The Big East Conference had a rough second week of the college football season, posting a 4-4 overall record against non-conference opponents. Three of those loses came against BCS-conference schools, while the fourth came against a non-automatic qualify program. Luckily for the Big East it gets a chance at redemption in Week 3 as five BCS-conference schools are on the schedule.
Here is a Week 3 preview including this weekend's game times, TV schedule and gambling odds.
(For a full preview of Syracuse University at the University of Southern California (8 p.m. on FX), check out this SB Nation New York StoryStream.)
Connecticut Huskies (1-1) at Iowa State Cyclones (2-0) -- Friday, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Last Saturday, the University of Connecticut suffered it's first loss of the season, 24-21, at Vanderbilt University. Freshman running back Lyle McCombs, again, had a solid game rushing for 118 yards on 27 carries. However, the struggles of junior quarterback Johnny McEntee, who completed just 10-of-27 passes with no touchdowns and three interceptions, the last of which was returned for a game-tying TD midway through the fourth quarter, did the Huskies in.
Junior quarterback Steele Jantz completed 25-of-37 passes for 279 yards and four TDs, three in overtime, to help Iowa State University defeat in-state rival the University of Iowa, 44-41, in a non-conference showdown. Jantz performance was good enough to help him earn Big 12 Player Of The Week honors. The Cyclones were predicted to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll.
Point spread: Huskies are a 4-point favorite.
West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) at Maryland Terps (1-0) -- Saturday, noon on ESPNU
The University of West Virginia started slow against last week's opponent Norfolk State, which led 12-10 at halftime, but ended up scoring on its first seven possession of the second half to pull away and win 55-12. A slow start this week could really hurt the Mountaineers, who are ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, chances of earning a victory Saturday.
The last time college football fans saw the University of Maryland was on Sept. 5 when the Terps debuted brand new uniforms and defeated the University of Miami, 32-24. Sophomore quarterback Danny O'Brien finished with 348-passing yards and a TD in the Week 1 victory.
Point spread: Mountaineers are a 1 1/2-point underdog.
Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) at Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1) -- Saturday, noon on ESPN2
For the first two weeks of the season the University of Pittsburgh has played cupcake programs, but that all changes Saturday with a visit to the University of Iowa. Junior running back Ray Graham has been very good -- 165.5 yards and three TDs per game -- in the first two games of the season. However, the shaky play of junior quarterback Tino Sunseri, who had no touchdowns, but two interceptions last Saturday, will need to improve if Pitt wants to pull of the upset.
The Hawkeyes are reeling after having their three-game winning streak over Iowa State was snapped last Saturday. The program that was predicted to finish third out of six teams in the Big Ten's Legends Division and received votes but couldn't crack the Top 25 in the first two weeks of the college football polls will be looking to rebound at home.
Point spread: The Panthers are a 3-point underdog.
Akron Zips (0-2) at Cincinnati Bearcats (1-1) -- Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3
Last Saturday, the University of Cincinnati football program started strong, but couldn't finish in a 45-23 loss at the University of Tennessee. The Bearcats, who were tied with the Volunteers 14-14 at the end of the first quarter, just couldn't keep up with the Tennessee offense, which scored 14 points in each of the next two quarters.
Last week, the University of Akron got throttled by Temple University, 41-3. Akron, which was predicted to finish last out of seven teams in the Mid-Atlantic Conference's East Division, should pose not threat to Bearcats.
Point spread: The Bearcats are a 34-point favorite.
Louisville Cardinals (1-1) at Kentucky Wildcats (2-0) -- Saturday, 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Last Friday, the University of Louisville had problems stopping one player, senior wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, in a 24-17 loss to Florida International University. Things don't get easier for the Cardinals as they travel to the University of Kentucky.
The Wildcats are coming up off two solid victories over to non-BCS conference programs, Western Kentucky University and Central Michigan University, respectively. Last week, freshman running back Josh Clemons earned SEC Co-Freshman Of The Week honors with a 14-carry, 126-yard performance. Before the season, Kentucky was predicted to finish fifth out of six teams in the Southeastern Conference's East Division.
Point spread: The Cardinals are a 6-point underdog.
Florida A&M Rattlers (1-1) at South Florida Bulls (2-0) -- Saturday, 7 p.m. on Big East Network
It has been a good past week for the University of South Florida. On Sunday, USF, which easily defeated Ball State University, 37-7, Saturday, sneaked into both college football polls after being in just one the previous week. Currently, the Bulls are ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 20. In the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Then, on Monday, Junior quarterback B.J. Daniels was named Big East Player Of The Week after he threw for 359 yards and a TD Saturday.
Last weekend, the Rattlers lost to Hampton University, 23-17. Florida A&M, an FCS program that was predicted to finish third out of the 11-team Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Point spread: The Bulls are a 34-point favorite.