West Virginia and the Big East were near the bottom of the BCS totem pole prior to last season. The schedules seemed easy for the Big East big boys like Louisville and West Virginia, and with Pitt and the rest of the league struggling, it seemed the Big East would stay at the bottom for some time. However, after a 2006 season where three Big East teams finished in the top 15 of the national rankings and each of the six bowl teams won their respective bowl games, the Big East climbed the ladder and became an elite conference. That makes the task of going unscathed in conference play that much more difficult for the Mountaineers. If WVU expects to prove that they are worthy of a top 5 ranking and a shot at the national championship, they will have to manage one of the toughest schedules in the country this upcoming season. Here is a game by game breakdown of the 2007 Mountaineer football schedule.
September 1st vs. Western Michigan
The home opener should be a good test for the Mountaineers. Western Michigan is a much improved team and should challenge for a MAC championship. The Mountaineers have not lost a home opening game since 2003 when they lost to Wisconsin. The trend should stick as the Mountaineers roll over a solid Western Michigan team by three scores or more. This game will be critical for the Mountaineers as they play five of their next seven games on the road.
September 8th at Marshall
The second annual Friends of Coal Bowl takes place in Huntington, WV this season at the home of the Thundering Herd. Marshall lost a key starter from last season’s squad in running back Ahmad Bradshaw, the teams leading rusher. This should be another good battle early as emotions will be flying high. However, as in last season’s showdown the Mountaineers should pull away after halftime.
September 13th at Maryland
Five days after an emotional game at Marshall comes another rivalry game against the Maryland Terrapins. The Mountaineers have had the Terps number the last few seasons but this year game should be one for the books. Maryland is much improved from last season and a home game on a Thursday night in September could pose problems for the Mountaineers. The key players for the Mountaineers have plenty of road game experience but this game could be different. Last season West Virginia played Louisville in a Thursday night game and lost in front of one of the largest college football national television audiences of all time. Let’s hope this game will, in fact, be different.
September 22nd vs. East Carolina
The schedule doesn’t get any easier as Conference USA powerhouse East Carolina comes to Morgantown. The Pirates gave WVU a tough game last year as the Mountaineers squeezed by with a 27-10 victory that was close than the score indicates. ECU and headman Skip Holtz should bring a solid squad to Morgantown as the Mountaineers look a home victory for only the second time in the first four weeks of the season.
September 28th at South Florida
The Bulls will look to derail the Mountaineers BCS hopes once again in 2007 and this time they will attempt this feat in Tampa. USF has not been an intimidating place to play for most teams in the Big East but Matt Grothe and the Bulls will look to change that. After a home game with ECU the Mountaineers travel to Tampa to try and avenge a heart breaking loss to USF a year ago. A diminutive crowd left Milan Puskar Stadium last fall with frowns on their faces and this year the Mountaineer faithful will have to cheer on the Mounties from their recliners as WVU hopes to keep their BCS hopes alive with a win against a very threatening Big East foe.
-Note: This game is scheduled for Friday, September 28th
October 6th at Syracuse
WVU heads to upstate New York for their fourth road game in five weeks to take on the Syracuse Orange. The Orange have been the bottom feeder of the Big East the last few seasons while going through some rebuilding years. However, last season showed some signs of success when a number of goal line stands nearly snagged Syracuse a win against Big Ten power Iowa. Syracuse should be improved this year but not enough to finish near the top of the Big East. But, a road game in college football is never a gimme, even if your playing Duke; so the Mountaineers will have to be on their guard in the always loud Carrier Dome.
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