With eight games down and just four games to go — I have the Mountaineers showing a 5-3 record after part one and two of this series.
The final stretch isn’t as challenging, but can the Mountaineers cap off the 2015 season on a positive note?
Game Nine: vs. Texas at Mountaineer Field
Texas is going to be a very good team this season. Charlie Strong will have his troops in good shape at this point in the season and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Longhorns in, or within, reach of the Big 12 title picture by this time.
The offensive line will be a test for West Virginia’s pass rushers, while the Longhorns’ secondary could give the Mountaineers fits as well. The ground game will be a key if Dana Holgorsen’s offense wants to put up points.
I believe, however, that the Longhorns will beat West Virginia on their home field just as they did 2013.
Game Ten: vs. Kansas at Memorial Stadium
Remember when Kansas downed West Virginia in 2013 and fans rushed the field, and then head coach Charlie Weis received a gatoraid bath? Yeah, that won’t happen again.
Kansas football just isn’t relevant and in 2015 it’ll remain that way. Under new guidance with head coach David Beaty, the Jayhawks will finish near, if not at, the bottom of the conference. Kansas will boast a good-looking bunch of running backs, but it won’t be enough to compete against powerhouse teams in the Big 12.
In what will be West Virginia’s easiest conference game — the Mountaineers handle the Jayhawks.
Game Eleven: vs. Iowa State at Mountaineer Field
Iowa State went winless in the Big 12 conference last season and in 2015 it will be the same struggle for the Cyclones. They do, however, have a lot of returning talent on defense and may be able to surprise and upset a team like Oklahoma State or Texas.
Overall, though, the Cyclones maybe win two conference games this year, but one of them will not be against West Virginia.
Game Twelve: vs. Kansas State at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Losing quarterback Jake Waters and standout wide receiver Tyler Lockett will not help Kansas State’s cause in 2015. The Wildcats will still contend, though. Head coach Bill Snyder always has a solid unit and while they won’t be a dominant force, they will cause a lot of teams trouble.
This may be the toughest pick for me in this series. As much as I believe West Virginia’s defense can stifle the Wildcats’ offense, it’s going to be a close one. I’m going Kansas State just because their the home team.
At the end of the 2015 season, I have West Virginia 7-5. A winning record and enough to play in a respectable bowl game. There’s a lot of toss ups on the schedule and no matter how hard anybody tries, with college football things just aren’t predictable.
That’s, that, though. Any input from other Mountaineer-faithfuls? Am I full of it? Am I right on the money?