What makes a game important to a team’s season? Does a certain result in an important game scream “we’re back!” or “we’re screwed!”, or does it signal more of the same? Does an important game help a team turn a corner in their season or their evolution as a program?
It really comes down to your expectations for the team’s season. If you expect a team to do well, its result in a certain matchup may vindicate your prediction. But the flip side is also true: the team’s failure to win its most important game could sink their year.