October 15, 2009

David Fox
Rivals.com College Football Staff Writer

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The Scarlet Knights haven't lost since that 47-15 setback in the opener. They have enjoyed a plus-14 turnover margin in those four victories and have outscored opponents by an average of 22.7 points. But if coach Greg Schiano knows how his team stacks up with the remaining six Big East teams on the schedule, he's not letting on.

"I don't know where our best is going to put us in relation to Pitt," said Schiano, whose team plays it second Big East game Friday night at Pittsburgh, which is 2-0 in conference.

Rutgers' past four games have been against opponents (including two from the FCS) that have a combined 6-15 record.

True freshman quarterback Tom Savage will make his first conference start against Pitt; he was the backup in the opener.

"Certainly he's taking a big step up in competition," Schiano said. "It's a very, very good defense he's facing. He's a young guy who has not been in this situation before, so you don't know what's going to happen."

"We've improved, as any team you hope improves as you play more games," said Schiano, who has won four in a row against Pitt. "We still have a long way to go. We need to run the ball with more consistency. We need to be able to throw the ball and protect the passer a little bit better. We improved in that we've been taking care of the football the last four games. That's probably the biggest area of improvement."

Key matchup: Cincinnati's pass offense vs. USF's pass defense. We have a story today talking about Cincinnati's high-powered offense, and if USF wants to remain undefeated, its defense will have to keep QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard in check. The Bulls lead the Big East in pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense. Credit a lot of that to playing Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern to start the season, but the Bulls did intercept Syracuse's Greg Paulus five times. It's also up to DEs George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul (two sacks apiece) to apply consistent pressure on Pike.

Players on the spot: Rutgers' front seven. The Scarlet Knights have allowed just 39.5 rushing yards per game since the season-opening loss to Cincinnati, but none of their opponents have had a running back like Pitt freshman Dion Lewis. Is the Rutgers defense for real or a product of mediocre competition? We'll find out Friday.

Numbers game: Connecticut has been outscored 40-10 in the fourth quarter in games against FBS opponents this season. The Huskies this week face Louisville, which is coming off a last-second, 25-23 come-from-behind win over Southern Miss.

What they're saying:

"The coaches, they're all licking their chops. They can't wait to play Coach Tresey down there. [Wide receivers] Coach [Charley] Molnar, I've never seen that look in his eyes like he has this week. Coach [Brian] Kelly, as well. Those guys are really, really ready to get us going for this game." - Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard, to the Cincinnati Enquirer, about facing former Bearcats defensive coordinator Joe Tresey, who now is the defensive coordinator at USF

"You go the NFL, it occurs all the time. In the NFL, they recycle people. Somebody called me the other day and said, 'You're just like the NFL now, going against a former employer, and you're familiar with their personnel and what they do.' It's very much like that." - Tresey, to the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times

"I'm happy to be back and glad to have another opportunity and now make the best out of the opportunity. We're not really a one-dimensional team. We've got so many dimensions on this team that anything can go either way. Like I said, I'm just happy to be back helping this team any way I can." - West Virginia wide receiver/running back Jock Sanders, who had declined to speak to reporters since a Feb. 10 DUI arrest

"This is personal, I've yet to be on the winning side of the ball and I am really taking it personal this week, as are all of our seniors. It is obviously personal, but we are going to remain cool, calm and collected, and make sure we give ourselves the best chance to win." - Pitt QB Bill Stull, on the Panthers' four-game losing streak to Rutgers

Etc.: Connecticut LB Scott Lutrus made a short-lived comeback from a stinger against Pittsburgh before leaving in the second quarter. Lutrus missed three games with a stinger and is doubtful this week against Louisville. Cody Endres will remain the Huskies' starting quarterback despite Zach Frazer's return from a knee injury. Endres is 2-1 as a starter this season. ... Syracuse benched QB Greg Paulus last week after a 5-for-9 start for 30 yards and an interception against West Virginia. Backup Ryan Nassib went 7-for-16 for 120 yards, with two touchdowns. The Orange are off this week before facing Akron on Oct. 24.... Adam Froman remained Louisville's starting quarterback against Southern Miss, going 14-of-26 for 248 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Coach Steve Kragthorpe held off on announcing his quarterback until just before kickoff. Louisville OT Jeff Adams, who started all of last season, returned to the starting lineup against Southern Miss after missing the first four games of the season. ... The Big East has two of the nation's top five rushers in West Virginia's Noel Devine (third at 126.2 yards per game) and Pitt's Lewis (fifth at 123.0 yards per game). ... Cincinnati is the only team in the Big East and one of just three in the country that has not lost a fumble. ... The Meineke Car Care Bowl renewed its contract with the Big East through 2013.

David Fox is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dfox@rivals.com.