Big East Weekly Preview

The Big East Conference is shaping to be much more competitive than many of us anticipated before the season began. There are still three unbeaten teams and two ranked teams that reside in the Big East after five weeks. Undefeated Louisville will get the week off, while #22 Rutgers and 3-0 Cincinnati both have big games today. Here’s a look at some key matchups in the Big East this week and some tips to betting these all-important mid-season games.

Connecticut Huskies (3-2) at #22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-0)

The Knights will look to establish a balanced attack on Saturday

The Scarlet Knights are off to their best start in six years and will look to keep things rolling as they go for their fourth straight win at home against UConn. They are also coming off an impressive win over a reeling, but still very talented SEC squad in Arkansas last week, 35-26. Now the team that’s only allowing 12.8 points per game with look to try to contain the Huskies and pick up their fifth straight win of the season.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are coming off of a nice 24-17 win against Buffalo and also have shown solid defensive prowess, allowing just 15.6 points per game in their five games played this season. However, what was known as a solid ground-churning offense in years past has struggled, averaging just 112 rushing yards per game. If UConn wants to knock off the Knights and seriously contend in the Big East, it is going to have to establish a running game and control the clock.

Rutgers has a balanced overall attack on both sides of the ball and that should serve them well in this home contest against a low-scoring UConn squad. Look for Rutgers to cover the -7 point spread and improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2006.

Miami Ohio Red Hawks (3-2) at Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0)

The Bearcats will look to roll right over the Red Hawks

Coming off a 56-49 win over Akron, the Red Hawks will play another instate rival this week as they travel to nearby Cincinnati. The Bearcats pulled out their biggest win of the season a week ago, an upset victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies, 27-24. This week, we will see if the Bearcats are a real contender in the Big East, or if last week’s win was a fluke.

So far, Cincy has displayed a dynamic and balanced offense, ranking in the top 40 in the country in both rushing and passing. Their defense isn’t too shabby either, as they are only allowing 13.7 points to be scored against them per game. On the other side of the field is Miami, who is a team built on the pass, averaging 285 yards per game, but has struggled to find much running room, averaging just 112.6 yards per game on the ground. Miami’s defense has been anything but stout, allowing 34.8 points per game.

When you look at these numbers side by side, it’s pretty apparent that this game should end in a blowout win for Cincinnati. Well, the odds makers seem to think so too. Bovada at least has Cincinnati as a 20 point favorite today. The Bearcats can definitely cover and since they are at home, I’d take that spread and take the Bearcats by 20 or more.