(AP) -- A capsule look at this week's Big East games (all games on Saturday and Eastern time unless noted):

Akron (1-5) at Syracuse (2-4), 3:30 p.m. (Time Warner Cable)

Line: Syracuse by 10.

Series record: Akron leads 1-0-0.

Last meeting: 2008, Akron, 42-28.

What's at Stake

Syracuse has lost two straight Big East games after reaching .500 for the first time in three years. Another loss would hurt the big gains made under rookie coach Doug Marrone and probably deflate a team that has shown remarkable tenacity no matter the score. Quarterback Greg Paulus was benched in the second half of the previous game, a home loss to West Virginia, and the former Duke point guard is eager to make amends.

Akron, winless in three MAC games under coach J.D. Brookhart, could use a win, any win, and one over a BCS school would do just fine. The Zips' lone victory of the season was 41-0 over second-tier school Morgan State.

Key Matchup

The Akron defense against the Syracuse combination of QB Greg Paulus and WR Mike Williams. Paulus has thrown five of his eight TD passes to Williams, who leads the Big East in receiving. The Zips are allowing 195.7 yards passing per game and have given up 12 TD passes in six games.

Players to Watch

Akron: QB Patrick Nicely. The freshman was 17 for 34 for 200 yards with two interceptions in a 21-17 loss a week ago at Buffalo in his first start. Nicely, who replaced starting quarterback Chris Jacquemain after Jacquemain was removed from the team in September for the remainder of the season for violating team policy, is 26 for 57 passing for 298 yards. He has yet to throw a TD pass.

Syracuse: WR Mike Williams. He leads the Big East in receiving yards (712) and receiving yards per game (118.67) and is tied for first with 7.5 receptions per game. He's coming off a subpar game - four catches for 89 yards and one TD against West Virginia.

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FRIDAY Rutgers (4-2, 0-2 Big East) at Army (3-4), 8:01 p.m. (ESPN2)

Line: Rutgers by 10.

Series record: Army leads 18-17.

Last meeting: 2008, Rutgers, 30-3.

What's at Stake

Coming off a loss to Pittsburgh, Rutgers will be on the road three of the next four games. The Scarlet Knights need a win since one of their four wins won't count toward a bowl berth. Rutgers has won five straight over the Black Knights, who have lost three of their last four and need to put together a win streak to have a chance to play in the postseason.

Key Matchup

Rutgers defense vs. Army's triple option offense, ranked No. 12 nationally, averaging 222.6 yards rushing per game. The Scarlet Knights had held three straight opponents under 50 yards rushing before Pittsburgh's Dion Lewis went for 180 last Friday in a 24-17 Panthers' win.

Players to Watch

Army: Freshman quarterback Trent Steelman and running back Patrick Mealy lead the Black Knights, averaging 58.1 and 55.1 yards rushing. WR Alejandro Villanueva has 16 catches for 253 yards, including all four of Army's TD passes.

DB Donovan Travis has four interceptions for Army's defense, which is ranked No. 21 against the pass and No. 35 against the run. LB Stephen Anderson leads the team with 57 tackles, while DE Josh McNary is ranked third nationally with 15 1/2 tackles for losses and 9 1/2 sacks.

Rutgers: Freshman quarterback Tom Savage has thrown for 941 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Running backs Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks have combined for nine rushing TDs, while WR Tim Brown is averaging 19.6 yards per catch. While CB Devin McCourty leads the team in tackles with 38, LBs Ryan D'Imperio and Antonio Lowery face a test with the triple option.

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Louisville (2-4) vs. No. 5 Cincinnati (6-0), 3:35 p.m. (ESPNU)

Line: Cincinnati by 17.

Series record: Cincinnati leads 26-21-1.

Last meeting: 2008, Cincinnati 28-20.

What's at Stake

The Bearcats are No. 5 in the BCS standings and need to beat a struggling team at home to keep themselves in the discussion of national title contenders, even if QB Tony Pike doesn't play. For Louisville, it's a chance to get a signature win in a season that has been disappointing so far.

Key Matchup

Louisville's lowly defense against whoever Cincinnati starts at quarterback. Louisville's defense is next-to-last in the Big East, allowing 27.8 points per game, and gives up an average of 159 yards on the ground, by far the worst in the league. If Pike doesn't play because of an injury to his non-passing arm, run-oriented sophomore QB Zach Collaros could have a big game.

Players to Watch

Louisville: RB Victor Anderson. The Cardinals' leading rusher didn't start in a 38-25 loss to UConn last week because of a leg injury, staying on the bench until the second half. He finished with five runs for 58 yards and a touchdown. Louisville needs a steady running game to keep Cincinnati's high-scoring offense off the field.

Cincinnati: Collaros. Although the Bearcats were holding out hope that Pike could play only four days after surgery on his non-passing arm, it's likely to be Collaros. He relieved Pike during a 34-17 win at South Florida and ran for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His style would present big problems for Louisville's weak run defense.

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South Florida (5-1) at No. 20 Pittsburgh (6-1), Noon, ESPN Regional

Line: Pittsburgh by 6 1/2.

Series record: Tied 3-3.

Last meeting: 2008, Pittsburgh 26, South Florida 21.

What's at Stake

Pitt must win to keep the Big East lead going into its closing stretch of conference games against Syracuse, West Virginia and Cincinnati. The Panthers broke into the Top 25 this week after beating Rutgers 24-17. South Florida started 5-0 for the third consecutive season, but lost to now-No. 5 Cincinnati at home last week. The Bulls must win at Heinz Field for the third time in four trips there to retain any hope of remaining in the conference race.

Key Matchup

South Florida defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie vs. Pitt's offensive line. Pierre-Paul and Selvie might be the Big East's best tandem; Pierre-Paul already is being called a potential first-round NFL draft pick and Selvie was a first-team All-American two seasons ago. Pitt must control them not only to give much-improved Bill Stull time to throw, but to make sure they don't clog the running lanes for Dion Lewis, who is No. 3 nationally in rushing.

Players to Watch

South Florida: QB B.J. Daniels already leads South Florida in rushing and passing despite making only three starts for the injured Matt Grothe, who is out for the season. Pitt's defense had trouble earlier in the season when it gave offenses time to throw, and Daniels has five plays of 40 yards or longer.

Pittsburgh: Lewis, one of college football's biggest surprises. He was playing high school football a year ago, but is averaging 131.1 yards per game and is coming off a 180-yard game against Rutgers. If he gets outside, he's trouble for any defense.

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Connecticut (4-2, 1-1) at West Virginia (5-1, 1-0), noon (ESPNU)

Line: West Virginia by 7.

Series record: West Virginia leads 5-0.

Last meeting: 2008, West Virginia 35-13.

What's at Stake

Connecticut is in mourning after the stabbing death of cornerback Jasper Howard. The Huskies will no doubt be emotional, but also are trying to win or fall further back in a Big East race that still has three unbeaten teams. West Virginia, hoping to keep pace with No. 5 Cincinnati and No. 20 Pittsburgh, is looking to go 6-1 for the fifth time in six seasons.

Key Matchup

Connecticut RBs Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman vs. West Virginia's defense. Dixon and Todman have combined to rush for 186 yards per game. The Mountaineers are limiting opponents to 80 yards on the ground, seventh-best in the nation.

Players to Watch

Connecticut: Dixon had career-high 33 rushes for 153 yards and three TDs in a 34-25 win over Louisville last week. QB Cody Endres threw for 273 yards and a TD against the Cardinals, 108 to Marcus Easley. LB Lawrence Wilson leads the Big East in tackles and defensive back Robert McClain has three interceptions in his last three games.

West Virginia: QB Jarrett Brown is day to day after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in last week's 24-7 win over Marshall. If Brown can't go, freshman Geno Smith, who threw a 33-yard TD pass last week, would get his first college start. RB Noel Devine is sixth nationally at 122 yards per game and has nine TDs. WR Jock Sanders, who scored three times against UConn last year, is averaging more than seven catches per game and is the Big East's top punt returner.

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