By Paul Sykes
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati top the Big East Conference football standings following week seven, in which seven conference teams spread the action over three days, including three conference match-ups. Syracuse was idle.
- Connecticut capitalized on four Louisville turnovers and produced a 17-point third quarter to down the Cardinals 38-25. UConn rushed for 208 yards and threw for 273 to go to 4-2. UConn is off to Morgantown Saturday to play the West Virginia. Louisville (2-4), loser of three in a row, won’t find the road any easier at Cincinnati.
- In a Thursday night showdown, No. 8 Cincinnati doubled the score on No. 21 South Florida 34-17 in Tampa. Despite losing starting quarterback Tony Pike, the Bearcats got solid backup from Zach Collaros, who scrambled for one touchdown and threw for another to steady Mardy Gilyard.. The Bulls (5-1) run at Pittsburgh.
- Dion Lewis of Pittsburgh showed why many consider him the best running back in the Big East, with 180 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 win over Rutgers. Pitt (6-1) snapped a four game losing streak to Rutgers (4-2), which goes to Army for a Friday game.
- West Virginia dominated the second half in their in-state rivalry with Marshall en route to a 24-7 win. WVU trailed Marshall 7-3 at half, but Noel Devine rushed for two touchdowns in the final 30 minutes . West Virginia is 5-1.
- Syracuse (2-4) plays Akron in the Carrier Dome Saturday.