West Virginia Football: Mountaineers can use bye to build for huge TCU matchup

West Virginia football gets its biggest challenge of the 2017 campaign, on Oct. 7, since the season opener against the TCU Horned Frogs.

The West Virginia Mountaineers got themselves back into the AP Top 25 after a convincing win over the Kansas Jayhawks, 56-34. Head coach Dana Holgorsen gets his first major conference action for the year when the Mountaineers take on the No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs.

West Virginia is entering its first bye week of the season. They’re riding a three-game winning streak from victories over Delaware State, East Carolina, and Kansas. They have a renewed confidence and momentum generated since their season opening loss to the No. 12 Virginia Tech Hokies.

Quarterback Will Grier had another big game against the Jayhawks last week with nearly 400 passing yards and four total touchdowns with just one interception. The ground game was even better for the Mountaineers.

They’ll need the entire offense playing well against the Frogs if they want to come away with a victory. This matchup between West Virginia and TCU in Week 6 will be the biggest game in the Big 12 that weekend. TCU also has a bye week this in Week 5.

Ultimately, this will be a battle between two of the more underrated head coaches in the Big 12. Holgorsen finally has his Mountaineers competing at the top of the conference each year. And, TCU head coach Gary Patterson showed in Week 4 why he should not be forgotten.

TCU made a statement in Week 4 with their 13-point victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. As a pretty heavy underdog entering the matchup, TCU ended up shutting down one of the most explosive offenses in the country. West Virginia needs to learn from that and know that if the Frogs can shut down Oklahoma State, they could do the same to the Mountaineers.

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Preparation is key for the Mountaineers, as that is what cost the Pokes against TCU. The Frogs have talent and speed on both sides of the ball and a running back in Darius Anderson that can break games wide open. This is a great chance for West Virginia to establish themselves as one of the top two teams in the Big 12, alongside the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners.