CINCINNATI -- Since the Big East Conference was reconfigured in 2005, West Virginia has been the league's bell cow. The Mountaineers have won or shared two of the four league titles.Entering this season, West Virginia's 22-6 record in Big East play was a whopping five games better than the next best league team. Nobody had done it better -- or even came close.
But times, they are a changin'.
It started last season with Cincinnati winning its first league title and the Bearcats are on pace for a second consecutive title this season.
Friday, West Virginia visits Cincinnati and the national television audience can watch how these programs are heading in different directions.
In their last five games, the Mountaineers' once-vaunted running game is averaging 160 yards rushing. By comparison, Cincinnati is averaging 179 yards rushing in the same span.
And there isn't a hotter quarterback in the country than Cincinnati's Zach Collaros. Also, Tony Pike should play against a West Virginia pass defense that is the league's third-worst.
Yet there are subtle concerns for the Bearcats. Last week, Cincinnati's defense was shredded for 45 points by UConn. Now, the Bearcats face a team that has dominated them; West Virginia owns a 14-2-1 advantage against the Bearcats and has never lost in Cincinnati. Yet the Mountaineers are still nine-point underdogs?
It seems the folks in Vegas are begging you to take WVU and the points. No thanks, I'll take the much better Bearcats, who romp over the Mountaineers and cover.
With Thursday night's Rutgers rout of South Florida, I've now hit nine of my last 13 against the spread, including last week's perfect 3-0 record, as I threaten to -- gasp -- climb above .500.
On to the remaining games:
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Cincinnati fans will be rooting for Notre Dame. It's not that they want a fellow Big East member to lose, it's just they're scared to death of the Brian Kelly to Notre Dame rumors. And another loss by Charlie Weis certainly won't quiet the speculation. Sorry Cincinnati fans -- and sorry, Charlie -- the Panthers remain on a roll offensively and defensively and cover the 6 1/2 points.
Syracuse at Louisville: The Basement Bowl. The Big East's version of the Repus Bowl (that's Super Bowl backwards). Call it whatever you wish, but it's Syracuse and Louisville: a tremendous matchup in basketball, but a loser-is-in-last-place matchup in football. This week, Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe admitted that UL fans don't like him, but asked the fans to still come out and support the players. If Kragthorpe can stop a two-game slide against the depleted Orange, they might like him a little bit more. Nah, you're right, they probably won't, but UL wins and covers the 7 1/2.
About Last Night: Another easy Thursday night winner. On my Twitter page Thursday I posted: "Tonight, Rutgers' home field & Tim Brown too much for USF, playing w/out WR Carlton Mitchell."
Last Week: 3-0 (straight up); 3-0 (against the spread)
Season: 44-9 (83 percent) (straight up); 20-22-1 (47.6 percent) (against the spread)
Drone 'Signature Strike' Witness Fears For Son
Murkowski Backs Gay Marriage
Michael Hastings Dies In Car Crash At Age 33
Report Highlights Climate-Poverty Link
The Government's Other Target In The Bradley Manning Trial: Julian Assange
'Our Work Is Not Yet Done'
Heat Not Done Yet!
Banks Caught In How Many Mortgage Settlement Violations?
Berlin Is Hot For Obama
Karzai Suspends Talks With U.S. Over Taliban Negotiations
Obama Defends NSA Programs
WATCH: Maddow's Moving Tribute To Michael Hastings
House Passes Major Anti-Abortion Bill
Protests Rage In Brazil's Largest City
GOP 2016 Contenders Test Swords In Immigration Debate
REPORTS: Patriots TE Questioned By Police In Murder Probe
GOP Education Fix Goes Too Far
Serena Makes Inflammatory Remarks About Steubenville Victim
Attack On UN Compound In Somalia Leaves Several Dead
Food Stamps Mean $100 Million To Military Families
'I Know Four People Who Have Been Shot'
House Committee Advances Immigration Bill Over Dem Objections
WATCH: FBI Releases New Video Of 2008 Times Square Bombing
Google Is Using The First Amendment To Push Back Against The NSA
Official Claims White House Wasn't Involved In IRS Scandal
Young Adults Want Health Insurance, Which Is Good News For Obamacare: Survey
Major City Closes In On Plastic Bag Ban
U.S. To Start Talks With Taliban
Fineman: Bachmann's 'Got A Point' On Syria
Huge Savings Predicted From Immigration Bill
