2011 Preview: Big East

State of the Conference:
The Big East conference is ready for some big things next year with the addition of TCU, but this year should also provide some interesting matchups, and it starts at the top with Pitt and West Virginia. Both have new coaches who entered the league in... shall we say, interesting ways. Pitt's Graham is following behind recently hired - and promptly fired - Mike Haywood, who was arrested on charges of battery just two weeks after taking the job. West Virginia's Holgorsen is in after Bill Stewart was fired after blabbing about Holgorsen, who was officially the coach-in-waiting but unofficially the-coach, getting thrown out of a casino. Got all that? Holgorsen and Graham are both spread guys, and they don't like each other. Just like West Virginia and Pitt, two programs mired at the top of a bad league. Rutger's Greg Schiano is in fact the only coach in the conference who has been in his position for more than 3 years. Talk about turnover.

2010 Champion: Connecticut
2011 Projected Champion: West Virginia

Projected Finishes:
1. West Virginia (10-2, 6-1 Big East)
2. Pittsburgh (8-4, 6-1 Big East)
3. South Florida (9-3, 5-2 Big East)
4. Louisville (7-5, 3-4 Big East)
5. Syracuse (6-6, 3-4 Big East)
6. Connecticut (6-6, 2-5 Big East)
7. Cincinnati (5-7, 2-5 Big East)
8. Rutgers (3-9, 1-6 Big East)

Surprise Team: Louisville
Charlie Strong is a good football coach. He was placed in a bad situation at Louisville, but he's making the most of it. The Cardinals should qualify for a bowl this year, and after the last couple of years, to anyone who has watched the team, that is a MAJOR accomplishment.

Upset Alert: South Florida over Miami
I know, I know, South Florida has been the more consistent team in the past few years. But for some reason, pundits like to pick the "establishment" teams. With Miami mired in an NCAA mess of epic proportions, South Florida could be the chief beneficiary in the decade to come. This game will provide a preview of that shift.