I’m not one who cares much for bold blanket statements that are to be accepted as fact. I wanted to fight a friend who this summer said, “Not only is ‘The Hangover’ the funniest movie of the summer, it’s probably the funniest movie ever.” I was in the back seat of a car being subdued by Armor All, I think, while shouting at the driver, “The funniest part of the funniest movie ever cannot be the credits!”

So that being said, I do believe this Saturday is among the biggest Saturday’s for Big East football since its reconstitution prior to the 2005 season. Biggest? I won’t say that, but maybe we could revisit that topic in a few months.

Let me get quickly to the point because I assure you this is not another inane commentary about the Big East earning respect, stepping up or doing any other cliche that can be regurgitated for the millionth time.

In addition to this suddenly hip WVU-Auburn game, ranked Cincinnati plays at Oregon State, rank UConn plays at Baylor, Pitt plays host to Navy, Louisville plays at Kentucky and Syracuse plays host to Northwestern.

Of the Big East’s eight teams, five are playing BCS league opponents (four on the road) and Pitt plays a program that’s widely respected because of just how tricky it is.

Look, no one expects much from Syracuse or Louisville … really, if they won, would that matter much? Actually, it probably would get Syracuse some attention, but kind of like when your nephew learned to ride a bike without training wheels. “Ohhh, look! Isn’t that cute? That’s so neat to see after such hard work!”

Now, the other four? It’s on them. They have to win, especially the Bearcats, Panthers and even the Mountaineers, who probably have the toughest task relative to expectations and the opponent.

We’ll learn a lot about WVU, though.

We’ll see if Cincinnati’s defense is legit because Oregon State can score. Either that, or we’ll see if The UC is equipped to win a shootout. On the road. (In the process, we’ll also learn a little about Rutgers, too.)

Navy is the type of team that’ll give Pitt trouble — the nature of the offense, time of possession, more passes than usual against a suspect secondary.

And UConn, well, the league would like that you not lose at Baylor. Thanks. I know your QB is hurt, but this is Baylor.

So why is this so significant this weekend? Remember, this was the offseason spent trashing the Big East and pointing out its weaknesses while the non-BCS leagues were trumpeted and a case for their cause was taken up by Congress. “Let’s see what happens on the field!” it was said.

Well, have you seen a top 25 poll lately? BYU is No. 7, Boise State is No. 10, TCU is No. 15, Utah is No. 18 and Houston is No. 21. All non-BCS teams and all with a look at an unbeaten season.

The Big East, in case you haven’t noticed, has the creakiest chair at the BCS table and people are lining up to get a taste.

OK, OK. BYU, TCU and Utah all play one another and BYU (home against Florida State Saturday), TCU (at Clemson next Saturday) and Utah (at Oregon Saturday) do have some big nonconference games left.

Let’s say they get all through, which is entirely possible. They’re going to be top 10 teams before long.

Boise State has a tricky game against Tulsa Oct. 14, but will be favored there and should be favored the rest of the way. They’ll be high in the rankings, too.

Houston, which probably had no idea it’d be this good, has games remaining against Texas Tech and at Mississippi State in nonconference play and at Tulsa in Conference USA. They’re probably least likely to go through unbeaten. Then again, the pass-happy, pass-prolific Cougars won at Oklahoma State, where the coach is a man and the team was No. 5. You can’t be surprised if it happens.

That said, two or three of those five teams could go unbeaten and not without clearing some hurdles along the way both within and outside of conference play. They’re going to be frolicking in New York Times features and giggling while rolling around in Tony Barnhart columns about the need to revisit and perhaps restructure the foundation of college football’s postseason setup. That’s going to take a sledgehammer to the BCS. Repeatedly.

And especially if some of these BCS leagues don’t get their act together … and really, are any of the six having a great year thus far besides the SEC? Maybe the Pac 10, but we know how that’s going to end. So, Big East, this is your weekend. This is your life.