Threepeat likely, UC offense can’t be stopped

The 2010-11 season will be about change for the University of Cincinnati football team.

There’s a new coach, a new motto and a new intensity brought by new players. But one thing will not change — the Bearcats will win the Big East for the third year in a row.

To quote the all-knowing John Madden, “At the end of the day, the team that scores the most points is going to win the game,” and no team in the Big East will be able to match Cincinnati’s blitzkrieg-style offense.

Last season, the Bearcats were fourth in the nation in points per game, averaging 38.6 points and 447.5 yards per contest.

Going into the 2010-11 campaign, the offense is shaping up to be even more high-powered than last season. It all starts with the new head honcho — Butch Jones.

Jones’ plan for the upcoming season is to take Brian Kelly’s fast-paced offense and make it even faster. Judging by the teams’ spring practices, it’s working.

No team in the Big East will have the defense to play a full 60 minutes with Cincinnati’s overwhelming offense.

Leading the offensive charge on the field will be junior quarterback Zach Collaros, who throughout high school and college has never lost a game as a starting quarterback.

Collaros started just four games last season, but he ravaged opposing defenses, throwing for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns.

The quarterback ran for 192 yards and set a UC record against UConn with 559 total yards — no big deal.

Collaros will be throwing to a receiving core with the talent to shred secondaries faster than a tissue in a wood chipper.

Lining up in the No. 1 slot for the Bearcats will be Armon Binns, who finished last season with 888 yards and 11 touchdowns. He heads into the 2010 season rated as the No. 2 wideout in the nation by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

Sidekicks to Binns in one of the best receving cores in the country will be D.J. Woods, Marcus Barnett and Vidal Hazelton.

If the steam-rolling passing attack isn’t enough, the Bearcats can go to their running game led by junior Isaiah Pead.

The only real threat to Cincinnati in the Big East will again be the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The Panthers return their star running back Dion Lewis who, as a freshman, ran for 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns. Against Cincinnati last season, Lewis ran for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

Pitt’s defense will be strong, as they return six starters and feature arguably the best defensive line in the Big East.

Cincinnati also gets Pittsburgh at home this season.

Every other team in the Big East lacks the talent to pose any real threat to Cincinnati.

Rutgers lost too many key defensive players; West Virginia is virtually the same 9-4 team from last season – minus their starting quarterback – and Connecticut, while returning a lot of starters, doesn’t have the depth or talent Pitt and Cincinnati are blessed with.

South Florida lost almost all of its star players to the NFL Draft, while Syracuse and Louisville are going through a rebuilding stage and will be lucky to finish the season with a winning record.

Another Big East championship means another BCS bowl birth, where maybe the third time will be the charm and the Bearcats will finally win one.