet Knights aren't locked in reverse like their opponent this week, the Maryland Terps.

Wasn't it just the other day that Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was hailed as an offensive genius? OK, maybe it was a couple of years ago then. What? It's been six years?

My, how time flies when you're 18-22 the past five years in the ACC.

From 2001-03, the Terps won at least 10 games in three consecutive seasons. In the five seasons since, the Terps have had three losing seasons and they're not off to the greatest start this year either.

Maryland was seal-clubbed at Cal 52-13 in the opener and then the Terps returned home for two games. They beat James Madison (or was it Dolley Madison?) by a field goal in overtime and lost to Middle Tennessee.

The Scarlet Knights, the trendy preseason pick to the win the Big East, haven't done much better, with a 47-15 blowout home loss to Cincinnati, followed by wins against Howard and FIU.

After beating FIU, Schiano called his team "a work in progress" and vowed it's "going to get better and that [it's] going to be exciting to watch." Hey, that's how I was going to describe my Big East picks column.

Anyway, Maryland entered the season 24-2 at home against non-ACC opponents, but that stat didn't bother Middle Tennessee last week. It won't bother the 2-1/2 point favorite Scarlet Knights either as Rutgers runs past the back-peddling Terps.

USF at Florida State: The Seminoles are urging their fans to wear all white and are calling this game a "White Out." White Out? Isn't that what the NCAA is using on all the NCAA record books to update Bobby Bowden's win-loss mark? For FSU's "White Out," the Seminoles will wear their white road jerseys and USF will wear its home green jerseys. Confused? Probably not half as confused as all the Florida State fans that were kind enough to take some time out of their exceptionally busy lives this week to e-mail me and display their creative vocabulary skills -- a few even used spell check! -- questioning why I did not rank FSU on my Associated Press Top 25 ballot. Even though USF has been dangerous as an underdog -- the Bulls have won seven of their last 16 games as an underdog of at least seven points -- the Seminoles should tee off on USF QB B.J. Daniels. The redshirt freshman is making his first start for injured senior Matt Grothe. If the Seminoles can match the emotion their fans display in writing e-mails, FSU's "White Out" should be a wipe out. Seminoles cover the 14-1/2 points.

Pittsburgh at N.C. State: The Wolfpack haven't exactly been packing in the victories lately. Since 2006, N.C. State is 16-24. But let's take a closer look (hey, what do you know, actual research): N.C. State is 9-15 vs. the ACC, 2-3 vs. Conference USA, 0-3 vs. the Big East and 5-0 vs. FCS (Division I-AA) teams. Meanwhile, Pitt has been pitiful in non-conference road games against BCS opponents, losing 15 of their last 18. I still think Pitt is it as the one-point underdogs win.

Louisville at Utah: Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe spent Monday apologizing about the tone and language from his Saturday postgame press conference after losing at Kentucky. Hopefully, Kragthorpe saved some apologies for this week. He'll need them after the Cards' trip to Salt Lake City. Utah covers the 14.

Fresno State at Cincinnati: Fresno State will play anyone, anywhere, anytime. In the past few years, the Bulldogs have gone out of conference and battled LSU, Washington, Kansas State, Oregon, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Rutgers and UCLA. Saturday, they visit Cincinnati, which is prime for a letdown after winning at Oregon State. The Bulldogs though are off tough emotional losses -- at Wisconsin in overtime and last week's WAC opener vs. Boise State (basically eliminating Fresno State from WAC title contention). A noon kick doesn't help either. The blistering Bearcats cover the 16-1/2 as the Bulldogs lose their 11th consecutive game to a ranked opponent.

Maine at Syracuse (no line): The Orange will move to 2-2 this week, putting Syracuse at .500 for the first time since it was 3-3 six games into the 2006 season. Syracuse 35-12.

Rhode Island at UConn (no line): Speaking of .500, Randy Edsall will improve his UConn coaching record to 61-61 after the Huskies dispose of Rhode Island. UConn 31-14.

The not-at-all-gory details

Last week: 6-2 straight up; 4-3 against the spread



Season: Straight up 19-3 (86.4 percent); against the spread 6-9 (40 percent)--- but 6-3 in my last nine, if you care

Lock of the week: Schlage Maximum Security Single Cylinder Deadbolt

Each week FanHouse Big East writer Brett McMurphy will preview the Big East and make his weekly predictions.