Pitt vs. WVU: Which Backyard Brawl Team Made Best Conference Realignment Choice?

The Backyard Brawl may be a regional rivalry, but the hatred between Pittsburgh and West Virginia can be as intense as any in the nation.

Tonight's meeting with be the 105th and potentially last game since both programs are leaving the Big East sometime in the near future.

Both programs have expressed an interest in continuing the rivalry, but right now there are too many factors at play.

If the two don't play again, then Pitt will hold a decisive advantage in the series and will be able to claim superiority in that regard.

But who is the real winner in conference realignment?

The Panthers are Big East through and through, but when the ACC came calling, the Pittsburgh administration jumped at the opportunity (along with Syracuse).

The move sent shock waves through the crippled conference and jump-started others in the conference to find a new home—WVU included.

The ACC is a fiscally sound conference with a great TV contract, but the ACC's football product is on par with the Big East, so Pitt doesn't really gain much here. In fact, the Panthers might be more competitive in the ACC.

The move adds a little bit to the travel schedule, but the Panthers were used to traveling to Miami from its days in the Big East. It also reunites Pitt with Boston College and Virginia Tech.

Overall, the move makes sense, but Pitt is going to miss playing Big East basketball.

While Pitt was courted by the ACC, West Virginia was in reactionary mode.

WVU athletic director Oliver Luck made calls to the ACC, SEC and Big 12 in an attempt to find the Mountaineers a new home. West Virginia's lawsuit against the Big East clearly spells out how the Mountaineers felt about the league.

While WVU has a respected football program, the ACC and SEC didn't show much interest.

The Big 12 was a last resort if the Mountaineers really wanted out of the Big East; Luck and WVU jumped at the offer.

WVU does not have any natural rivalries in the Big 12 and the travel schedule could be tough, but not insurmountable.

West Virginia is better off in the Big 12, but it has come at a cost.

The Mountaineers were criticized for shopping themselves around to any conference that would listen, and the lawsuit against the Big East has been viewed as being hypocritical.

WVU's recruiting probably won't be too hurt by the move as the Mountaineers have recruited heavily from Florida, and with the addition of Dana Holgorsen, they have turned to Texas more.

So who's the overall winner here?

West Virginia made the right move, but Pittsburgh is the clear winner here.