Alex Dunlap
Something tells me that Texas wins at home, but I'm not ready to give this team that kind of credit as a whole. This team is better than Tech and Texas tried to give that game away numerous times. The game will stay close due to D'Onta Foreman running for 150+ yards and a few touchdowns, but an experienced if less-talented-than-2015 WVU defense will be opportunistic against a freshman QB when the Texas offensive staff inevitably gets away from the run at times it shouldn't. Joe Wickline will have the WVU offensive staff completely briefed on how to attack some of the inexperienced defensive personnel on the Texas side that he is very familiar with from his time in Austin.
West Virginia 42 - Texas 35
Geoff Ketchum
Every time I go left on this team, it goes right, and every time I go right, it goes left. It's one of the reasons why a week ago, I flipped my pick from Texas Tech to Texas, as I assumed that I should simply go the opposite direction of my instincts after looking at my record of predicting this team. Ok, so this week my gut tells me that Texas wins, which means I should probably go with West Virginia, but the bottom line for me is that the Mountaineers are just an ok football team and the Longhorns have played pretty damn well at home against ok teams this year. I expect D'Onta Foreman to run for 150+ and the Texas defense will do enough to get the team over the hump in the second half. If you believe this team is starting to come into its own a little, this is a game it should flex some muscle in.
Texas 34 - West Virginia 27
Dustin McComas
This is a tough call, and it's not surprising that the Las Vegas line is just Texas by two. On one hand, the metrics really like West Virginia, who is No. 21 in F/+ overall with solid offensive and defensive rankings, and beat itself at Oklahoma State. On the other hand, West Virginia's schedule up to this point has been pretty weak.
What West Virginia will present on paper is a defense that stops the run, and is great at bend but don't break. The Mountaineers have an offense with a talented running back and a lot of speed and play-making on the outside. Offensively, West Virginia will run and take shots down the field against a Texas secondary that's struggled.
Can Texas force turnovers? That's where West Virginia really struggles, and it's affected its red zone scoring significantly. The only game Skyler Howard threw two interceptions in is the only loss on West Virginia's schedule. I'm not confident enough in Texas at this point to force three or more turnovers, and West Virginia's defense could get Texas to settle for kicks enough to leave Austin with a win.
West Virginia 34 - Texas 31
Anwar Richardson
It seems like every time I am ready to drink the Kool Aid, it sends up spilling all over my white shirt and pants. The last time I had a perfectly good rationale ruined, Kansas State dumped purple Kool Aid all over my outfit.
Yes, Texas is playing at home, and we know the Longhorns are undefeated at DKR. The Longhorns have won four consecutive games against top 12 teams. D'Onta Foreman is running like a player worthy of being in the Heisman conversation. Malik Jefferson is playing better. Heck, cornerback John Bonney is making plays. Texas is one win away from becoming bowl eligible. I can continue to the list of reasons why Texas looks like a better team that can pull of a win.
However, West Virginia's defense is holding opponents to 20.6 points per game, which is second in the Big 12 Conference and 20th nationally. The Mountaineers also rank No. 28 in pass efficiency. This game has the chance to be a defensive battle.
If I stay with my theme of "seeing is believing", let us see how this team handles success. Over the past few years, Texas has struggled after big wins, which is why this team's longest win streak was three games in 2014.
I am almost ready to start predicting Texas wins again, but let me get my clothes out the cleaners first.
West Virginia 35 - Texas 34
Jason Suchomel
This feels like so many other games - two average to slightly above average teams battling it out. Texas and WVU are pretty even on paper, and I favor the Longhorns playing at home.
West Virginia will be one of the toughest defenses Texas will face all year, but I expect the Longhorns will be able to run it fairly effectively and make enough big plays in the passing game to get into the 30s.
On the flipside, WVU runs a pretty balanced offensive attack, but the Mountaineers have given up pressure on QB Skyler Howard when other teams have come with blitzes. This could be a game when guys like Breckyn Hager and Malcolm Roach are able to apply pressure off the edge, or Texas could decide to bring pressure with its safeties.
It should be close, but give me Texas winning its third in a row.
Texas 34 - West Virginia 31
Something tells me that Texas wins at home, but I'm not ready to give this team that kind of credit as a whole. This team is better than Tech and Texas tried to give that game away numerous times. The game will stay close due to D'Onta Foreman running for 150+ yards and a few touchdowns, but an experienced if less-talented-than-2015 WVU defense will be opportunistic against a freshman QB when the Texas offensive staff inevitably gets away from the run at times it shouldn't. Joe Wickline will have the WVU offensive staff completely briefed on how to attack some of the inexperienced defensive personnel on the Texas side that he is very familiar with from his time in Austin.
West Virginia 42 - Texas 35
Geoff Ketchum
Every time I go left on this team, it goes right, and every time I go right, it goes left. It's one of the reasons why a week ago, I flipped my pick from Texas Tech to Texas, as I assumed that I should simply go the opposite direction of my instincts after looking at my record of predicting this team. Ok, so this week my gut tells me that Texas wins, which means I should probably go with West Virginia, but the bottom line for me is that the Mountaineers are just an ok football team and the Longhorns have played pretty damn well at home against ok teams this year. I expect D'Onta Foreman to run for 150+ and the Texas defense will do enough to get the team over the hump in the second half. If you believe this team is starting to come into its own a little, this is a game it should flex some muscle in.
Texas 34 - West Virginia 27
Dustin McComas
This is a tough call, and it's not surprising that the Las Vegas line is just Texas by two. On one hand, the metrics really like West Virginia, who is No. 21 in F/+ overall with solid offensive and defensive rankings, and beat itself at Oklahoma State. On the other hand, West Virginia's schedule up to this point has been pretty weak.
What West Virginia will present on paper is a defense that stops the run, and is great at bend but don't break. The Mountaineers have an offense with a talented running back and a lot of speed and play-making on the outside. Offensively, West Virginia will run and take shots down the field against a Texas secondary that's struggled.
Can Texas force turnovers? That's where West Virginia really struggles, and it's affected its red zone scoring significantly. The only game Skyler Howard threw two interceptions in is the only loss on West Virginia's schedule. I'm not confident enough in Texas at this point to force three or more turnovers, and West Virginia's defense could get Texas to settle for kicks enough to leave Austin with a win.
West Virginia 34 - Texas 31
Anwar Richardson
It seems like every time I am ready to drink the Kool Aid, it sends up spilling all over my white shirt and pants. The last time I had a perfectly good rationale ruined, Kansas State dumped purple Kool Aid all over my outfit.
Yes, Texas is playing at home, and we know the Longhorns are undefeated at DKR. The Longhorns have won four consecutive games against top 12 teams. D'Onta Foreman is running like a player worthy of being in the Heisman conversation. Malik Jefferson is playing better. Heck, cornerback John Bonney is making plays. Texas is one win away from becoming bowl eligible. I can continue to the list of reasons why Texas looks like a better team that can pull of a win.
However, West Virginia's defense is holding opponents to 20.6 points per game, which is second in the Big 12 Conference and 20th nationally. The Mountaineers also rank No. 28 in pass efficiency. This game has the chance to be a defensive battle.
If I stay with my theme of "seeing is believing", let us see how this team handles success. Over the past few years, Texas has struggled after big wins, which is why this team's longest win streak was three games in 2014.
I am almost ready to start predicting Texas wins again, but let me get my clothes out the cleaners first.
West Virginia 35 - Texas 34
Jason Suchomel
This feels like so many other games - two average to slightly above average teams battling it out. Texas and WVU are pretty even on paper, and I favor the Longhorns playing at home.
West Virginia will be one of the toughest defenses Texas will face all year, but I expect the Longhorns will be able to run it fairly effectively and make enough big plays in the passing game to get into the 30s.
On the flipside, WVU runs a pretty balanced offensive attack, but the Mountaineers have given up pressure on QB Skyler Howard when other teams have come with blitzes. This could be a game when guys like Breckyn Hager and Malcolm Roach are able to apply pressure off the edge, or Texas could decide to bring pressure with its safeties.
It should be close, but give me Texas winning its third in a row.
Texas 34 - West Virginia 31
