West Virginia Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017
By Phil Poling
The Oklahoma Sooners delivered a humbling beat down to West Virginia last year by a score of 56-28. Following the loss, the ‘Eers dropped to 8-2 overall, but still had a chance at a double-digit win season.
That was 2016 though, this is 2017. New year, new me, right? Right.
Oklahoma’s offense will be completely different this season after losing 1,000-yard running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine. Heisman finalist Dede Westbrook is also gone, leaving Baker Mayfield to run the show all by himself.
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I shouldn’t go that far. Baker Mayfield will be left running the show with tight end Mark Andrews. Andrews is currently one of the most gifted tight ends in college football and will be making plays on Sundays in the future. He stands 6-foot-5 and dons a 250-pound frame, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
The Mountaineers have a number of defenders to slow Andrews, though. Kyzir White could see one-on-one matchups with the Sooner tight end, but also linebackers Al-Rasheed Benton and Brendan Ferns in zone coverage.
After a letdown in Morgantown against the Longhorns, expect the ‘Eers to bounce back in a big way by defeating the rival Sooners in Norman. Dana Holgorsen gets quarterback Will Grier back on track and the running game is too much for an Oklahoma team that misses Bob Stoops.