Mike Roach
Nothing in the Charlie Strong tenure has been easy, so I’m firmly in the camp that this team goes 7-5 in order to make post season decisions even tougher. Of the three remaining games I believe that this will be the toughest matchup for Texas. West Virginia is a balanced, talented offense with a very solid defense. The Mountaineers lack players like Geno Smith, Karl Joseph, and Tavon Austin, but they are chock full of experienced playmakers in a well-designed system. The Longhorns will put up a good fight at home, but West Virginia will make a few more plays at home.
Score Prediction: West Virginia 31 – Texas 27
Ryan Bridges
Texas is 7-3 at home the past two seasons. Those losses? Cal (missed PAT cost them overtime), Oklahoma State (Eck’d out of the stadium), and Texas Tech (eight starters missed at least half the game). West Virginia is experienced, balanced and well-coached. But I’m done picking against the Longhorns at home — at least until TCU comes to town after Thanksgiving. Skyler Howard threw only 12 passes in this game last year; that figure needs to go way up. I have no confidence in the linebackers to be in the right gaps against the run, but the defense may be able to create enough negative plays to make up for it. WVU’s secondary is solid, and they’ve allowed only three 100-yard rushers this season (two in the same game; Texas has allowed six). I don’t know how they’ll do it, but Foreman is going to break 100 yards.
Score Prediction: Texas 31 – West Virginia 27
Daniel Seahorn
After stepping out on the limb last week with my prediction against Texas Tech, I’m not feeling the warm fuzzies about the matchup against the Mountaineers. This week the Longhorns play host to another ranked opponent at DKR and I anticipate they will have their hands full both offensively and defensively.
West Virginia is a very experienced football team on both sides of the ball and aside from their hiccup in Stillwater, they have played some very good football this year. The Mountaineers will roll out a balanced offensive attack with Skyler Howard at the helm, and like other quarterbacks Texas has seen this yea, Howard is capable of hurting a defense with his feet. The Texas defense kept Patrick Mahomes in check on the ground last week and they will have to be up to the task again this week, though WVU presents a much more competent rushing attack this week.
The Texas offense has been imposing its will on defenses throughout the year, but they will be facing a defense who will no doubt be focused on taking away D’Onta Foreman on the ground and making true freshman Shane Buechele win the game for them. Buechele has played well and been pretty consistent throughout the year, so he very well could continue that on Saturday, but I have a feeling in my gut WVU will force a mistake or two from him.
This Texas team seems to always play well at home, so writing them off to come out on top in this matchup would be completely foolish, but I think of the final three games in the regular season that this is the most likely loss. I am taking the Mountaineers, but I would love to be wrong about it.
Score Prediction: West Virginia 35 Texas 28
Harrison Wier
To start this off, I will be picking West Virginia again. Not because I think they will win, but because every time I have picked against Texas this year, they have won. If that hurts my record, so be it. Taking one for the team!
At an analysis standpoint, Texas has not faced an offense as balanced as West Virginia’s. Justin Crawford is a great change of pace for the Mountaineers. Texas will not be able to place Malik Jefferson as a spy on Skyler Howard because of this. Charlie Strong is going to have to prepare differently. The good news for Texas is that they know how to pressure the quarterback. This is key for the Horns if they want to win. Containing Crawford and slowing Howard down on a career year are two difficult things to do, but are doable in front of a home crowd.
On offense, I actually believe Shane Buechele will be the key to this game. West Virginia only has 13 sacks this year, which can allow the freshman to torch their secondary. That does not take away from D’onta Foreman whatsoever, because he is having the year of his career. If he is still firing on all cylinders, this game could easily go in Texas’ favor. The Buechele to Johnson narrative is something I am so excited to see for the next 3 years. Man, this team could really come together. This game can go either way, but I can see it going to whoever has the ball last.
Score Prediction: West Virginia 38 – Texas 34
Chris Flanagan
West Virginia is a good team, but not a great team. Texas is at home and is playing with a ton of confidence. Things are starting to roll again. Enjoy D’Onta Foreman, because he might not be here for long. The chance for 9 wins is still out there, which would be amazing and give the Longhorns a lot of momentum for the rest of the season.
But since I have been wrong all season, West Virginia is going to win this game because ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Score Prediction: West Virginia 45 – Texas 42
Prediction Records
Harrison Wier: 4-4
Taylor Smith: 4-5
Daniel Seahorn: 4-5
Mike Roach: 3-6
Ryan Bridges: 3-6
Aaron Carrara: 3-6
Chris Flanagan: 2-7
