CFB: Thursday Big (L)East Showdown Part I

West Virginia QB Pat White

Defacto National Semi-Final? I think not.

by Mike Zimmer, Buckeyes Honk

#4West Virginia Mountaineers (7-0, 2-0)   AT
#7Louisville Cardinals (7-0, 2-0)Time: Thursday 7:30pm       TV: ESPN           Line: L’Ville +3 1/2

Here we go with a brief but needed preview of the Big East game we all have been waiting for.   The WVU Mountaineers and The ‘Ville’s Cards have done their part in staying undefeated thus far on the year and setting up one of the few games from that conference worth watching.   West Virginia comes  in with a lofty high end ranking and aspirations of a BCS title shot should they escape Papa John’s Stadium with a win.   Meanwhile, Louisville has slogged thru a bit of a rough patch on the season and survived injuries that have hampered their offensive fire power and arrived  with  the same aspirations although further out in the standings.   It is assumed that perhaps this could be a defacto national semi-final with the winner a solid BCS option when the silly final rankings come out when the regular season ends.   I’m not so sure that is truly the case especially when neither of these teams has yet to face any of the other good teams from within their own conference.   Both teams have played and beaten Syracuse while WVU has beat UConn and Louisville has beaten Cincinnati.   None of the game screaming National Title contender.   Both the ‘Neers and Cards still must play stout Rutgers and Pittsburgh as well as would-be giant killer South Florida  (just ask Louisville).   I would argue that Louisville has been more  impressive  team on the season but their recent offensive woes  suddenly make me feel that perhaps WVU can run away and hide.    But, West Virginia just hasn’t been pushed by anyone of Louisville’s caliber.   Louisville has beaten better teams although both clubs have very similar resumes.   Both have beaten SEC teams with Louisville beating Kentuckey and WVU whipping Ole Miss.   Both teams have wins over ACC also-rands, Louisville beat  the Miami Hurricanes and West Virginia beat Maryland.   And then both teams have an array of craptastic teams like Temple, Middle Tennessee State, Eastern Washington and Marshall on their resumes.  

West Virginia has a tough road ahead of them.   With their visit to Louisville they must also host Cincinnati, and then travel to Pittsburgh to play ‘The Backyard Brawl”, before hosting South Florida and Rutgers.   Louisville must travel to Rutgers, host South Florida and then go on the road at Pittsburgh and likewise has their work cut out for them.   Even if one of these teams can survive the rest of the conference schedule unscathed, they still might not look as appealing to the BCS as a one-loss SEC team.

For the actual match-up on the field the game is more than likely going to be an up and down the field track meet.    By vastly different means.   West Virginia likes to run their spread option with the emphasis being on QB Pat White to operate the potent high octane running game from the shot-gun.   With RB Steve Slaton as well as White capable of running  for 100+ yards, no one has come close to slowing them down.   White has not been  forced to throw the ball much–but when he has, he’s been adequately  to good.   Louisville meanwhile is hoping that QB Brian Brohm is healthy and sharp after  an early season injury kept him out of 3-games.   The loss of talented  RB Michael Bush has been felt this season but they can run it behind Kolby Smith when they need to.   But the Cardinals do it thru the air behind Brohm and then hope for their turn-over machine defene.

Last seasons’ game went  Three Over Times and West Virginia squeaked out the 46-44  in outlasting the ‘Ville.   I foresee a similar  fate to this one with the team with the ball last more than likely  able to punch the win column.   These 2 teams have met 7  times since 1984  with West Virginia holding a (6-1) edge.  

There is a  part of me that wants Louisville to win this game and kick West Virginia to the curb.   In doing so,  then lose  down the road so a team more  deserving could  move on to the BCS title game without the argument that some Big  East team deserves to be there.   However, I think it’s West Virginia’s game to lose.   Then, have WVU lose to Pittsburgh  or Rutgers later this season.   Of course in my Scarlet and Gray myopia–I’m confident that if I am wrong and  either of these  2 teams can go undefeated and get to the BCS–the Ohio State  Buckeyes can CRUSH them.  

PREDICTION: West  Virginia once again prevails in Overtime withe a 45-42 victory.    

Share