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Game Preview: WVU vs. Baylor
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<blockquote data-quote="Cuyahoga Falls Eers_rivals" data-source="post: 130087234" data-attributes="member: 1759980"><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: #ff0000">The Preview says the game is on Fox Sports 2.</span></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">But when I set up my recording on my Spectrum (previously Time Warner) cable guide, it's on Fox Sports 1. </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">Could it be on 1 or 2 depending on where you're watching it? In any case, this is fair warning to WVU fans. If you don't find it on 1, try 2, or vice versa. </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">I'll be watching live, but I also like to record it so that I can analyze it after a day or two. I find that I see things I missed the first time around. And it gives me a chance to slow-mo key plays to better analyze them.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">Once a sportswriter, always a sportswriter, I guess.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">M istakes by special teams + absence of Simms & Long = loss to Virginia Tech, 31-24</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">O bliterated East Carolina, 56-20</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">U nhinged Delaware State, 59-16</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">N ot sharp but beat Kansas, 56-34</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">T ops statistically but tough loss to TCU, 31-24</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">A mbushed Texas Tech, 46-35, with 20:49 minute goose egg</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">I ncinerate Baylor</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">N ullify Oklahoma State</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">E rectile dysfunction Iowa State</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">E masculate Kansas State</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">R eam Texas </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">S hock Oklahoma</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><img src="https://res-1.cloudinary.com/rivals/image/upload/t_large/ymz2t0kryi0w9crfxwkw" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">The line of scrimmage will be a key element in this match up.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>POINTS TO CLICK:</em></strong></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Get the Waco monkey off the back.</em></strong> Yes, Baylor has struggled this season – not winning a game through the first six will do that for you. But there is no denying that the Bears have played much better at home and have been in every single game this year with a chance to win. On the flipside, West Virginia has never won in Waco and has been beaten soundly in the previous two trips with an average loss of almost 30-points per contest while giving up close to 70-points per game. No, this isn’t the typical explosive Baylor offensive attack but the Bears have shown that they can still score points surpassing the 40-point barrier twice this season already. If West Virginia truly wants to factor into the conference championship race this is a game that the Mountaineers can’t lose. But in order to do that they will have to do something that’s avoided them in the previous two trips – beat the Bears on the road.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Start fast.</em></strong> The best way to avoid letting a team that you’re favored against to believe it has a chance to win, especially on the road – is play your way into it. By that I mean a sluggish start that allows the opponent to get momentum and make a game tight if that continues into the fourth quarter. While Baylor has yet to get a win this season, the Bears have been close in five games. This is a team that is more than capable of beating West Virginia if the Mountaineers come out lethargic. Head Coach Matt Rhule has won 25 straight games when his team is leading or tied in the fourth quarter and is 26-4 overall in those type of situations. Don’t let the Bears hang around.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Establish the run.</em></strong> Baylor is struggling to stop the run, giving up 241 yards per game on the ground a mark that is near the bottom of college football. West Virginia was able to effectively run the football through the first five games, but struggled a week ago against Texas Tech generating only 44 yards, the worst mark since the season opener against Alabama in 2014. It will be key for the Mountaineers to get the running game jumpstarted in this one, getting senior running back Justin Crawford back in the groove and helping to provide the balance that has made this offense one of the nation’s best.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">--<strong><em>Stop the run. </em></strong>This Baylor team will attempt to establish a power run game and control the line of scrimmage and while the transition from the spread offense to that has come slow, the Bears still are plenty capable of moving the football on the ground. The Mountaineers are allowing 210 yards per game themselves and if the defense can keep Baylor behind the chains it will allow defensive coordinator Tony Gibson to bring a number of exotic looks and pressures to get after quarterback Zach Smith. The sophomore has played well at times, but also has been turnover prone in the face of pressure. West Virginia can get to that point if it can win up front.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Use your experience</em>.</strong> Baylor is one of the youngest teams in the nation with 16 true freshmen that have played in games this season and a total of ten on the depth chart with multiple starters on both sides of the ball. West Virginia has been in a position of being the younger team in this matchup before, but the Mountaineers will have an advantage in experience and can use that to its advantage. Emotions will run high here, but the Mountaineers should be prepared to handle it on both sides.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Special teams</em></strong>. Just go ahead and take out a space for this point every week, because it’s going to be there. Special teams have been a sore subject at times this year for West Virginia as the Mountaineers have struggled in different areas throughout the year. However, the unit is coming off a solid performance against Texas Tech with only a 27-yard punt to give the Red Raiders a short field and a conversion on a fake punt where they might have been a hold that was not called. Kickoff team was better, redshirt senior Mike Molina connected on his longest field goal attempt of the year and the punt return team generated 23-yards, 16 less than all of last season. Things are progressing but the Mountaineers must continue to play well if they want to win on the road.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>--Turnovers.</em></strong> West Virginia is 83-12 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle which is a very telling sign. The Mountaineers will need to take care of the football if they want to win this game on the road. The best way to give a team that isn’t as talented some life is to literally give the football to them. West Virginia can’t afford to play sloppy on the road against a Baylor team that hasn’t won all season.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cuyahoga Falls Eers_rivals, post: 130087234, member: 1759980"] [B][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000]The Preview says the game is on Fox Sports 2.[/COLOR][/SIZE] [COLOR=#ff0000] But when I set up my recording on my Spectrum (previously Time Warner) cable guide, it's on Fox Sports 1. Could it be on 1 or 2 depending on where you're watching it? In any case, this is fair warning to WVU fans. If you don't find it on 1, try 2, or vice versa. I'll be watching live, but I also like to record it so that I can analyze it after a day or two. I find that I see things I missed the first time around. And it gives me a chance to slow-mo key plays to better analyze them. Once a sportswriter, always a sportswriter, I guess. M istakes by special teams + absence of Simms & Long = loss to Virginia Tech, 31-24 O bliterated East Carolina, 56-20 U nhinged Delaware State, 59-16 N ot sharp but beat Kansas, 56-34 T ops statistically but tough loss to TCU, 31-24 A mbushed Texas Tech, 46-35, with 20:49 minute goose egg I ncinerate Baylor N ullify Oklahoma State E rectile dysfunction Iowa State E masculate Kansas State R eam Texas S hock Oklahoma [IMG]https://res-1.cloudinary.com/rivals/image/upload/t_large/ymz2t0kryi0w9crfxwkw[/IMG] The line of scrimmage will be a key element in this match up. [B][I]POINTS TO CLICK:[/I][/B] [B][I]--Get the Waco monkey off the back.[/I][/B] Yes, Baylor has struggled this season – not winning a game through the first six will do that for you. But there is no denying that the Bears have played much better at home and have been in every single game this year with a chance to win. On the flipside, West Virginia has never won in Waco and has been beaten soundly in the previous two trips with an average loss of almost 30-points per contest while giving up close to 70-points per game. No, this isn’t the typical explosive Baylor offensive attack but the Bears have shown that they can still score points surpassing the 40-point barrier twice this season already. If West Virginia truly wants to factor into the conference championship race this is a game that the Mountaineers can’t lose. But in order to do that they will have to do something that’s avoided them in the previous two trips – beat the Bears on the road. [B][I]--Start fast.[/I][/B] The best way to avoid letting a team that you’re favored against to believe it has a chance to win, especially on the road – is play your way into it. By that I mean a sluggish start that allows the opponent to get momentum and make a game tight if that continues into the fourth quarter. While Baylor has yet to get a win this season, the Bears have been close in five games. This is a team that is more than capable of beating West Virginia if the Mountaineers come out lethargic. Head Coach Matt Rhule has won 25 straight games when his team is leading or tied in the fourth quarter and is 26-4 overall in those type of situations. Don’t let the Bears hang around. [B][I]--Establish the run.[/I][/B] Baylor is struggling to stop the run, giving up 241 yards per game on the ground a mark that is near the bottom of college football. West Virginia was able to effectively run the football through the first five games, but struggled a week ago against Texas Tech generating only 44 yards, the worst mark since the season opener against Alabama in 2014. It will be key for the Mountaineers to get the running game jumpstarted in this one, getting senior running back Justin Crawford back in the groove and helping to provide the balance that has made this offense one of the nation’s best. --[B][I]Stop the run. [/I][/B]This Baylor team will attempt to establish a power run game and control the line of scrimmage and while the transition from the spread offense to that has come slow, the Bears still are plenty capable of moving the football on the ground. The Mountaineers are allowing 210 yards per game themselves and if the defense can keep Baylor behind the chains it will allow defensive coordinator Tony Gibson to bring a number of exotic looks and pressures to get after quarterback Zach Smith. The sophomore has played well at times, but also has been turnover prone in the face of pressure. West Virginia can get to that point if it can win up front. [B][I]--Use your experience[/I].[/B] Baylor is one of the youngest teams in the nation with 16 true freshmen that have played in games this season and a total of ten on the depth chart with multiple starters on both sides of the ball. West Virginia has been in a position of being the younger team in this matchup before, but the Mountaineers will have an advantage in experience and can use that to its advantage. Emotions will run high here, but the Mountaineers should be prepared to handle it on both sides. [B][I]--Special teams[/I][/B]. Just go ahead and take out a space for this point every week, because it’s going to be there. Special teams have been a sore subject at times this year for West Virginia as the Mountaineers have struggled in different areas throughout the year. However, the unit is coming off a solid performance against Texas Tech with only a 27-yard punt to give the Red Raiders a short field and a conversion on a fake punt where they might have been a hold that was not called. Kickoff team was better, redshirt senior Mike Molina connected on his longest field goal attempt of the year and the punt return team generated 23-yards, 16 less than all of last season. Things are progressing but the Mountaineers must continue to play well if they want to win on the road. [B][I]--Turnovers.[/I][/B] West Virginia is 83-12 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle which is a very telling sign. The Mountaineers will need to take care of the football if they want to win this game on the road. The best way to give a team that isn’t as talented some life is to literally give the football to them. West Virginia can’t afford to play sloppy on the road against a Baylor team that hasn’t won all season. [/COLOR][/B] [/QUOTE]
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