Welcome to game day college football fans. Your long eight month wait is over. 

 

Even though I think this is as intriguing an opening day matchup as we've seen for West Virginia in years, I'll save you from a 1,200 word game preview. 

 

If you need an in-depth, hours long breakdown of today's game, I invite you to tune into our game day radio coverage, which starts at 9 a.m. and runs all the way until 6 p.m.. We'll hit upon every issue you can think of before, during and after the game. Find a station near you or listen live by clicking HERE.

 

Shameless plug over, now let's talk football. 

 

Here's the one matchup I'm most interested in watching today: West Virginia's offensive line versus Missouri's defensive line. 

 

Many people around the country feel that west Virginia's offensive line may be the best in the Big 12. Eight offensive lineman with game experience return for WVU, although they will be down one guy today as Adam Pankey is suspended following a DUI arrest a couple of weeks ago.

 

Missouri brings a defensive line into the game that features two guys that may be first round NFL draft picks. There's no doubt, the suspension of Adam Pankey will hurt. But, Missouri's defensive line isn't at full strength either. 

 

Earlier this summer it was announced that Walter Brady and Harold Brantley were no longer members of the Tigers.  Both were believed to be major contributors this year. 

 

Even without those two, Missouri’s defensive line remains formidable. Charles Harris is a name you will hear often on Saturday. The redshirt junior had seven sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss last year. 

 

How will WVU handle him? The game very well may be won or lost with this matchup specifically and almost certainly on the overall matchup between the Missouri defensive line and the WVU offensive line.

 

How well can West Virginia protect Skylar Howard?

 

If Howard has time to throw, West Virginia's offense could be fun to watch and will put up points today. If he's pressured all day and is forced to scramble, the accuracy issues we saw plague Howard in losses last year will most likely resurface. 

 

As fans it's easier to pay attention to where the ball is when you're watching a game. However, today I encourage you to watch the line of scrimmage when West Virginia is on offense. 

 

That's where the game will be won or lost. 

 

Let me know what you think today as you watch the game. I’ll be on Twitter from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. so find me @BradHowe07 so we can “talk” about the season opener. 

 

Editor's Note: WVU's offense line will be led this year by senior center Tyler Orlosky, while work from him and other on the front against a talented Missouri defensive line will have to give quarterback Skyler Howard time to throw the ball or allow him lanes to run through. Top photo courtesy of WVU Sports Communications; photo by Dale Sparks. Bottom photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.