Old Big East vs New Big East

I have heard people mention that the NBE is better than the old BE. The reason they give is that the NBE doesnt have RU and Temple (who were both awful as can be) or Pitt who averaged 1.86 BE Ws in the 1990s. So a team like BC had 3 built in Ws. However IMO the top of the old BE was much stronger. So a team like BC would have 3 built in Ls. That is why they went 4-3 or 3-4 every friggin year. I will agree that the NBE is much deeper than the old BE but the old BE was much stronger at the top.

Here are the avg conf records from 1993-2003 (I didnt include 1991 and 1992 since teams didnt play everyone in conf):

Miami 6-1 (66-11)
VT 5-2 (55-22)
SU 4.27-2.73 (47-30)
WV 4.27-2.73 (47-30)
BC 3.36-3.55-0.09 (37-39-1)
Pitt 2.82-4.18 (31-46)
Temple 1.18-5.82 (13-64)
RU 1.00-5.91-0.09 (11-65-1)

Then compare those teams to the NBE 2005-2007 (I didnt include 2004 as it still had BC and didnt have the CUSA teams):

WV 5.68-1.33 (17-4)
Louisville 4.67-2.33 (14-7)
RU 4.00-3.00 (12-9)
USF 4.00-3.00 (12-9)
Cincy 3.33-3.67 (10-11)
Pitt 3.00-4.00 (9-12)
UConn 2.67-4.33 (8-13)
SU 0.67-6.33 (2-19)

So if you go just by records you get:

Miami (O)
WV (N)
VT (O)
UL (N)
SU (O)
WV (O)
RU (N)
USF (N)
BC (O)
UC (N)
Pitt (N)
Pitt (O)
UConn (N)
Temple (O)
RU (O)
SU (N)

However if I were to rank the teams I would go by:

Miami (O)
VT (O)
WV (N)
SU (O)
UL (N)
WV (O)
USF (N)
RU (N)
BC (O)
UC (N)
Pitt (N)
Pitt (O)
UConn (N)
SU (N)
Temple (O)
RU (O)

I think the old is at the top and the bottom, with the NBE in the middle. So what about head to head, 1-8 who would win in a theorectical Bowl Game?

Miami 6-1 vs WV 5.68-1.33
I dont think anyone would argue that WV is equal to those Miami teams. I know it is a very very small sample for the NBE but I think this WV squad is on par with those VT squads. So IMO the NBE's best team is the equal of the old BEs 2nd.
Winner: Miami

VT 5-2 vs UL 4.67-2.33
I think UL was on its way to being on par with these VT squads. They had 2 very good years. But when Petrino left they took a big hit. Who knows how they respond this year. But for comparisons sake I would say they are on par with the old SU, who was the 3rd best team.
Winner: VT

SU/WV 4.27-2.73 vs RU/USF 4-3
This one isnt even close. I would say RU is on par with those BC teams, and BC was the 5th best old BE team. However USF and the old WV seem pretty even.
Winner: SU/WV

BC 3.36-3.66-0.09 vs UC 3.33-3.67
This is at least close. I think BC is better but not by a whole lot. As you can tell by their record, BC was overrated much like RU is now. UC needs to prove they can keep it up.
Winner: BC

Pitt 2.82-4.18 vs Pitt 3-4
Interesting that Pitts place in the standing have not changed. I think the Pitt for 2000-2003 was better than todays Pitt, but the 1990s Pitt was awful. So you have to give the advantage to the new Pitt.
Winner: New Pitt

Temple 1.18-5.82 vs UConn 2.67-4.33
UConns big season last year makes this one a blowout. I would say UConn is the equal of old Pitt, who was 6th in the old BE.
Winner: UConn

RU 1-5.91-0.09 vs SU 0.67-6.33
Wow 0.67. That hurts. WTF happened to Syracuse Football? Even so I think SU wins here. 2007 was an RU like season for SU. However the were competitive in 2005 and were not that bad in 2006. Also RU got to play Temple and the 1990s Pitt. SU doesnt have those type of teams today. Now my view can change this year depending on how bad SU is, but I give the advantage.
Winner: SU

So after 8 games, I have the Old BE winning 5 and losing 3. But the most important games are the ones at the top. No? The old BE 1-5 was much much better. The NBE 6-8 is much much better.

To me the old BE is better. The top half (1-4) of the conf blows away the top of the NBE. I think teams 5-6 are pretty even. However, I think the bottom (7-8) of the NBE blows out the old. But that doesnt make up for the top.

Feel free to vote for yourself.