West Virginia football finished 4-0 in September and landed in the Top 10. Here are 5 bold predictions for how they’ll fare in October.
Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers opened the 2018 season against the Tennessee Volunteers in a neutral-site game in Charlotte, North Carolina. West Virginia dominated their SEC-opponent, winning 40-14. Quarterback Will Grier kicked off his Heisman campaign with an impressive outing, throwing for over 400 yards and totaling five touchdown passes.
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West Virginia played host to Youngstown State in Week 2 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. Grier & Co. were at it again, hanging 52 points on the Penguins in a 52-17 victory. Grier went over 300 yards for the second-consecutive week, but the ‘Eers also received a boost from freshman running back Leddie Brown, who amassed 115 yards and a score on the ground.
Their Week 3 game with North Carolina State was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence, but the ‘Eers used the week off to prepare for their first Big 12 contest – a matchup with Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats.
The Wildcats were tamed rather easily, with West Virginia not allowing a single touchdown. They did, however, surrender two field goals. With a score of 35-6, though, the Mountaineers were off to a great start in conference play.
The Mountaineers first big test happened in Week 5 against No. 25 Texas Tech on the road. The offenses seemed to take turns scoring rather than battling at the same time, though, as West Virginia scored 35 points in the first half and only seven in the second. Texas Tech, on the other hand, managed only 10 in the first half but exploded for 24 points in the second. West Virginia narrowly escaped, winning 42-35, but a conference win on the road against a ranked team should bolster their resume.
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With upcoming games against Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor, what should be expected of Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers? Can the offense become a more-balanced attack? Will the defense continue to make strides? Can Grier keep up his stellar play?