Average Massey Ranking among 6 major conferences with new affiliations: SEC 28.4, Big 12 28.7 - then huge gap to Big Ten 47.8, Pac 12 48.6, Big East 50.0 (Ten known members), ACC 56.0 (ditching Pitts 52 and Syracuse 81 gets Big East past ACC). These ratings are very similar to the BCS ratings, which have determined BCS status.
In watching Houston take apart Penn State yesterday for 600 yards, 150 more than Penn State allowed against any Big Ten opponent, I really do believe the Big East has done as good a job as they could have in an admittedly bad situation after Pitt and Syracuse left. It would be nice to tap it off with new member SMU beating departing member Pitt on Saturday at Noon, but going into that game (assuming Air Force and Temple are the final two adds to the BE), that would mean 9 of 12 new Big East teams made a Bowl game this year and the average score was a 35-24 Big East win. Without AF and Temple, it's still a 5-2 bowl record with an average 33-23 win. And at least Houston and SMU are moving up in basketball during the course of the season (#154 and #199 in Pomeroy) so they may not be a basketball drag if membership brings a couple of good recruiting classes.
I know many don't like the hybrid, but I just can't see voluntarily separating from Lville, UConn and Cincy as long as we have the option of staying together.
Big East
Cincinnati 31 24
Louisville 24 31
Rutgers 27 13
South Florida No Bowl
Temple 37 15 *** possible 12th team
UConn No Bowl
Western Division
Air Force 41 42 *** possible 11th team
Boise St. 56 24
Central Florida No Bowl
Houston 30 14
San Diego St. 30 32
SMU plays Pitt Sat. Noon
Average Score 35 24