Post by cviller on Nov 17, 2007 10:56:51 GMT -5
Tony Caridi
Cincinnati, Ohio
Technically the Big East Conference does not have a championship game like its BCS brethren in the ACC, SEC and Big 12.
However, for the record, the Big East will hold its championship game Saturday night in Cincinnati. The winner between the Mountaineers and Bearcats will win the conference title and a birth in to the BCS. That’s it plain and simple.
Yes, West Virginia will still have two games remaining after its date at Nippert Stadium, and Cincinnati will still have a game against Syracuse. Quite honestly those games will be more coronations than contests.
The fact is that West Virginia’s visit to Cincinnati should be for the conference championship, because the Mountaineers and Bearcats are the two best teams in the Big East. The one-time contenders have been exposed. Rutgers, South Florida and Connecticut are all solid but not of championship caliber this season.
That leaves us with West Virginia and Cincinnati who are kissing cousins in most Big East categories.
In scoring offense, West Virginia is the leader and Cincinnati is second. Cincinnati is number one in turnover margin, West Virginia is second. When it comes to scoring defense, UC is first and WVU is third. I could go on with more examples, but you get the point. The cream has risen to the top in the Big East and now its time to find out who’s the creamiest.
Personally, I can’t wait for Saturday night. The stadium will be sold-out and raucous. There will be a palpable buzz of excitement with each snap of the ball. This is exactly how a conference championship should be decided. You’ve got the preseason favorite in West Virginia playing in a hostile environment against the surprise team of the conference. Both schools love to play fast and physical, both schools have quarterbacks who are allergic to losing.
In a word it’s perfect. No team will back into the Big East title this season. It will be won facemask to facemask and punch for punch, a team from a blue-collar city against a team from a blue-collar state.
Don’t get tight this week, rather embrace the hype and enjoy the ride. West Virginia is playing for the championship of the Big East and that’s a very good thing.
