While not a true "must win" from an elimination game perspective, I think it is a must win from a season and CPR perspective. Win, and the possibility of bowl eligibility remains plausible and the chances of reaching 5 wins (my view of the "safe zone" for CPR) greatly improves. Lose, and you either have to upset one of the big 3 or run the table on the remaining games to reach 6 and given the history of the last 2 years, I'd put the odds of this happening as next to zero. While I don't think 6 is critical for CPR to have another season, it is critical to the psyche of the players which is key to at least winning 5 games - once hope of a bowl is lost, or the pressure to win each game to get to 6 mounts, I'm not that confident that this team can respond and win a tight game. They certainly haven't "responded" the last 2 years - losing 7 games of 7 points or less (8 counting this year) while winning only 2.
On the other hand, winning today would provide a great psychological boost for the players (and the fans) and get them "ahead of the chains" in at least reaching 5 wins, while also keeping realistic hopes alive of winning 6 games.
On the other hand, winning today would provide a great psychological boost for the players (and the fans) and get them "ahead of the chains" in at least reaching 5 wins, while also keeping realistic hopes alive of winning 6 games.
