Owls rank sixth in Big East power rankings
The loss of key players and the step up in competition will make things tough for an Owls team looking to win at least eight games for the fourth consecutive season.
Owls rank sixth in Big East power rankings
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Big East Power Rankings: Preseason
A season ago, Temple was one of the powerhouse programs in the Mid-American Conference. Now, the Owls are a rebuilding member of the Big East. The loss of key players and the step up in competition will make things tough for an Owls team looking to win at least eight games for the fourth consecutive season.
I do believe Temple will post another winning season, though. I have the Owls going 6-5 and finishing in sixth place in the league.
However, my opinion of the Owls and where they will finish could change from week to week. That's why this is the first of what will become weekly Big East power rankings.
These rankings are for the preseason and through Week 1. Check back on Sept. 3 to see where the teams are positioned heading into the second week of the season.
Here’s a look at my preseason power rankings:
1. LOUISVILLE
Skinny: Anything less than a conference championship would be a subpar season for No. 25 Louisville. Sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is arguably the conference's best player. The Cardinals also lost just two starters from a defense ranked 10th nationally against the rush and 23d in total defense.
2. RUTGERS
Skinny: Linebacker Khaseem Greene, last season's co-defensive player of the year, anchors a defense that allowed the fewest points (18.3) and total yards (311.5) in the conference last season. He’s just one of returners on a Scarlet Knights defense that is expected to give conference opponents fits.
3. SOUTH FLORIDA
Skinny: South Florida looks to bounce back from a rough conference campaign. Returning 15 starters should help.
4. PITTSBURGH
Skinny: As Wisconsin's offensive coordinator, new Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst oversaw an offense that averaged 39.3 points over the last three seasons. Before suffering a knee injury in the eighth game of last season, running back Ray Graham was the nation's second-leading rusher with 134.1 yards per game.
5. CINCINNATI
Skinny: Cincinnati, which owned a share of last season's Big East title, is expected to take a step back. The Bearcats must replace running back Isaiah Pead (2011 conference offensive player of the year), defensive tackle Derek Wolfe (conference co-defensive player of the year), and quarterback Zach Collaros (two-time all-conference selection).
6. TEMPLE
Skinny: Fans on North Broad Street are convinced the Owls will contend for a Big East title this season. The only problem is that Temple returns just eight starters from last season’s squad. The Owls might be a season away from having a chance to become a conference power.
7. CONNECTICUT
Skinny: Folks in Connecticut are hoping that coach Paul Pasqualoni's second season erases the bad memories of his first. A lot could depend on sophomore running back Lyle McCombs, who rushed for 1,151 yards last season.
8. SYRACUSE
Skinny: This could be a make-or-break season for coach Doug Marrone. Entering his fourth season, he has a 17-20 record at his alma mater.
7 and 4
Go OWLS!— tuowls20471- HI THERE VOMIT MAN. I HOPE YOU TAKE YOUR FACE OUT OF THE TOILET LONG ENOUGH TO WATCH TEMPLE WIN ANOTHER BOWL GAME THIS YEAR.. THERE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU. LIFE IS PASSING YOU BY ; NO SOCIAL LIFE, OR GIRL FRIEND. YOU NEED A MAKEOVER.— Amatloff98
- I am starting to like 7-4— Byron
- I just rather be back in the MAC - it was fun being a big frog in a little pond. After sooo many years of beeing a doormat we finally strted to win and OWLS football was fun. I just don't think we are going to be able to compete for the level of players needed to win and contend in the BE and temple foot ball will be a drag again.— majpooper
- Coach A seems to be doing wuite well in recruiting. Rutgers' coach left, so how is that a plus for them?— mike l
- 8-3. Major Bowl.— Temple U Owls
- Temple win the Big East.— Temple U Owls
- GO TEMPLE GO— Temple U Owls
- Sure wins, Nova, Army, Cuse. Can win MD, Uconn. If they are better than most think they can beat Rutgers, Pitt, S.Fla.& PSU. I think 6-5 is likely. GO OWLS!!!— avoidpitt
- A season with less than 7 wins will have a negative effect on the Owls. A program that has had trouble drawing fans even when they win need to win at least 7 games and win another bowl game, even if it is an also ran bowl.— Bigbirch
- maj- have you seen Big East football lately? It's not exactly a big pond either.— smfree31
- Oxymoron: A rhetorical device in which seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect. E.g., "Big East Power Rankings".
- It'll be tough but Temple sounds like they are rolling forward. A .500 season would be nice at a minimum and maybe they play even better and win 8 or 9 games.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Hey vomitman...If your head is in the toilet bowl then you must be watching temple football. Because that is the only bowl they will qualify for. Then again the Big Squeek is a horrible conference, a real joke. How bad is Temple??? They are poop toalmost every other team there.— PHAZED
- Big East ain't so big anymore.Owls will be competitive against most of these bums— fat tony
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Follow him on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
