Sports

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 25 Rutgers salvaged hopes of a Big East title last week by upsetting second-ranked South Florida. But to climb atop the conference, and give themselves a legitimate shot for their first league title, the Scarlet Knights will have to knock off a West Virginia team they haven’t beaten in more than a decade.

If the Scarlet Knights (5-2, 2-1) can get past the sixth-ranked Mountaineers today, they would have the head-to-head tiebreaker over South Florida and the inside track to a BCS bid.

If history is any indication, it won’t be easy. Rutgers has lost 12 in a row to West Virginia (6-1, 1-1), six of those games under coach Greg Schiano.

“We haven’t beaten them. That’s just stating a fact,” Schiano said. “I don’t think we were playing with the same weapons in the early years. We’ve had opportunities to win later and found a way not to. Hopefully we can play our best, and hopefully that’ll be good enough.”

Rutgers has closed the talent gap on West Virginia under Schiano. He lost his first two games against the Mountaineers, 80-7 and 40-0, but was in line for a Big East crown last year until a 41-39 triple-overtime loss in Morgantown, West Va., in the regular-season finale sent Rutgers to the Texas Bowl.

The banged-up Scarlet Knights have another crack at the Mountaineers, but they are six-point underdogs. Quarterback Mike Teel said he will play, but how much will his bruised thumb hinder his passing if he does?

If senior safety Courtney Green can’t play, that hurts a defense that already has to deal with electrifying Pat White for the first time.

White had two carries and one pass in their 2005 meeting as a freshman, then missed last season’s thriller because of a right-foot injury. Today will be Rutgers’ first taste of the 1-2 Mountaineers punch of White and running back Steve Slaton at full speed, though forecasts of rain may hinder West Virginia’s spread option.

“Schematically you can pick it up, [but] you’re never going to be able to fashion that speed with your scout team. It’s going to be a shock that first series when he carries the ball,” Schiano said. “[White’s] an electric guy.

“He’s so fast, he can accelerate from nothing to full speed like that, and his full speed is faster than anyone on the field. We can’t make a mistake, or he and Steve will make you pay.”

Slaton and Rutgers junior Ray Rice are the Big East’s best backs. Rice is leading the league in all-purpose yards and touchdowns (167.7 yards, 14 scores) and Slaton is second (141.9, 10 TDs).

Both teams have offensive firepower. But West Virginia’s inexperienced offensive line, with Selvish Capers replacing Jake Figner, will have to deal with incessant stunts and deafening crown noise.

Rutgers may also have to contend with West Virginia freshman reserve Noel Devine, who didn’t play last week because he missed practice for personal reasons, but can change a game with a single play.

brian.lewis@nypost.com