Big East Poll Reactions, Week 5
This week's polls have been released. Here's how the Big East fared, from the top of the polls to the bottom, and what it means.
(AP/Coaches)
19/16. Louisville
In my personal opinion, the Cardinals' Saturday win against Southern Miss should be discounted from a statistical standpoint. The standing water -- reportedly as much as five inches at spots on the field -- and driving rain made the entire second half a one-dimensional slopfest. Luckily for the Cardinals, they were able to deliver enough plays down the stretch and play sound defense to escape Hattiesburg, Miss., with the win.
22/21. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights had the week off after their upset win at Arkansas in Week 4. That should help Rutgers as it prepares to enter the heart of conference play, with Kyle Flood citing Week 5 as the perfect week to get his team healthy. Their next challenge will be against Connecticut at home on Saturday.
OTR/23. Cincinnati
The stadium was far from sold out, but the game at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. was a home-field advantage for Virginia Tech. The Bearcats' ability to hang in that game and give Munchie Legaux a chance to win it late raised eyebrows across the league. With two early bye weeks, we haven't seen much of Cincinnati. But if the win on Saturday was any indication, the Bearcats should be making their appearance in both polls before the end of the season.
Others Receiving Votes: The Bearcats are hanging one spot away from the AP Top 25, but no other teams from the league are receiving any attention from the pollsters after Week 5.
CBSSports.com Rapid Reports Big East Power Rankings (Top 5)
1. Louisville
2. Rutgers
3. Cincinnati
4. Pittsburgh
5. South Florida
Get the full Big East Power Rankings from Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski
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