Big East: Miami and the seven dwarfs

By Jamie MacDonald, CNN/SI

Miami's defense should dominate the Big East, but the offense is in the hands of young Kenny Kelly. Scott Halleran/Allsport   Projected Order of Finish 1. Miami 2. Virginia Tech 3. Syracuse 4. West Virginia 5. Boston College 6. Rutgers 7. Temple 8. Pittsburgh

Top Storylines Hurricane warnings posted along the Big East coast Is freshman QB Kenny Kelly too green to be good for Miami? Can anyone stop the 'Canes if he isn't? Who will fill the massive holes left in the Big East's collective offense, with seven of the league's top 10 rushers, six of the top eight passers and six of the top 10 receivers gone? Can Rutgers continue to stage one of the finest turnarounds in D1-A?

Going Bowling Locks: Miami Maybes: Virginia Tech No Way: Syracuse, West Virginia, Boston College, Rutgers, Temple, Pittsburgh

Trev's Take CNN/SI's Trev Alberts offers his team to watch "I am big on Butch Davis . I really like what he's done there; you're starting to see the return of that Miami swagger. The Hurricanes are back in terms of being competitive in the Big East, but they're not at the top of the national elite yet. That's why the key for Davis, with that killer schedule, is to make sure his team doesn't lose its confidence if it starts out 1-2 or 1-3. They could still very easily win the Big East and go to the BCS. Edgerrin James is a big loss, but don't mistake that for thinking they don't have anybody left. Kenny Kelly is going to be solid as their quarterback, and defense is their strength."

Top Five Offensive Players Marc Bulger , QB, Sr., West Virginia Led the Big East in passing yards (3,178) and total yards (3,091 -- he lost 87 yards "rushing"), and though his main targets last season were seniors, the Mountaineers return two solid receivers. Reggie Wayne , WR, Jr., Miami Big East rookie of the year in '97 returns from offseason knee surgery to anchor one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the country, alongside WR Santana Moss and TE Daniel Franks. Shyrone Stith , RB, Jr., Virginia Tech Played behind Lamont Pegues and started only twice in 1998, but saw action in 11 games and managed to run for 699 yards on an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Khori Ivy , WR, Sr., West Virginia Ivy, a fearless 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, is finally the focus of Bulger's passing attack, and with 650 yards in '98 trails only Pittsburgh's Latef Grim, Wayne and Moss among returning receivers. James Jackson , RB, Jr., Miami Jackson, who says he's capable of a 2,000-yard season if he gets the carries, could make 'Canes fans forget about last year's James, Edgerrin.

Top Five Defensive Players Corey Moore , DE, Sr., Virginia Tech Moore -- way undersized at 6'0, 212 -- is a terror on the end, as his conference-leading 13 1/2 sacks and Big East Defensive Player of the Year credentials can attest. Chris Hovan , NG, Sr., Boston College The 6'3", 290-pound preseason Playboy All-America started 10 games as a freshman and has done nothing but improve in his two seasons since (81 tackles, five sacks, 13 TFL in '98). Dan Morgan , LB, Jr., Miami Headlines perhaps the best linebacking unit in the nation -- 105 tackles as a true freshman two seasons ago and another 150 in 1998. Nate Webster , LB, Jr., Miami Third-team AP All-America ranked second on the team in tackles and, with Morgan, form a fierce inside-outside tandem. Hank Poteat , DB, Sr., Pittsburgh Picked off six passes last season (fourth in the country), also set Panthers season and career highs with 764 kickoff return yards in 1998.

Top Special Teams Player Quinton Spotwood , KR, Sr., Syracuse Electrifying return man and receiver missed most of '98 and spring practice with a knee injury, but returned four punts for touchdowns in 1997.

You Don't Know Him Yet, But... Nick Goings , RB, Jr., Pittsburgh Ohio State transfer quite obviously sports an apt surname and will be asked to upgrade the Panthers' 95th-ranked ground game (115.8 ypg in '98).

Hot Coach Butch Davis , Miami Pulled the program from near-death experience and put it back on track to elite status.

Coach on the Hot Seat Tom O'Brien , Boston College O'Brien is 8-14 (consecutive 4-7 seasons) in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and with another sub-.500 season, he may be thanked for his excellent '98 recruiting class and shown the door.

Secret Weapon Carlos Jackson , WR, So., Temple The best trick any team in the conference has up its sleeve may be small (5-9, 167), but he averaged 21 yards per catch and scored six TDs as a true freshman in '98.

Toughest Schedule Miami The Hurricanes may have a sweet -- as in Sugar Bowl-bound -- schedule, but to get to New Orleans they must run a gauntlet of national contenders: Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic, Penn State at home and Florida State on the road.

Kansas State Schedule Boston College Sure, the Clash of the Catholics resumes in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus in November, but the Eagles begin their season with a divine schedule that includes these perennial Davids: Baylor, Navy, Rutgers, Northeastern, Temple and Pitt. Amen.

Mark Your Calendar Penn State at Miami, Sept. 18 Some picked Penn State as the 1999 national champion at the beginning of last season, but Miami could make its own case with a win. Miami at Florida State, Oct. 9 The Hurricanes try to take another step toward the Sugar Bowl -- and avenge last year's 26-14 home loss to the hated Seminoles. Miami at Virginia Tech, Nov. 13 An interesting matchup between young QBs with high-powered offenses -- by November, Kelly and Michael Vick should have a pretty good idea how to drive.