Predicting West Virginia’s 2015 season (Part 2)

In part one of this series, I had the Mountaineers beginning their season 3-1, with the one loss coming at the hands of Big 12 foe Oklahoma. The road after the Sooners gets no easier as the Big 12 will once again boast some of the best teams in college football.

Game Five: vs. Oklahoma State at Mountaineer Field

The Cowboys are a much improved team coming into 2015. Last year West Virginia beat Oklahoma State in Boone Pickens Stadium, 34-10. After scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, in what seemed like a boring, slow-pace game the Mountaineers came out on top.

A double-digit win, however, doesn’t seem likely this time around. The Cowboys return an up-and-coming quarterback Mason Rudolph who made it loud and clear he’s the future of Oklahoma State’s offense after burning his red shirt and sparking the team late in the season.

This will be a competitive game between a revived Cowboy’s offense and a stout Mountaineer defense. In the end, it comes down to the toe of Lambert. West Virginia squeaks out a win on a last second field goal.

Game Six: vs. Baylor at McLane Stadium

In what was arguably West Virginia’s biggest win of last season, the Mountaineers knocked off the nationally ranked Bears, 41-27 and kept them from a spot in the first-ever college football playoffs.

Baylor’s offense will take a step back after losing significant players such as quarterback Bryce Petty, but will have a better defense then they’ve seen in the past — nonetheless the Bears will still be a Big 12 contender.

In another close game, Baylor slightly edges out the Mountaineers. It will be interesting, however, to see just how well the Bears’ offense can play against West Virginia’s defense. I still like Baylor winning at home.

Game Seven: vs. TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium

TCU will enter the college football season as one of the scariest teams to do battle with. Potentially the No. 1 team entering the season, TCU made a monumental statement when the Horned Frogs pummeled Ole Miss 41-2 in their bowl game.

The controversy swirled wether or not TCU deserved a spot in the college football playoffs, but coming into this year there’s no doubt the national championship is in the conversation for the Horned Frogs.

Quarterback Trevon Boykin will be poised to be a superstar in his senior season while the weapons surrounding him will also help the cause. The defense will lose stud line backer Phil Dawson, but still returns six starters including free safety Chris Hackett.

Expect TCU to take care of business against West Virginia.

Game Eight: vs. Texas Tech at Mountaineer Field

The Red Raiders are coming off a disappointing 4-8 season. The offense returns eight starters, but the quarterback situation is up in the air. The defense still has holes, but expect the unit to be slightly better than last season.

Overall, the Red Raider will be an average team and West Virginia will win with little hiccup.

After these four games, I have West Virginia sitting at 5-3. Good? Bad? Way off? Let me know your thoughts, WVU fans.