Musings of a Mountain Man - 11/17

Written by John Woolard | 18 November 2010

Random thoughts while wondering why psychics don't win all the lotteries.

WVU 37, CINCINNATI 10: Oh, so NOW the Mountaineers decide to play.

Now they decide to put things together on offense.

Now they find an inside running game and block up front like the term offensive line for them isn't an oxymoron -- because for most of this year the offensive line hasn't lined up to provide much offense.

Now quarterback Geno Smith has some time to throw and pick out receivers who have time to get open downfield.

Now -- at least for one game -- the offense complements the consistently stifling defense and WVU looks like the most talented team in the Big East, which it is.

*****

BUT IS IT TOO LATE? Has WVU already dug itself into too big a hole with inconsolable back-to-back losses to Syracuse and Connecticut to make a run at a Big East title and be rewarded with a BCS bowl bid?

The answer, fairly unbelievably, is no. The equations that would put WVU in line for the Big East crown do not resemble higher math. WVU can't lose another league game, of course -- which is not something that we can equate to be a certainty this season -- but the formulas are relatively simple.

For WVU to win the Big East outright, the Mountaineers have to win their remaining conference games -- this Saturday at Louisville, the next Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) at Pitt in the Backyard Brawl and the following Saturday at home against Rutgers to finish with a 5-2 conference record.

If the 'Eers do that -- and it won't be easy -- they also would need some help, such as both Syracuse and UConn to lose another Big East game, giving them three conference losses each.

Full Article at WVIllustrated.com