Baylor Football: Can Bears be stingy again vs. West Virginia?

There’s no room for error for the West Virginia Mountaineers in the playoff race at this point with a potential trap looming in Baylor football.

In a meeting between two nearly formed conference foes that featured some of the highest scoring affairs in the nation a few years back, relevance was brought back to each team. Baylor football and the West Virginia Mountaineers played in some hotly contested games since the first two programs met for the first time ever back in 2012.

West Virginia toppled Baylor football the first time these two teams met by the final score of 70-63. The following meeting between West Virginia and Baylor saw a different victor by the final score of 73-42. The 2015 meeting between these teams was the last time that the score got really out of control, when Baylor won 62-38.

While some of the point totals in Baylor-West Virginia calmed down over the past two years, another high scoring affair could be on tap on Oct. 25. West Virginia is a two touchdown favorite over the Bears and the over/under is set at 67 points.

This is a pivotal game for the Bears and Mountaineers that has a ton at stake for each squad. West Virginia is looking to avoid the upset from Baylor to stay alive in the race for the Big 12 Title and College Football Playoff contention. Meanwhile, Baylor is looking to get to the point of bowl eligibility and keep improving its win totals from the 2017 campaign.

Head Baylor football coach Matt Rhule is leading one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation this year, coming off a one-win season in 2017. An upset of West Virginia would be a signature victory that Rhule can truly hang his hat on. That would also get Baylor one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.

The loss to the Iowa State Cyclones in Week 7 put a pin in the Playoff and conference title hopes of West Virginia. However, head coach Dana Holgorsen still has superstar quarterback Will Grier and an electric offense at his disposal.

Don’t count out West Virginia down the stretch with one of its toughest road games out of the way for the regular season slate. Baylor should be one that the Mountaineers can attain pretty easily, but Rhule’s team was also tough for the No. 7 Texas Longhorns in Week 7.

West Virginia can add a quality win to its resume on the national stage on a weeknight game on Oct. 25. It can be the gain of respect that the Mountaineers are looking for after getting handled by Iowa State. And, West Virginia can put a cap on Baylor playing them close from the past two years if it wins by at least two possession margin.