Between The Eers: WVU Football Game-by-Game Predictions
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 Hello everybody, welcome into another show here on Between the Ears.
00:13 And today as promised, our game by game predictions for
00:17 WVU football here in 2023 on Skylark Island.
00:20 Joining with me is Christopher Hall.
00:22 Yes, you probably already know I put out my article with the game by game
00:27 predictions, but I'm gonna do it again here cuz hey, what the hell, who cares?
00:30 You can only have 14 mock drafts when the NFL comes around.
00:34 She might as well have 14 of these things too, but
00:36 this is the one I'm gonna go by.
00:38 So whatever the article says, forget it, unless it's the same exact thing.
00:42 I'm literally gonna predict these things as we go.
00:44 I didn't predetermine these, and I don't think Chris did either.
00:48 So we're gonna go for it, we're gonna wing it here in a way.
00:51 But first, before we get into the breakdown,
00:55 just a couple quick thoughts on the schedule, Chris.
00:57 Does anything stand out to you?
01:00 Do you like the positioning of some of these games?
01:02 Where are the bye weeks at, home games, away games?
01:05 Is there any tough stretches,
01:06 anything that you found interesting with this year's schedule?
01:09 >> Well, we can start with, let's see, what is that?
01:13 Ten game, yeah, ten game stretch starting with Pitt,
01:17 when he played the rest of the Power Five opponents.
01:21 Schedule's gonna be tough.
01:22 I know we've kind of talked about it, and
01:26 kind of dive into it regardless of reproduction or
01:30 returning starters, whatever it be.
01:33 When you're playing against ten straight Power Five opponents,
01:38 the wear and tear throughout the season, it gets to you.
01:41 So depth every year is always a concern.
01:44 I do like West Virginia's chances in that regard.
01:46 This is the first year that they were really able to retain their players since
01:50 the Porno NIL combo kind of pushed a lot of the young guys when they were started
01:54 making production the last couple years.
01:56 So I do like that scenario for us, we're still very young.
01:59 But I mean, really, we don't know the timing of games.
02:04 I do like the fact that three of the newcomers are in November.
02:09 Again, with depth, don't think they have that quite depth yet.
02:12 You kind of look at BYU with the size they have, and
02:16 historically what they've had over the years.
02:18 That they may be more prepared than the others.
02:21 As far as that's concerned, anything else, not really.
02:25 I just think it's no matter what, I know it's just really those
02:29 plant ten Power Five opponents right off all season long,
02:34 11 starting with Penn State.
02:36 So it's still a brutal schedule for me outside looking in.
02:40 But I do think it lines up with the four newcomers in November,
02:45 helps them a little bit.
02:47 >> Definitely, I mean, the thing to me that really stands out is,
02:52 I think the schedule kind of gradually gets easier as the year goes on.
02:56 A lot due in part because of those newcomers coming in.
03:00 But I mean, your toughest opponent, arguably your toughest opponent,
03:04 at least on paper, heading into the season is week one.
03:07 This Saturday against Penn State, so it should get easier from here on out.
03:12 And I mean, really, Pitt, we don't really know much about them.
03:16 We feel like they're gonna be a decent team, but
03:18 are they as good as what they were a year ago?
03:20 I don't know, West Virginia probably should have won that game last year.
03:23 So there's a lot of question marks with a lot of these big 12 teams.
03:28 And one thing that I noted on Twitter the other day or X, whatever,
03:32 is that you don't have to play the top two teams,
03:35 which everyone believes the top two teams in this league, in Kansas State and Texas.
03:39 That's a huge win.
03:40 You don't play Kansas, who may have one of the better offenses in this league.
03:44 And you don't play Iowa State, who even though they're going through their own
03:47 crap right now with the whole gambling situation,
03:49 that's a team you don't ever wanna play just because what they do defensively and
03:54 how challenging it is to go up against that team and that scheme.
03:58 So that's a really good swap, I think, or a really good ordeal for
04:03 West Virginia to have those four teams out and get the brand new,
04:07 the newcomers into this conference on your schedule in year one.
04:11 So that's a huge plus.
04:13 And I think, like I said, too, schedule should get easier as we get along here.
04:17 So if they can just keep their head above water or stay afloat for
04:21 the first month of the season, which is five games,
04:24 I think they have a chance to get the bowl eligibility.
04:27 So without further ado, let's just get right to it.
04:30 This weekend, yes, I will be making my pick on the game day show,
04:37 but I don't think I'm gonna spoil it here.
04:41 What the hell, let's just do it.
04:43 It is the game by game predictions anyway.
04:45 So I'm going Penn State, it is what it is.
04:48 I think it's just, they're too talented,
04:51 they're too deep on both sides of the ball.
04:55 And I think this is a tough challenge for West Virginia.
04:57 I do think it is gonna be a much more competitive game than what everyone is
05:00 saying it's gonna be.
05:02 So I will give that to WVU.
05:04 I don't think it's gonna be a 20 point blowout.
05:07 I think they keep it within two scoops.
05:10 >> Yeah, I think the biggest is the talent gap.
05:15 When you're talking about starters, the top line of the depth chart,
05:19 I think the talent gap is too much.
05:22 I know quarterback Drew Ellar, he's only thrown I think 65 passes on the year.
05:29 He's gonna be a new starter as well.
05:31 How he starts could really dictate the game.
05:33 He comes out, throws a 50 yard touchdown pass and gains confidence early.
05:37 And West Virginia's playing soft in the secondary and
05:40 allows some confidence just in an underneath game.
05:42 It could be bad considering what they're bringing back in the backfield.
05:46 I mean, they already had two guys that almost combined for
05:49 2000 yards and bringing the Minnesota transfer.
05:52 So that's gonna be one of the type of games that defense,
05:55 a bunch of unbelievable skill set on that defense.
05:59 I think it was, I had it on the list here.
06:04 There was like eight guys that's up for preseason awards on the defense.
06:09 When you put all the awards together there, some of them were multiple,
06:13 like 12 awards.
06:15 So that defense is legit.
06:17 I know that you can kind of say that their numbers are fudged a little bit playing
06:20 in the big 10, all that good stuff.
06:23 But I just think the talent gap,
06:24 I'm kind of with you that West Virginia can't keep this close.
06:26 But the difference in this game will be who makes the plays.
06:30 Maybe it's an interception late in the game, whatever it is.
06:35 That talent gap at the top will be the difference.
06:37 I can almost see Penn State pulling away.
06:39 That spread staying at 20 and a half, probably around where it's gonna be.
06:44 I definitely think it's gonna be a three possession game when it's all said and
06:47 done. So yeah, I'm going Penn State as well, but
06:50 I'm not totally sold that it's awful darn good.
06:53 There's a slim chance that West Virginia can win this game with that.
06:56 Without a doubt, again, defense jumps on Drew early.
07:00 That they can stop the rushing game early and their singleton,
07:03 unbelievable talent.
07:05 I think he's only a sophomore this year.
07:09 Yeah, kids a beast.
07:11 So if they can stop that running game and
07:15 force Drew to pass, win the game with his arm,
07:20 then West Virginia definitely has a chance.
07:21 Of course, offensively, West Virginia, who's gonna step up at receiver?
07:24 It's the same scenario.
07:26 West Virginia can get their running game going against that stellar
07:30 Penn State defense.
07:31 All of a sudden, the tides have totally turned.
07:34 So could they sustain it if they get it early?
07:36 That's the other question.
07:38 Again, D has a great defensive coordinator.
07:40 He's got a lot of tools available with that defense.
07:44 So it'll be interesting to see how it lines up with two offenses that are very
07:48 similar in that regard.
07:49 Of course, West Virginia doesn't bring back a thousand yard rusher.
07:52 But do have a lot of hopes in CJ Donaldson.
07:56 So I'm not totally sure that it's gonna be a blowout, but
07:59 Penn State's extremely talented.
08:00 They're talking that this, Drew lives up to the hype.
08:04 This could be the most talented Penn State team ever.
08:08 So we'll see.
08:10 >> Yeah, so both of us having us dropping the season opener Penn State this weekend.
08:14 But luckily for West Virginia, they do get a little bit of a step back or
08:19 at least a break, if you will, from this kind of challenging schedule in some ways.
08:24 And that's against Duquesne in week two for the home opener.
08:27 Meanwhile, the team that they play the next week, Pitt,
08:30 they're gonna be playing Cincinnati in week two.
08:33 Much better setup for West Virginia going into that backyard crawl.
08:36 So I'm not wasting much time on this.
08:39 This has got blowout written all over it.
08:41 I don't think Duquesne's gonna be able to hang in at all.
08:43 This game will be over by, I don't know, three minutes into the second quarter.
08:47 It'll be a two or three score game by that point.
08:50 Duquesne is not one of these FCS teams that are very well,
08:53 I shouldn't say they're not very well respected.
08:56 But they're not one of these teams that are in the FCS playoffs every single year.
08:59 So I'm going West Virginia big.
09:01 >> Yeah, now I'm worried about West Virginia's roles.
09:06 >> Week three is the backyard brawl.
09:11 Again, West Virginia lost kind of on that fluke play a year ago.
09:14 You could point to that.
09:15 You could point to the fourth and centimeters call or
09:19 whatever it was that Neil Brown decided not to go for it there.
09:23 But the reality is they made that punt.
09:25 They pinned them deep and
09:26 the defense just didn't make enough plays to get off the field.
09:29 So there's a lot of things that went into that game.
09:31 But you and I both agree, West Virginia probably should have won that game.
09:35 But again, it comes down to a couple of plays.
09:38 Pitt gets the upper hand there.
09:40 And now you get Pitt back in your own stadium for revenge.
09:44 I would, if this game was a neutral site or if it was at Pitt,
09:49 I would be like, I don't know.
09:52 What this game being fully backed by West Virginia fans and
09:57 you have that revenge factor in your mind.
09:59 I think you've got to go with West Virginia here.
10:01 They've got their momentum back or that confidence back after a nice one every
10:04 game.
10:05 I think they beat Pitt here.
10:07 >> Yeah, I don't care where I play, West Virginia wins.
10:11 This is a team that doesn't return a lot of production.
10:14 And a new starting quarterback again, he comes from Boston College,
10:19 Djerkovic, that's how you pronounce it, no idea.
10:23 They do have a talented running back, Rodney Hammond Jr.
10:26 He got banged up a little bit last year.
10:28 He had under 500 yards, still played nine games under 500 yards.
10:31 We're hoping for a lot of him, looking at the receivers.
10:34 There's not a lot of production coming from the receiving core.
10:37 So it's a complete rebuild.
10:38 They're missing a lot of their guys on the defensive line.
10:41 They do bring back Devin Shire, who got the pick six to give Pitt,
10:45 was it the lead or the tie to game there?
10:48 That went through Bryce Ford Wheaton's hand.
10:50 So he was beat by seven yards on that plays and that is what it is.
10:57 So I give Pitt, it is a rivalry, it will be close, but there's no way.
11:03 Pitt rolls in the Western and wins this game.
11:05 Everything that happened last year, rivalry being in Mornington.
11:10 I figure Western Union won by two possessions, 10, 14, somewhere around there.
11:15 >> So now we both have them at two and one.
11:19 Now going to week four and the big 12 opener, and that is against Texas Tech.
11:24 And this is a team, Chris, that has got a lot.
11:28 And I mean a lot of three season hype,
11:30 especially after just one year under their new head coach McGuire.
11:34 But I think it's warranted, I really do.
11:37 Last year just felt like a different Texas Tech team.
11:40 Like we've heard over the years, like yes, this is maybe the chance where, or
11:44 the time where Texas Tech kind of takes that step forward.
11:47 They turn the corner and they actually win games throughout the entire season,
11:50 not just in September in the first part of October.
11:53 I felt like that team was a little different last year.
11:56 They can play a little bit of defense.
11:58 They got the quarterback back in Tyler Shuck.
12:00 I think this is a legit team and I think they should have been ranked in the top 25.
12:04 I know they're the first team in that receiving votes category, but
12:07 they should have been in that top 25.
12:09 I've got West Virginia losing the big 12 opener here to Texas Tech.
12:13 Neil Brown still trying to look to get that monkey off his back.
12:16 >> Yeah, this is one of those, another team that not returning a lot of
12:23 production offensively.
12:24 Yes, they got hot there, Rishak or whatever, however you pronounce his name
12:28 as well, but Taj Brooks returns.
12:32 Again, he didn't have a lot of yards last season.
12:36 But again, a lot of it is just the hopes that these guys have a breakout year.
12:40 So where will Texas Tech be at that point in time?
12:44 We don't know.
12:45 There's a lot of unknowns as we look forward to a lot of these teams.
12:48 I know they do return a lot of starters, quote unquote.
12:51 But again, there's not a lot of production.
12:54 So where will they be?
12:55 How much are they improved?
12:57 My only thing with Texas Tech is West Virginia struggled against Texas Tech
13:01 since Neil Brown's here.
13:03 That's one of those, I know they got the Oklahoma State monkey off their back,
13:07 Aaron Oklahoma last year.
13:09 Can they do it against Texas Tech?
13:11 I hate picking West Virginia to lose at home.
13:14 But two years ago when they came to Morgantown, we thought, okay,
13:17 this is the one they'll get because it's in Morgantown.
13:20 For whatever reason, they just came out really flat.
13:22 They've come out really flat against Texas Tech.
13:24 So I'm with you.
13:25 I'm not gonna pick West Virginia in this one.
13:27 It's, again, we start looking at it, okay, well, is this team gonna be good?
13:32 This is a brutal schedule.
13:33 The losses are gonna come from somewhere.
13:36 I just don't see West, no matter how much I think West Virginia's improved,
13:39 losses are gonna pile up with this schedule.
13:41 So I'm gonna say Texas Tech wins.
13:44 I'd make an argument you can trade this win for a loss somewhere else, but
13:48 I'll take this one as a loss.
13:50 >> So now you go to the first big 12 road game, and
13:53 this is against the defending national champion runner up in TCU.
13:57 They obviously got blown out in that championship game against Georgia.
14:01 But I don't know, I mean, this is a team that I get they lost a ton of talent.
14:06 They lost Kendrick Miller, Quentin Johnson, Max Duggan, and a lot of other guys.
14:10 But I mean, hey, I mean, Sonny Dykes knows what he's doing.
14:14 He knows how to run an offense and Chandler Morris.
14:16 He actually won that quarterback job to begin the season last year before he got
14:20 nicked up.
14:20 So I think they're okay.
14:23 They're gonna figure things out offensively.
14:26 Defensively, I'm not really sure what to really expect out of them.
14:29 But with this being on the road, we know winning on the road in this league is
14:33 tough, regardless if it was Dana or Neil, it doesn't matter.
14:36 Winning on the road is tough,
14:38 especially when you got an offense that can be explosive again, like TCU.
14:43 I've got to go with the Horned Frogs here, dropping West Virginia to two and three.
14:46 >> Yeah, I'm gonna go the same.
14:49 That first big 12 road game's gonna be tough.
14:55 TCU, that series has always been tight.
14:58 West Virginia, even as good as TCU was last year, they played them tight until late.
15:03 So I'm gonna take TCU as well.
15:06 Like you said, Chandler Morris won it, but he won the starting job or
15:10 whatever it was last year before he got dinged up.
15:12 I think they'll be all right.
15:14 Same thing applies when we hear this whole thing.
15:16 I think they'll have enough returning offensively that they can make some noise,
15:20 especially down at TCU.
15:22 So I'm gonna go TCU reluctantly.
15:26 I kinda like them to go down there and win, but I'm gonna take TCU.
15:29 I'm switching this at last minute for another loss.
15:32 So this is a last minute change from what I was gonna do.
15:35 So I'll take that one as a loss.
15:37 >> Well, so far we are in agreeance with everything, shocker.
15:41 Again, this is how we're doing, two and three heading into the bye.
15:46 But coming out of that bye, you go back to Texas and
15:49 you see an old familiar friend, Dana Holgerson.
15:53 And actually more than just one, you got Michael Laughlin out there,
15:56 Tony Mathis, Sam Brown, Noah Guzman.
15:59 I mean, there's a bunch of former Mountaineers out there.
16:01 So this one's gonna mean a lot.
16:03 I guarantee for those guys,
16:05 they're gonna have this one circled on their schedule for sure.
16:08 And this being a Thursday night game, it's a little tricky.
16:12 I don't like Houston.
16:14 I think they have got a lot to overcome offensively.
16:17 They lost Clayton Toon, Tank Dell, and that defense is a mess heading into this
16:22 season, but again, with it being a Thursday night, it feels like one of those
16:26 games at West Virginia could just go in flat and just lose.
16:30 I don't know if they're gonna end up doing that.
16:32 I don't think it's a pretty win, but
16:34 I think they do get back on the winning track here against Houston.
16:37 >> Yeah, they have 50 newcomers coming into this season.
16:43 [LAUGH] But the good news for
16:45 Houston Avery turn off five starting linemen, offensive linemen,
16:48 so that does give them a chance, right?
16:50 If you bring back your starting linemen, it gives them a chance.
16:53 The problem is, they have Texas Tech transfer Donovan Smith,
16:57 a quarterback coming in, first year start.
17:00 Of course, we know how good Dana can run an offense.
17:02 The problem is, do they have the skill position, guys?
17:04 That's really the question we're having throughout this whole prediction,
17:10 is can their skill prediction come up?
17:12 I know Michael Laughlin, Tony Mathis are highlighted in their offense.
17:16 And Tony Mathis, without a doubt, is a great running back.
17:19 I'm sure a lot of West Virginia fans would like to see him come back this year.
17:23 But I think this could be a situation, the four newcomers, West Virginia,
17:28 getting them in October, maybe better for them than seeing them in November,
17:32 when maybe they're starting to piece everything together.
17:35 Health will be a big concern for Houston, obviously, with all the newcomers,
17:39 trying to find that team chemistry.
17:40 So I'm gonna take West Virginia in this one.
17:42 This kind of falls in that pit category for me that Neil Brown doesn't
17:47 wanna go down there and lose to the guy that was here prior.
17:51 I'm sure Dana feels the same way, but
17:53 I just don't think he has the roster right now to be able to pull that off.
17:56 >> So then West Virginia comes back home and plays Oklahoma State.
17:59 And that's a team that they've had a lot of trouble with too over the years.
18:03 They finally won down there in Stillwater last year to close out the season.
18:08 But West Virginia has not beat Oklahoma State in Morgantown since 2013.
18:13 This is another item that they can check off the list here.
18:17 If they can get that accomplished, and I think they do.
18:19 I think this Oklahoma State team, again,
18:22 I've said it multiple times already this preseason, but
18:25 it just doesn't look like they have the pieces to get over that hump and
18:31 exceed expectations.
18:32 Mike Gundy always has these types of teams where it looks like they're probably
18:36 gonna be an average middle of the pack, pick 12 team, but
18:40 he finds a way to get an extra win or two.
18:43 And whether it be because of quarterback player or a stout defense,
18:47 it's always something different.
18:48 I can't really identify that thing this year.
18:50 So I think West Virginia takes advantage of that.
18:53 Oklahoma State is a below average team of the Big 12 this year, and
18:57 they get back on the winning side here.
18:59 >> Yeah, Oklahoma State is tough to gauge right now,
19:04 cuz Gundy really hasn't had back to back average seasons before.
19:10 Usually he had bounced back by this point.
19:12 So looking at him on paper, getting a lot of production,
19:16 kind of expect him to be a better team this year, but you just don't know.
19:20 But if West Virginia would return to Oklahoma State this year,
19:23 I would actually pick Oklahoma State to win out there.
19:26 But since it's in Morgantown, I'm picking the Mountaineers to take it.
19:30 >> So now we both have them at four and three, and we've agreed on everything so
19:34 far, but I think this is gonna start getting into that territory where maybe
19:38 begin to differ.
19:39 And this is down in the bounce house, and this is against Central Florida,
19:45 and that high powered offense that Gus Malzahn has, where they can run the ball,
19:48 they can throw it, they can do whatever.
19:50 John Rhys Plumlee, really good quarterback.
19:52 I wanna go with West Virginia, I do.
19:59 But I believe this is UCF's homecoming game.
20:01 It's gonna be assault sellout crowd.
20:03 They're gonna be up for this one.
20:04 They're gonna be amped.
20:06 And it's one of those weird atmospheres where you just kinda go into it,
20:10 I don't know, something just doesn't feel right about this game.
20:13 Kinda like that same feeling to a certain extent,
20:16 I know it's totally different situations when West Virginia went into Iowa State.
20:20 And Will Greer's senior year in 2018, which kinda felt weird going into it.
20:25 I kinda get that same sense here.
20:27 Again, who knows, by this time of the season,
20:30 we may see what these two teams are really like.
20:33 And maybe my guess is completely off, but I'm gonna go to UCF here,
20:37 getting the win in the bounce house.
20:39 And drop in WVU, I believe, to what is a four and four.
20:44 >> Yeah, I'll be curious to see what steps Plumlee has taken in the offseason.
20:49 He was their leading passer and rusher on the team.
20:53 Probably gonna have to have some help.
20:56 He's definitely gonna have to have help to navigate this league.
20:59 How beat up is he by the time West Virginia rolls in Orlando is gonna be
21:04 a question for them.
21:06 >> So kind of how I started it off, do they have the depth,
21:11 the talent depth on the two deep to be determined?
21:16 I'm actually taking West Virginia to win this game, newcomer late in the year.
21:22 I think I know West Virginia will have a strong presence,
21:25 fan presence down there.
21:27 Great alumni base in that area.
21:29 So depending on where Plumlee is at, I don't really know about Mikey Keene,
21:34 their backup quarterback, but Miles is a good offensive coordinator.
21:39 But he hasn't really put together a great resume.
21:43 When you start stacking seasons, he hasn't been great.
21:46 I'm taking West Virginia, I think UCF is in for a rude awakening this year.
21:51 Not to say they're gonna have a losing season, it'd be terrible.
21:53 But you don't get cupcakes in this league.
21:57 So playing that late in the year, we'll see where they're at, but
21:59 West Virginia takes that one.
22:01 >> So this is a great opportunity for West Virginia to bounce back,
22:04 at least in my scenario where they lose to UCF.
22:06 They come back home, play BYU.
22:09 And this is kind of one of those measuring stick games,
22:12 even though it's late in the year.
22:13 It's kind of a barometer to really see how tough this team is.
22:17 After they lose a tough game on the road, I think they come back,
22:22 they match BYU's physicality in the trenches.
22:25 And they will their way to an ugly kind of low scoring game,
22:29 maybe like a 24-21 type of game.
22:31 But they run the ball well, they play good defense, force some turnovers.
22:35 They get BYU at home and get back on track.
22:39 Now careful here, you've got West Virginia winning three in a row here.
22:42 You got them on a heater, did they get four here?
22:45 >> Yes, yes, BYU's always tough.
22:49 Without a doubt, BYU's always tough.
22:51 I'm with you on it.
22:53 I don't wanna say it's gonna be an ugly game, but
22:54 it's definitely gonna be a physical game.
22:59 Same thing applies, do they have the depth?
23:01 Do they have the depth by the time November 4th rolls around?
23:05 We'll see, but West Virginia, I'll say escapes, and
23:08 we'll make it even interesting on a walk-off field goal.
23:11 Let's give them a walk-off field goal.
23:13 We haven't had one of those yet.
23:15 >> Who's the kicker, cuz we don't even know at this point.
23:17 >> We don't have a depth chart.
23:18 Hopefully it's all team managers.
23:20 I hope they filled out team managers for the game.
23:23 That's the one I wanna see released right before game time.
23:26 >> Yes, so the one team that West Virginia did finally beat last year,
23:31 that was Oklahoma.
23:33 They had not beaten Oklahoma since joining the Big 12 Conference.
23:36 They did that last year.
23:38 They go to Norman this year.
23:39 This is the final Big 12 matchup between these two before Oklahoma departs
23:43 to the SEC.
23:44 So one last crack at Oklahoma,
23:46 maybe a chance to win two in a row against them before they leave.
23:49 I don't know that that's gonna happen, though.
23:50 This is a team that really seems hungry and
23:54 eager to get back on the field and really make a run for it this year in the Big 12.
23:58 Their last year again in the Big 12, they had so many one loss scores last year.
24:03 Their only blowout was against Texas, okay?
24:07 So I think five of their seven losses were one score games.
24:11 If they can just get the ball to bounce their way a few times,
24:15 which I think they will, cuz I think they're gonna take a considerable step
24:19 in year two on the defensive side under Brent Venables.
24:22 They're gonna win some more games.
24:23 They're gonna be in the mix in the top three or four in this conference.
24:25 So it's a tough game, and I know they don't wanna lose two in a row to West
24:29 Virginia to leave the Big 12.
24:31 I'm going with Oklahoma here.
24:33 >> Yeah, this is the only team that I'm watching their face as it returns a 1,000
24:37 yard rusher and a 1,000 yard receiver, bringing back the quarterback.
24:42 So Oklahoma, I think, is obviously gonna be better this year.
24:46 I'm not sold on Venables as a head coach.
24:48 I don't know if they'll be in the mix when it comes towards the end of
24:52 the season as far as Big 12 Championship is concerned.
24:56 This is definitely gonna be a much better team at Oklahoma.
25:00 Same thing we kinda said about the pick game.
25:03 Revenge is a big factor in this one,
25:06 which you came back to win that game with Gary Green.
25:09 I do like West Virginia, this isn't a foregone conclusion that West Virginia
25:13 loses this game, but considering the struggles and talent gap over the years,
25:18 I'm gonna give Oklahoma the edge.
25:20 Again, I could trade another loss for this one.
25:25 I could be convinced cuz West Virginia has played Oklahoma tough on multiple
25:30 occasions, especially out there.
25:32 So it's not a foregone conclusion, but what they've returned, that chemistry,
25:37 I'm sure they have a big chip on their shoulder after the way they performed last
25:41 year, so Oklahoma.
25:43 >> Cincinnati for senior day, and this one will be a fun one, I'm sure, for
25:47 a lot of guys on the roster who are from Ohio or just from the area.
25:52 And that kinda tri-state area where they kinda remember some of the history there
25:56 in the Big East with the Bearcats.
25:58 But this is a one-sided series with West Virginia owning the Bearcats throughout
26:03 the years.
26:03 And this is not the same Cincinnati Luke Fickle Bearcats that went to the college
26:07 football playoff a few years ago.
26:09 This is a massive, massive overhaul and
26:12 rebuild the heat that Scott Satterfield's got going on here at UC.
26:17 So I do think Cincinnati will be a true player in the Big 12 down the road,
26:22 when they can start recruiting to that Big 12 brand, that logo.
26:26 They could start maybe winning some of those kids at Ohio State goes after,
26:30 not gonna get all of them still.
26:32 But I think they're in a much better position to recruit.
26:34 But right now, again, it's the depth, it's the 11th game of the season.
26:39 They're probably in bold and eligible at this point.
26:42 So I'm probably gonna lean hard to West Virginia here to win on senior day and
26:47 send those guys out on a good note.
26:49 >> Yeah, there's a lot of rebuild at Cincinnati,
26:53 I might wanna spend time on this one.
26:56 I think West Virginia, I don't wanna say cruises, again,
26:59 gotta respect your opponent better now, especially Cincinnati.
27:02 I don't know how good they're gonna feel by the time that game rolls around.
27:07 But I think nothing's easy in this conference, I don't wanna say that, but
27:10 West Virginia wins the game.
27:12 >> So you've got West Virginia winning five of its last six games,
27:16 if I'm marking this correctly.
27:18 So you've got the fan base getting off that Neil Brown fire him training,
27:23 you're got- >> I mean,
27:25 at this point it's only seven and four, I think at this point, right?
27:31 So [LAUGH] >> Yeah, that's true.
27:33 So well, let's just get right to it.
27:35 The final game of the season at Baylor, this one, I think they feel good
27:40 coming off that one against Cincinnati, they got bowl eligible.
27:45 They go out to Waco and this is kind of a game,
27:48 there's not really anything to play for in terms of the Bay 12 conference race or
27:52 anything like that, they got the bowl eligibility already.
27:55 I think this may be a game heck even Baylor,
27:58 they may be fighting for bowl eligibility.
28:00 Who knows what Baylor is gonna look like,
28:02 they were a team that was high going into the season last year,
28:05 massively underwhelmed.
28:07 Is that kind of gonna be the same thing again this year,
28:09 or are they actually gonna live up to their preseason expectations?
28:12 Who knows what the Baylor Bears are gonna look like, but I think again,
28:16 on the road, tough place to win.
28:19 I gotta go Baylor, six and six for West Virginia.
28:21 >> Yeah, this is another team, where are they gonna be at by the time it plays and
28:26 they do bring their quarterback, Mike Shapenback.
28:29 Richard Reese, a running back, was just shy of 1,000 yards last year.
28:33 I think defensively, with Aranda, I think they're gonna be fairly solid.
28:39 Do they have enough offense to kind of carry them?
28:42 What do they look like as far as their record?
28:45 What are they playing for at that point?
28:48 This is one of those games, it's kind of 50/50, we just don't know.
28:52 Like kind of gone through it, see what everybody's, we just don't know.
28:56 They don't have anything on the outside, just like West Virginia.
28:59 Where are they gonna be at?
29:00 So this is the game that could either be eight wins or seven wins for me.
29:07 I'll give, I'm gonna give West Virginia the nod here.
29:13 I'm gonna finish it eight and four.
29:15 And the reason why I think they get hot, you mentioned they won five of the six
29:19 games, and the big difference will be Garrett Green this year.
29:22 When you have leadership at quarterback, a vocal leader,
29:25 someone that can rally the troops in a huddle.
29:28 Maybe give you the game winning drive.
29:29 Saw it against Oklahoma last year, where put the team on his back and
29:34 came back to beat Oklahoma.
29:36 That's the biggest difference in this team this year.
29:39 Still got questions, obviously, at receiver.
29:41 Injuries matter, but I think that's the difference and
29:45 that's why they're going eight and four.
29:46 >> Yeah, so you haven't won six of their last seven.
29:49 Getting on a true heater with a chance to get a ninth win in a bowl game,
29:55 which that would be the most win.
29:56 >> If you think about that would be the time that the offense is really coming
30:00 together with everybody.
30:03 That's kind of what you're looking for those early tough games.
30:06 They're gonna be tough.
30:08 Without a doubt.
30:09 You kind of get beat up and then you kind of get on a roll.
30:12 So yeah, I can definitely see the fan base.
30:14 After what I think it's three and three I had them there, maybe some.
30:18 >> Choppy waters.
30:20 >> Yeah, a little choppy waters at first, but
30:22 then it kind of hit their stride throughout the rest of conference.
30:25 And that goes to at the beginning what we were saying.
30:27 Getting those new teams late in the season can really give West Virginia
30:32 an advantage and really bolster and really give them momentum into the bowl game.
30:37 And in the next year, because when you think about this team,
30:39 a lot of pieces come back next year.
30:41 >> Yes, sir. >> Have to get some work at the offensive
30:43 line.
30:44 But you start kind of churning it out.
30:46 It could be something, the start of something.
30:49 >> So if that is the case, they get to eight and four and
30:51 then say they win the bowl game.
30:53 That would be the most wins that they have had since 2016 when they went ten and
30:56 three with Skylar Howard.
30:57 So you have an eight and four, six and three in the conference.
31:01 I'm six and six, four and five.
31:03 So we differed on a few things.
31:06 Again, you have a winning six of the last seven.
31:08 I have them alternating wins and losses from about the midway point on.
31:12 And so for me, so what I'll ask here is, and I know it's fairly obvious,
31:17 I think at least with your case, does Neil Brown have his job going into next year?
31:21 If it's your scenario, I don't think it's a question mark.
31:24 Like it's, yes, you win six of the last seven games.
31:26 You're eight and four and you have a chance to win your ninth game.
31:29 There is no talk whatsoever about Ren Baker trying to find a new head football
31:34 coach.
31:35 But in my scenario where you're six and six, you're four and
31:38 five in the conference, you're alternating wins and losses.
31:41 That's kind of a gray area, I think, for me.
31:44 I mean, again, a lot of it's probably gonna be coming down to what does this team
31:48 look like in those losses?
31:50 Is it one score losses, kind of like Oklahoma had last year,
31:53 where just a bunch of them?
31:54 Are they getting blown out in these games?
31:55 Are they not able to overcome adversity?
31:58 Are they not able to handle success when they have it?
32:01 What does that look like?
32:02 I think six and six, I have said from the very beginning,
32:05 six wins to me is still a gray area for Neil Brown.
32:08 If he gets across that mark and gets to seven or more,
32:12 I think he's in a good position.
32:13 What do you think?
32:14 >> I think so much is depending on what the Big 12 looks like.
32:20 As we just went through our West Virginia schedule,
32:25 there's a lot of unknowns in this team.
32:27 So to me, those six wins and if those teams are just average,
32:32 I think they gotta take a really hard look at what they wanna do.
32:37 If those six wins and a lot of these Big 12 teams, they developed really well,
32:44 they put their team together, and it's just been a fight all year with everybody.
32:48 Then you look at the six wins, okay, if you can retain everybody and
32:52 culture is good, you like what you see, then yeah,
32:56 he's gonna continue to coach here and just so much is dependent on this league.
32:59 There's just a lot of question marks, too many question marks going on in the season,
33:05 too many question marks with the opponents to even gauge when lost.
33:08 I think Brent Baker was very smart to say, six wins keeps his job,
33:14 five wins or less loses his job.
33:17 He was very smart not to put a number out there because again,
33:20 there's far too many question marks with these opponents to really dictate.
33:26 To really try to determine whether or
33:28 not that he could keep his job at six, seven or eight wins.
33:30 I mean, if he wins eight wins even on a mediocre Big 12, definitely solidifies.
33:35 Because again, going into it,
33:37 it kind of looks like an equal playing field with the schedule.
33:41 So if you come out on top ahead of that over 500,
33:44 I think you're in a good position moving forward.
33:46 Especially if you kind of look at the losses for Texas Tech,
33:49 it's supposed to be good this year.
33:51 TCU is defending runner up national champions or
33:56 whatever you wanna call it, Oklahoma, maybe Oklahoma at that point.
34:00 So it really does matter when you lose, who you lose to.
34:04 Because if you look at last year,
34:06 that Kansas lost second game of the season was horrendous, right?
34:10 You lose at home, but then all of a sudden kind of figured out, well,
34:14 Kansas is a pretty good football team.
34:16 And I know the record didn't show it while the quarterback got hurt
34:19 midway through the season.
34:21 So who you play, when you play, how they're playing will make a big difference.
34:26 So hopefully West Virginia just developed everybody.
34:30 Hopefully Gary Green is that X factor for
34:32 this team to push them over top some of those close games.
34:34 Cuz a lot of times, a lot of games last year,
34:38 a lot of opportunities to win more games.
34:41 To me, Green's the difference.
34:43 But if you don't have receivers getting open and
34:46 they can kind of box you in there with the run game,
34:49 it could end up being a long season for us.
34:52 >> It could, it very well could.
34:54 It could go a lot of different ways.
34:56 And it's really hard to tell with this team because I think I've told you off
34:59 air, when I look at this team for what it is and the talent that they have.
35:04 They have the pieces to get to eight wins.
35:06 I can see the path for that.
35:08 I can understand where you're coming from.
35:10 For me, it's the history, what we've seen the last few years with this coaching
35:16 staff that has me a little hesitant and thinking yes, eight is possible.
35:20 But I mean, who knows?
35:23 Again, if Neil Brown goes five and seven, I don't see him keeping his job.
35:30 The only way again, if he keeps his job at five and seven is if there's just
35:35 an absurd amount of injuries that it's almost impossible for
35:39 him to even get to six wins because of how many key injuries there were throughout
35:43 the year, but that's a lot of it.
35:45 We don't know, we don't have the answers right now, but
35:47 we're about to get the answer starting here in a couple days on Saturday at Penn
35:50 State.
35:50 So the evaluation begins for Neil Brown on Saturday.
35:55 Yes, it already started before, but
35:56 the true evaluation of the 2023 season begins Saturday.
36:00 So we've got an action packed week for you.
36:02 We hope you enjoyed this episode.
36:04 Tomorrow, we have in the gun with Jed West and Owen.
36:08 They're gonna be making their picks for the week in the big 12 in terms of the best
36:12 offense, defense and all that good stuff.
36:14 And they're gonna be recapping week zero on Thursday.
36:18 I'll be back with Eugene for
36:19 the walkthrough game day show preview in West Virginia, Penn State.
36:22 We'll make our picks for the week.
36:23 And then on Friday, Chris will rejoin me for our best bets segment or
36:28 gambler's corner.
36:29 We haven't come up with a name yet.
36:30 We're not very creative with that.
36:31 So, but we'll be back with that on Friday.
36:34 We're gonna pick four of our best bets across college football, spreads or
36:38 totals.
36:38 And then we'll also pick the best bet or
36:40 the best play in the West Virginia game for that week.
36:43 So that's that on Friday and then Saturday,
36:45 we'll have the post game show with Eugene Napoleon.
36:48 And Sunday, we'll be back in the very early morning for the morning after, again,
36:53 a little bit of a recap of what happened on Saturday and
36:56 a small peek ahead to next week.
36:58 So that's it for us here today.
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37:33 So for Christopher Hall, I'm Skylar Callen, you've been watching Between the Ears.
37:37 We'll see you back here on Friday.
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