West Virginia football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season
By Phil Poling
874. Scouting Report. Lubbock (Texas). Texas Tech Red Raiders. 5. Pick Analysis. Oct. 24. player
When West Virginia travels to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech, it’ll be the first time in 2020 that they’ll play in consecutive weeks. This could be good or bad for the Mountaineers, depending how the first couple games go. Are they healthy? Is the offense moving the ball? Is the defense getting positioned correctly? All of those things regularly matter, but on a shorter turn-around, there’ll be less time to work out the kinks.
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Neal Brown’s first bout with Texas Tech got away from him early, as the Mountaineers surrendered 21 first quarter points in last year’s contest. Tack on the 14 the Red Raiders scored in the second quarter and the Mountaineers looked finished at halftime.
West Virginia scored 17 by the game’s end, but the damage was done. Texas Tech piled up 481 yards and didn’t turn the ball over a single time. I wouldn’t expect the same outcome, or even a similar one, in 2020, though. The Mountaineers will be back for revenge, and even if they’re not successful in notching a win, they’ll compete for their head coach.
Prediction: West Virginia 37, Texas Tech 33 (4-1, 3-1)
Scouting Report. Oct. 31. 6. Pick Analysis. Morgantown (W.V.). Kansas State Wildcats. player. 823
West Virginia snapped their five-game losing streak last season when they traveled to Manhattan to take on the Wildcats. They made it interesting, too, needing at least six points in the final stanza to tie things up; they scored 10 in the fourth and won, 24-20.
It was Jarrett Doege’s first start for the Mountaineers, and the Bowling Green State transfer came through in a big way. He compiled 234 passing yards and three scores while completing 67 percent of his throws. One could certainly claim the Wildcats weren’t prepared for Doege, but they still had a 10-point leading heading into the fourth. And the ‘Eers best receiver to that point in the season, Sam James, was a non-factor with just one catch for four yards.
I wouldn’t expect that type of performance from James ever again, honestly, but even if he doesn’t produce at his usual clip, the pieces surrounding him are better than a year ago.
Prediction: West Virginia 21, Kansas State 17 (5-1, 4-1)