I think I know how Pitt can clinch the Big East BCS berth

I haven't looked up any tiebreakers for how Pitt can win the BCS bowl berth for the Big East conference, but I think I have it figured out. First off, in-order for the Panthers to even have a chance, they must defeat West Virginia and Syracuse in their final two Big East games to finish at 5-2 in the conference.

The second thing that must happen is Cincinnati and Rutgers each have to lose one of their last two conference games. Pitt lost to both teams earlier in the season and would lose out on any tiebreakers.

If that all falls into place, the Panthers would earn the coveted invite because, at 5-2, Pitt would win the tiebreaker over Louisville (5-2 in the Big East) due to Pitt's 21-14 victory over the Cardinals two weeks ago.

The help that the Panthers need right now is pretty much on-par with what the Steelers needed to happen in-order to sneak into the playoffs in '09 (it didn't happen), but wouldn't it be ironic if the Panthers backed-into a BCS bowl game after failing to earn the berth the past two years with their destiny in their own hands?

Of course, before we Pitt fans can even think about getting any help, the Panthers must go into Morgantown and defeat their bitter-rivals, West Virginia, in the annual Backyard Brawl.

Both universities are soon departing from the Big East (with the Big East suing teams and teams suing the Big East, who knows when that will actually happen), and tonight's clash could be the final one for a very long time.

However, if tonight's game is anything at all like the past few, it will be a very memorable finale.

If you're a Pitt fan (or even a WVU fan), you'll never forget the 2007 game in Morgantown. The Panthers were 28-point underdogs going into the game, and WVU needed the win in-order to wrap-up a spot in the BCS National Title game. Well, the Panthers pulled off the incredible, 13-9, upset, and Mountaineers fans are still feeling the pain.

My uncle and I actually went to the 2008 Brawl, and the Panthers came back from eight-points down and won on a Shady McCoy touchdown run in the final minute.

The game two years ago was only for bragging rights since Pitt only needed to beat the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats the following week in-order to secure the BCS bid. The Mountaineers won, 19-16, on a last-second field goal, and Pitt went on to lose a heartbreaker to the Bearcats the following week at Heinz Field.

Last year, it was for more than bragging-rights. The Panthers had the BCS berth in their back pockets when WVU came to Heinz Field, but the 'eers embarrassed Pitt, 35-10, and the share of the Big East that the Panthers ultimately earned by going to Cincinnati and winning the following week mattered little, since it was UConn that earned a trip to the Fiesta Bowl thanks to knocking off the Panthers earlier in the season.

WVU is favored by a touchdown tonight, but to use a tired cliche, when it comes to rivalries like this, you can throw the records and the point-spreads out the window.

Pitt vs. WVU in the Backyard Brawl!

This is what college football is all about!