The WVU football team finds itself at a crossroads for the season. It’s still early, but this next game can define the Mountaineers fate moving forward.
The Mountaineers are ranked in the top 25 and the TCU Horned Frogs are ranked in the top 10. A win by either team keeps them undefeated in the Big 12 Conference for at least another week. So far, the Mountaineers and Horned Frogs have proven that they can be contenders for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
A win on Saturday further helps their cause. If TCU wins, it can inch closer to a spot in the College Football Playoff. Heck, the Mountaineers may have a chance if they win out. But, that would mean a win at TCU would be necessary.
The WVU football team is traveling to Ft. Worth for its second true road game of the year. The Mountaineers struggled at times on the road at Kansas, but the visiting fans weren’t a factor in a half-empty stadium in Lawrence. The Mountaineers will be going up against 40-some thousand fans in a sold out environment.
The TCU fans will already be riled up because ESPN’s College Gameday is broadcasting from campus. The day looks to be absolutely perfect with temperatures reaching the lows 80s. There won’t be a cloud in the sky and not even a small chance of rain, according to weather.com.
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One of the reasons for the WVU football team’s struggles in Kansas were supposedly the 90-degree temperatures on a late September afternoon. Warmups may be a tad on the chilly side in the morning in Ft. Worth, but beyond that it should be comfortable for the Mountaineers.
The WVU football team and TCU are tied 3-3 in the all-time series standings, with the Mountaineers winning the most recent match up last year in Morgantown. If West Virginia wants to have the upperhand in the all-time series it will have to stop the run. That won’t be an easy task against a solid rushing corps and quarterback Kenny Hill is about as athletic as they come.
Will Grier can’t afford to make any mistakes against the Horned Frogs, because the West Virginia defense hasn’t proven that it can stop anyone just yet. An interception here or a fumbled snap there will doom the Mountaineers.
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Because there isn’t a good chance that the WVU football team can play completely mistake-free, the Horned Frogs should win this one. An easy bet would be picking Lee Corso to pick TCU, too.
PREDICTION: TCU 48, WVU 35.