PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY *10* Saturday TOP TICKET
(NCAAF) West Virginia vs. Texas Tech,
Point Spread: 0.00 | -110.00 West Virginia (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 0.00 | -110.00 West Virginia (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: West Va. edged Arizona St. last year 43-42 in the Cactus Bowl to finish 8-5, the school's best record since the Mountaineers went 10-3 in 2011. No. 20 West Virginia is off to a 4-0 start (1-0 in the Big 12) and will visit Lubbock to take on a Texas Tech team which has opened 3-2 (1-1 in Big 12 play). West Va. allowed 32 points to BYU but on the season has allowed a modest 20.0 PPG and will take on a Texas Tech team which averages 649.8 YPG in total offense (2nd), ranks first nationally in first downs and is second in third down conversion success (53 percent), while scoring 55.2 PPG (2nd). This is a classic offense vs. defense showdown.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers may be bragging about their defense these days but they own a balanced offense led by QB Skyler Howard (65.8% for 1272 yards with 7 TDs and 4 INTs) and a running game averaging 187.2 YPG on 4.6 YPC. The RB duo of Crawford (331 yards on 5.5 YPC) and Shell (244 yards on 4.8 YPC) provides a nice balance for Howard. The kicking game is also in good hands, as PK Mike Molina is 14-for-14 on extra points and 5-for-6 on FGs.
Texas Tech: QB Pat Mahomes leads the nation in passing yards per game (454.8) and total offense (487.2 yards per game). He's completed 166 of 228 passes for 2,274 yards with 20 TDs and four INTs, despite being bothered again by an injured shoulder. Mahomes gets very little help from a running game which averages 105.8 YPG (121st) on just 3.6 YPC. The Red Raiders' biggest problem is a defense which allows 38.6 PPG (116th) on 445.0 YPG (99th).
The pick: Texas Tech enters this game having averaged of 60.1 points during its last nine home games but takes on a West Va. defense has recorded more interceptions (five) than TD passes (four) so far in 2016. Kliff Kingsbury's seat in Lubbock keeps getting hotter, as last week's 44-38 loss to Kansas St. has become tiresome. Tech's other loss in 2016 came when the team scored 55 points against Arizona St. but allowed 68 points. Texas Tech lost six times last year and now twice here in 2016. The team averaged 39.1 PPG in those losses and it's getting old. West Va. is 10* play.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers may be bragging about their defense these days but they own a balanced offense led by QB Skyler Howard (65.8% for 1272 yards with 7 TDs and 4 INTs) and a running game averaging 187.2 YPG on 4.6 YPC. The RB duo of Crawford (331 yards on 5.5 YPC) and Shell (244 yards on 4.8 YPC) provides a nice balance for Howard. The kicking game is also in good hands, as PK Mike Molina is 14-for-14 on extra points and 5-for-6 on FGs.
Texas Tech: QB Pat Mahomes leads the nation in passing yards per game (454.8) and total offense (487.2 yards per game). He's completed 166 of 228 passes for 2,274 yards with 20 TDs and four INTs, despite being bothered again by an injured shoulder. Mahomes gets very little help from a running game which averages 105.8 YPG (121st) on just 3.6 YPC. The Red Raiders' biggest problem is a defense which allows 38.6 PPG (116th) on 445.0 YPG (99th).
The pick: Texas Tech enters this game having averaged of 60.1 points during its last nine home games but takes on a West Va. defense has recorded more interceptions (five) than TD passes (four) so far in 2016. Kliff Kingsbury's seat in Lubbock keeps getting hotter, as last week's 44-38 loss to Kansas St. has become tiresome. Tech's other loss in 2016 came when the team scored 55 points against Arizona St. but allowed 68 points. Texas Tech lost six times last year and now twice here in 2016. The team averaged 39.1 PPG in those losses and it's getting old. West Va. is 10* play.
