West Virginia Football: Game preview, prediction, live stream vs. TCU

West Virginia football and TCU square off on Saturday in a battle of AP Top 25 teams. What will happen in this Big 12 showdown?

Since losing its season opener in a close 31-24 showdown against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, West Virginia has quietly played its way back among the contenders in the Big 12. The Mountaineers have won with offense, scoring at least 56 points in three straight games to blow out East Carolina, FCS Delaware State, and Kansas in their Big 12 opener.

This week, the strength of opponent ramps up considerably for Dana Holgorsen’s squad. TCU has racked up decisive wins over Arkansas and SMU in non-conference play and took down Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Three years removed from their snub by the College Football Playoff selection committee, the Horned Frogs are back among the top teams in the Big 12.

Two of the newest teams in the conference square off once again when West Virginia heads on the road to Fort Worth this Saturday. It is a battle of ranked teams, and it earned the ESPN stamp of approval as the College GameDay crew heads to Amon G. Carter Stadium this weekend.

Who will prevail in the showdown of two teams hoping to gain position in both the league and national title races? Keep reading for our preview and prediction for this week’s showdown.

Here’s how to watch Saturday’s game between TCU and West Virginia:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium
TV: FOX Sports 1
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

To win on Saturday, West Virginia needs its offense to step up against another strong TCU defense. The Mountaineers, first and foremost, will need a huge game from Will Grier. The Florida transfer has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of his four games so far. Grier will need to do it again against a Horned Frogs defense giving up around 230 yards per game.

They will also need Jordan Howard to step up and successfully take on one of the stingiest front sevens in the nation. Howard has put up four straight 100-yard games, and he also has touchdowns in three in a row. The Horned Frogs are giving up only 94.5 rushing yards per game, though, and something will have to give. If TCU is going to maintain its spot in the top 10 this week, that defense will need to shut down West Virginia’s high-powered offense.

But that won’t be enough to get the job done. TCU will also need a big performance from Darius Anderson on offense. West Virginia’s secondary has been even stingier than TCU this season, and could stymie Horned Frogs quarterback Kenny Hill. But their rushing defense is among the worst in the country. If TCU wins, it will in large part be because Anderson finishes with a huge stat line.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook Review

Point Spread: TCU -13.5
Over/Under: 69

Prediction

The oddsmakers have installed TCU as a two-touchdown favorite against West Virginia on Saturday at home. Over the past two years, though, this Big 12 matchup has ended in a blowout. Last year, the Mountaineers took down TCU 34-10 in Morgantown. The year before that, it was Gary Patterson’s team that blew out WVU in Fort Worth 40-10.

Honestly, though, we will probably see a much closer game on par with the 2014 edition. That season, TCU hung on for a 31-30 victory on the road that kept them in the College Football Playoff race. Three years later, West Virginia will follow a similar script as they take down the Horned Frogs in Texas.

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Grier will reach the 300-yard mark again, and while Howard will be held under 100 rushing yards the team will finish with over 150 to balloon TCU’s season average on defense. Hill will hit a couple key passes in both directions, throwing two touchdowns but also two interceptions that cost the Horned Frogs critical drives. In the end, Grier will hit receiver David Sills V for the winning touchdown in the final minute to ruin TCU’s shot at a perfect season.

Final Score: West Virginia 38, TCU 33