It could end up being one of the greatest World Series match-ups in recent memory. The completely mind-blowing Colorado Rockies will be looking to continue their near-impossible streak against the new American League juggernaut, the Boston Red Sox.

The 2007 World Series brings together the Rockies, who have won 21 of their last 22 games, with the Red Sox, who have come from behind 3-1 to beat Cleveland to win the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

This game could become one for the ages.

Conventional wisdom says to pick the Red Sox on this one, as their superior pitching and potent lineup could be too much for the Rockies to handle, but I wouldn't count the Rockies out just yet. After all, the Rockies have defied that wisdom for the last month; who's to say they can't do it for another series?

The Fall Classic will be a rematch of an interleague match-up back in June, when in the rubber match Colorado's mostly unknown lineup blasted Boston's game one starter Josh Beckett for six runs in five innings.

It was Beckett's first loss of the year, and the Rockies earned the series win. Colorado's number one starter, Jeff Francis, who went five innings without giving up a run in the same game, will get the start in game one Wednesday.

Pitching will likely have a big impact in the series, but the lineups and ballparks will be big determining factors this year as well.

The Rockies' lineup is largely inexperienced, but the talented youth quadrangle of Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe have proven that experience isn't everything and that, in fact, talent can mean a whole lot more.

However, we live in the United States of Reality, and eventually the Rockies will likely lose a game or two. The Sox are the only remaining team that can hand the Rox a loss. Being the new American League dynasty that they are, Boston will not be making things easy for Colorado.

The Sox also have their own threats and have proved that their own squad of youngsters like Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury can handle the playoff pressure. The usual lineup beasts Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are tough outs in any situation and will be tough for Colorado pitchers to put out.

Venue will also have a large impact on the Series. It remains to be seen whether the Rockies can handle the raucous Fenway Park during playoffs, where the Sox regularly play amid vociferous fans and the Green Monster's "Fenway Double."

The Sox may be challenged at Coors Field, where the Rockies have outplayed their opponents 478 runs to 396 runs at home during the regular season, second only to the Yankees. The Rockies were the sixth best team at home during the regular season, posting a 51-31 record at Coors Field.

Regardless of who wins the World Series this year, this Fall Classic will be one for the ages — a match-up so unusual yet fascinating that not watching it would practically be a crime.

[Reach reporter Allen Wagner at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]