October has been either trick-or-treat for the West Virginia football team, going 11-11 since Dana Holgorsen took over in 2011. Will this year follow suit?
The Mountaineers were treated to a 3-1 record in October during Holgorsen’s first season as head coach, but struggled the following two years in October, going only 1-5. Things got back on track in 2014 when they went 4-0, but in October of 2015 they failed to win a single game, going 0-4.
In 2016, the Mountaineers went 3-1 in October.
This tenth month is either make-or-break for Holgorsen and the Mountaineers, evidenced by his previous six seasons. And after a 3-1 record to start the 2017 campaign, the Mountaineers travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for their biggest test of the season: the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs.
Ready to leap into some bold predictions?
5. Mountaineers win in Fort Worth
It’s been some time since ESPN’s College GameDay has featured two Big 12 teams, but all that changes on Saturday, Oct. 7 when the Horned Frogs host the Mountaineers.
Gary Patterson and TCU are coming off an impressive 13-point win against Oklahoma State, improving their record to 4-0 on the year. But Holgorsen and the Mountaineers are fresh off a bye week and looking to make a statement.
WVU’s season-opening loss to Virginia Tech hindered their chances at a College Football Playoff run early on, but a win against a top-ten TCU team could catapult them right back into the conversation. After all, the Big 12 does have a championship game in 2017.
The Mountaineers run defense has been up-and-down this season, and they’ll be put to the test again against TCU. Against Oklahoma State, TCU running back Darius Anderson toted the rock 26 times and compiled 160 yards and three scores. Four other runners — including quarterback Kenny Hill — had runs of 15 yards or more.
Senior linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton’s set the tone for Tony Gibson’s defense, totaling 12 tackles and an interception, but he’ll need more help to slow the Horned Frogs’ attack. That help will come in the form of freshman Lamonte McDougle, who received a SaturdayBlitz game ball after his performance against Kansas. Mike Daniels and Dylan Tonkery also proved their defensive worth against Kansas and will look to build off that success.