West Virginia Football: 2017 season preview and predictions
2017 schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 3 | vs. Virginia Tech | Landover, MD |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. East Carolina | Morgantown, WV |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | vs. Delaware State | Morgantown, WV |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | at Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | BYE | |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | at TCU | Fort Worth, TX |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | vs. Texas Tech | Morgantown, WV |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Baylor | Waco, TX |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. Oklahoma State | Morgantown, WV |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | vs. Iowa State | Morgantown, WV |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at Kansas State | Manhattan, KS |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | vs. Texas | Morgantown, WV |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | at Oklahoma | Norman, OK |
Opening the season with an up-and-coming Virginia Tech team at a neutral site could set the tone for the rest of West Virginia’s 2017 season. If the Mountaineers come to play and fight hard to get the win, they could use that as a momentum-builder and it could lead to six more wins in a row before facing Oklahoma State.
However, it’s not that easy. The Hokies will also be replacing a talented starting quarterback, but their defense may be slightly ahead of where West Virginia’s is right now. It’s a relatively evenly-matched game and should be one of the best of Week 1.
The conference schedule for West Virginia is tough, but it’s not overwhelming. The Mountaineers get potential Big 12 favorite Oklahoma State at home but the other top dog, Oklahoma, on the road to end the year. Kansas State, Baylor and TCU all account for tough conference road games while each home contest is winnable.
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Prediction: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
When you look at the schedule, it’s not overly daunting, especially since last year’s team fared well against each opponent on this year’s schedule. A neural game against Virginia isn’t going to be easy, but that one’s a toss-up. The Mountaineers should win the next three games easily and head into the bye with a potential 4-0 record. They’re good enough to start 7-0, but there’s likely to be a trip-up, or two, on the road.
Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are the two sure losses while I could also see them struggling at Kansas State, at Baylor and at TCU. An 8-4 record isn’t a failure, but it’s something Holgorsen wants to avoid letting cause a downward spiral.