Linchpin Games

I'm a "one game at a time" kind of guy. While I'm intrigued by the prospects of going undefeated and reaching a second straight BCS game, I realize that the most important game is the next one on the schedule. Nevertheless, there is a lot of talk about the WVU v. Louisville game on November 2 as being the most important game in this upcoming season. That was until I read the article found below:

FOX Sports - BCS - Ten games that will determine the title:
Sept. 14/Oct. 7

Maryland @ No. 7 West Virginia OR No. 7 West Virginia @ Mississippi St.

Let me explain. West Virginia enters the season ranked seventh in the AP poll, and is also everyone's sexy pick when it comes to guessing which team is most likely to finish with an undefeated regular season.

Well, if that's the case, head coach Rich Rodriguez can help himself out a ton by his Mountaineers pounding the crap out of non-conference foes Maryland and Mississippi State. If West Virginia can beat Maryland 45-17, and Mississippi State 56-10, that should help in the computer rankings portion of the BCS formula, as well as in the minds of voters who think a conference has to have a Dr. Pepper-sponsored championship game, boast double-digit member schools, or NOT play in a Miami-less Big East to truly compete for a national championship.

The BCS has made changes to its formula over the years, but they still haven't figured out a way to do a three-way jamboree for the national championship. Remember, if West Virginia, Ohio State, and say, Auburn all go undefeated, we all know who wouldn't be playing for the big glass football in Glendale, AZ on Jan. 8, 2007. And that school's name would rhyme with 'Frest Werginia.'

The best way that an undefeated West Virginia team can help themselves in the minds of voters and computers, and keep everyone from going all "Barry Switzer discussing 1984 BYU" on 'em is to absolutely rout their ACC and SEC counterparts in these two non-conference matchups.

I couldn't agree more!