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West Virginia (3-2) had a few big chances to make statements over the last two games, and it clunked, losing both games. Baylor (5-0) has yet to have any shot to make any sort of a real mark, but it’s been impressive on the way to an unbeaten start. Check out the West Virginia vs. Baylor prediction and game preview.

West Virginia vs. Baylor Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: McLane Stadium, Waco, TX
Network: FOX

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Why You Need To Care

West Virginia wasn’t awful against Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, but they’re still key losses in a two-game stretch that needed to at least be a split. That was the easy part – no comes the killer with road trips to Baylor and TCU. But within reason, that’s about it for a team that needs to come up with a big win at some point to prove that it really and truly is worthy of one of the league’s better bowl spots – eventually. The offense has been good, and the defense was terrific up until the last two weeks, but there haven’t been enough key stops lately.

Baylor might be fantastic, but it also hasn’t really played anyone with a real defense. Texas Tech is okay, but when the second-best win is over Rice, there’s an issue. It’s all building to this point, at least that was the thought before West Virginia lost the last two games. But the Mountaineers should still be the top team the Bears have faced so far, and they should provide a little bit of a push. Can WVU keep up in a shootout? Can this possibly be as fun as the epic Geno Smith-led 70-63 2012 game, or the 73-42 Baylor win of 2013? Last year, West Virginia kept Baylor out of the playoff with a 41-27 win – the Bears have a way of paying teams back.

Why West Virginia Will Win

Baylor is about to get hit with a running game. West Virginia and Skyler Howard can throw, but the Mountaineers should be able to keep this at a reasonable pace for a stretches with a ground attack that’s doing a nice job of keeping the offense in manageable situations. The Baylor defensive front has yet to see anything like the Mountaineers running the ball with at least two rushing scores in every game and enough power to blast away a bit. The key will be to keep up the pace – most offenses have to abandon the run early.

Why Baylor Will Win

Where’s the West Virginia pressure? The four sacks against Oklahoma were nice, and the D has dialed it up a bit with nine in the last three games, but it hasn’t done enough to slow down the Sooner and Cowboy offenses. Baylor’s offense is brilliant at getting the ball out of the quarterbacks’ hands as soon as possible, allowing just five sacks on the season and getting into a rhythm right away. The Mountaineers came up with a season-high four sacks against the Bears last year – a big reason why they won – and if they don’t get at least that many, they’re going to get ripped up.

Player Who Matters

TCU’s Josh Doctson is having a huge year, and others have more catches and more yards, but no one has been more explosive than Baylor’s Corey Coleman. His 13 touchdown grabs on the year are three more than Doctson – no one else has double digits – averaging close to 22 yards per catch. He’s not just hot, he’s consistent catching sex passes in each of the last four games with 100 yards or more in every game this year. On fire, he caught two touchdowns or more in each of the last four games.

What’s Going To Happen?

West Virginia has the right secondary and the right makeup to keep this close, but in Waco, the Bears will find a groove in the third quarter and explode to a convincing, impressive win that’ll be the one everyone has been waiting for.

West Virginia vs. Baylor Prediction

Final Score: Baylor 52, West Virginia 30, Line: Baylor -21.5, o/u: 75.5

Must See Rating: 5: Trojan War – 1: The Muppets … 4