West Virginia Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 05: Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia Mountaineers prepare to take the field against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game on November 5, 2016 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 05: Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia Mountaineers prepare to take the field against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game on November 5, 2016 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 24: Quarterback Daniel Epperson #11 of the Delaware State Hornets scrambles during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 24: Quarterback Daniel Epperson #11 of the Delaware State Hornets scrambles during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Delaware State went winless in 2016, including an 0-8 record in the MEAC. Second-year Hornets’ head coach Kenny Carter’s out-of-conference schedule in 2017 is tougher than many Power Five programs, though. Along with playing the Mountaineers, they’ll face off against in-state rival Delaware, Florida State and South Carolina State. They might not win many games, but they’ll certainly play some heavy hitters this upcoming year.

Their first big contest comes against the Mountaineers in Morgantown on Sept. 16. A tune-up game for the Mountaineers before getting into conference play, they should take care of business against the Hornets for a third consecutive win to start the year.

Related Story: West Virginia Football: Projected depth chart for 2017

Delaware State played three quarterbacks a year ago, all combining for 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. They averaged only 14.7 points per game due to an offense that couldn’t run or pass the ball. The Hornets averaged 128.4 yards on the ground and only 162.9 in the air. Justin Crawford and Gary Jennings will rack those numbers up against Delaware State by themselves.

Could an upset happen? No. We’re not even going to entertain that. I’m not even sure Delaware State will make the trip to Morgantown. Assuming things go according to plan, they’ll come, they’ll see the beautiful hills of West Virginia and they’ll leave with a bag of the state’s famous pepperoni rolls and a big loss on their resume. College is all about experiences though, right?

Prediction: Delaware State 13, WVU 48 (3-0)