Last year, Louisville was expected to run the table in the Big East and earn a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl berth. Unfortunately, the Cardinals finished second (5-2) in the conference behind West Virginia, who ran the table with a 7-0 mark.

The Mountaineers dominated its conference schedule, winning its battles by an average of 20 points per game. Not only did the team post a perfect straight up record, but head coach Rich Rodriguez and company pulled off an unblemished 7-0 against the spread mark to boot.

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Right now, oddsmakers and pollsters are expecting a two-horse race this year. West Virginia is ranked No. 7 in the opening USA Today poll, while Louisville is No. 13. The Mountaineers and Cards are the only two teams ranked from the Big East. Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will host the meeting between these two on Nov. 2 in a primetime Thursday showdown.

Louisville will be looking to avenge a 46-44 overtime loss to West Virginia last October. The Cardinals blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead in this contest before eventually falling in overtime.

Sportsbook.com currently has the Cardinals listed as seven-point home favorites for this year’s meeting against the Mountaineers.

As far as the other schools in the Big East, confidence could grow for teams via the non-conference schedule, while others might get a taste of reality.

Cincinnati is definitely one of the teams that could struggle early. A home opener against 1-AA Eastern Kentucky isn’t a walk in the park against the ranked Colonels. After a conference battle against Pittsburgh, back-to-back road tilts against Ohio State and Virginia Tech has double-digit setbacks on the rise.

The Huskies have gone the 1-AA route as well, opening at home against Rhode Island. That contest precedes three tough tests against Wake Forest, Indiana and Navy. Connecticut could be unbeaten after four games, but 3-1 is more likely.

As mentioned above, the Cardinals are expected to compete for the conference crown and maybe make a run at the national title as well. Louisville starts the year with tune-ups against Kentucky and Temple before a big-time battle versus Miami-Florida. Sportsbook.com has labeled the Cards as slight one-point home favorites for this kick.
 

Rutgers could be the surprise team of the Big East this season. (AP Images)

Pittsburgh was a disappointment in its debut season under head coach Dave Wannstedt, going 5-6 on the year and 1-3 in non-conference action. Home games against Virginia and Michigan State are great measuring sticks, while Citadel and Toledo should garner W’s. The Panthers do host all four games and could be in for a turn around year.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off a season which saw the school earn a bowl trip, which was the first in 27 years (1978). The team did lose to Arizona State (45-40), but showed a lot of pride. Rutgers’ schedule is set up nicely to start, with a road trip to North Carolina before three straight home games versus Illinois, Ohio and Howard.

South Florida earned a bowl trip last year as well with a 6-6 record. The Bulls face McNeese State, Florida International, Central Florida and Kansas to start the season. USF has been good in the past non-conference tilts, including last year’s 4-0 ATS run.

Syracuse’s lone win last year came in a non-conference effort against Buffalo, 31-0. The Orange open this season with five consecutive games out of conference. Wake Forest starts the slate before back-to-back Big Ten contests against Iowa and Illinois. Rounding out the field is Miami-Ohio and Wyoming. Doubling last year’s effort is very possible.

If West Virginia runs the table this year, the school will definitely be in a position to earn a shot at the national championship. However, the Mountaineers’ strength of schedule will be questioned, considering the amount of cupcakes in the oven. Matchups against Marshall, 1-AA Eastern Washington, Maryland, East Carolina and Mississippi State is arguably the easiest non-conference slate for this year’s contenders.

Before you label the Big East as a weaker conference, be sure to take a look at past records versus non-conference foes.