I think the problem with trying to pick a winner in this game is that both offenses are fantastic and both offenses play their strength against the other's defensive weakness. WVU can score a scary amount of points very quickly and give up just as many points on the defensive end. I can't speak for KSU but from what I can tell there's more balance there than what WVU has. The game will either be a defensive nightmare where the last team to score wins or it will be one team finds themselves up 21 after their defense gets a couple of stops. At that point the game plan goes out the window. This game might be close but it's just as easily a blow-out on either side. WVU's hopes lie in that their game plan is to play like they're down 3 scores at all times and they are home and don't want to be embarrassed again. KSU's hopes are in playing up the underdog card against a team ranked lower than they are and that the WVU players are still a couple hugs away from a psychological recovery after last week's beat-down. Hopefully it will be a well-fought, entertaining game for everyone without anyone getting hurt.
If you're coming to Morgantown for the game be aware that some of the fans can be a little...rough. Please don't let a small minority ruin an otherwise awesome time at a football game.
I don't think WVA can blow KSU out I mean who have they blown out? All of their games against BCS competition have been close with the exception of the Tech game in which obviously WVA was on the wrong end of. Everyone acts like WVA is some kind of thrashing machine but they have not thrased anyone.
These are kids playing college sports not professional athletes. I think almost any college team can lose to any other college team on any given Sunday and likewise, that any team can have an unlikely blowout. I'm not saying it's common but it happens. It's also possible to lose to bad teams and beat good teams based on matchups, injuries, etc. I'm not making excuses for last week; that was an ass-whooping. But the reason we watch college football is because we never know what's going to happen in a given week.
I'm not saying that WVU is a trashing machine; I am saying they have an offense that can score a lot of points from time-to-time. Conceivably you don't think it's possible that KSU comes in a little flat (long road trip, unfamiliar venue) lays an egg in the first few possessions and finds themselves looking at a 3-4 TD hole? Again, these are kids, we don't know how they respond to being in that kind of position. Last week, at TT I believe the WVU players believed that they were in the game until the two late scores in the first half. That rattled their confidence and the game was over at that point. No one believes in the defense, including the coaching staff. No one goes for it on 4th down from their own 35 unless they truly believe their defense can't get off the field. It seemed clear to me that Geno became more concerned with not throwing a pick that actually trying to win the game. Otherwise why throw the ball into the bench on 4th down? Why not give your receiver a chance?
Young players believe hype. WVU was a media darling and they enjoyed the attention a bit too much. We are no longer playing for a national championship so the pressure is off of us. You guys still have a chance to run the table and play for a championship. That's a lot of pressure.
May the best team win this weekend!
