Note: Teams ranked in predicted order of finish:
1. WEST VIRGINIA — WR Daris Reynaud and FB Owen Schmitt give coach Rich Rodriguez two more playmakers on offense. Reynaud caught 39 passes and averaged 27 yards per kickoff return. Schmitt ran for 109 yards and two scores when RB Steve Slaton was out of the Gator Bowl ... The pass defense must improve. Last year, it ranked 109th in the country. The entire five-man secondary is back.
2. LOUISVILLE — The receiver combination of 6-foot-6 Mario Urrutia and speedy Harry Douglas is one of the best in the country. Douglas had 70 catches for 1,250 yards and Urrutia had 58 for 973 ... Cardinals also had issues stopping the pass, and they will have to improve with a rebuilt secondary.
3. RUTGERS — QB Mike Teel and the passing game need to take some of the pressure off RB Ray Rice. Teel didn't throw an interception in his last five games ... Six starters return to a defense that ranked No. 4 in the country in yards allowed. DT Eric Foster and DE Jamaal Westerman are anchors.
4. SOUTH FLORIDA — The Bulls would prefer QB Matt Grothe not to lead the team in rushing again. Last year's top backs were juniors Benjamin Williams (436 yards) and Ricky Ponton (306 yards). Freshmen Mike Ford and Aston Samuels could move past the upperclassmen ... Replacing two stellar linebackers, Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis will be key on defense. DE George Selvie had 5.5 sacks as a sophomore.
5. PITTSBURGH — This is a big year for the program. Panthers missed the postseason in coach Dave Wannstedt's first two years ... Most of the offense is back, except for the most important player. Productive QB Tyler Palko is gone, and heralded freshman Pat Bostick left preseason camp for personal reasons.
6. CINCINNATI — First-year coach Brian Kelly is already 1-0 as Bearcats coach. He led the team to a 27-24 victory over Western Michigan in the International Bowl last year after replacing Mark Dantonio ... DT Terrill Byrd and CB Mike Mickens lead a defense that was solid last season and has eight starters returning.
7. SYRACUSE — Coach Greg Robinson's first two seasons have produced five wins and very little offense. The Orange ranked 110th in total offense last season ... Sophomore QB Andrew Robinson has thrown only eight passes in his career, but he's the man ... DE Jameel McClain led the Big East in sacks with 9.5.
8. CONNECTICUT — For two seasons, the Huskies' passing game has been a mess while coach Randy Edsal searched for a competent quarterback. The hope is juco transfer Tyler Lorenzen will finally provide some stability ... RB Donald Brown averaged 134 in the five Big East games he played.
DMN power ranking: 6
DMN pick: West Virginia
3 players to watch: Matt Grothe, QB, South Florida; Daris Reynaud, WR, West Virginia; Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers
3 games to watch: West Virginia at Rutgers (Oct. 27), Louisville at West Virginia (Nov. 8), Rutgers at Louisville (Nov. 29)