The Bearcats took over sole possession of 3rd place this week mainly thanks to the efforts of Derek Wolfe who continues to abuse offensive lineman. Overall tackles and forced fumbles are really the reasons keeping Cincinnati high in these rankings:
| Tackles | TFL | Sacks | QB Hurries | FF | Avg. Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | 100 | 24.5 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 1.6 |
| Cincinnati | 99 | 27 | 13.5 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| UConn | 80 | 22.5 | 10.5 | 6 | 0 | 4.4 |
| Pitt | 72 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 4.6 |
| Rutgers | 58 | 16 | 7.5 | 9 | 2 | 4.6 |
| Syracuse | 97 | 15.5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5.2 |
| Louisville | 63 | 16.5 | 8.5 | 4 | 0 | 5.8 |
| West Virginia | 75 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6.2 |
UC Observations
- Like I mentioned above, Derek Wolfe is an absolute beast with 2 sacks and another forced fumble. He’s really been dominating so far in his senior year and is making a great running at be drafted next April.
- Dan Giordano really stepped up last weekend with a sack and forced fumble on the same play.
- Walter Stewart, since performing very well against Austin Peay, has really gone silent in the past two weeks. He’s certainly capable of better so I expect him to really step up this week against NC State.
To the rest of the Big East
- Louisville shot up from 7th to 2nd mainly because of all the sacks and tackles for losses from their defensive line. I guess they really got fired up for playing in-state rival Kentucky.
- South Florida dominated FCS school Florida A&M by putting up 70 points but the defense has been playing very well, especially out that usually spectacular Bulls defensive line.
- Syracuse’s defensive line is leading the conference in tackles but has been in the lower half of the Big East in the other categories, which is likely the reason they are 7th.
- 1st thru 7th is separated by a ranking of 2.6 so no team has separated itself from the rest of the pack.
- Rutgers had a bye last week.