Oklahoma vs. West Virginia Prediction, Game Preview

Everyone wants to talk about TCU and Baylor, but don’t be stunned if this turns out to be for the Big 12 championship – or at least influences it. No one has played better over a three game stretch than West Virginia (3-0) so far, but now it actually has to play someone who isn’t bad at college football. Oklahoma (3-0) has had two weeks off to prepare, and now it dives head-first into the meat of the schedule. Check out the Oklahoma vs. West Virginia prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Memorial Stadium , Norman, OK
Network: FOX Sports 1

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Why You Need To Care

Georgia Southern is probably going to win the Sun Belt title, and West Virginia came up with a 44-0 whopping in the opener. Maryland might not be all that great, but it’s still a Big Ten team, and it didn’t have a prayer against the Mountaineers. No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, 12th in total offense, West Virginia is playing at a razor-sharp level to start the season. However, with three road games in the next four – going to Baylor and TCU after facing Oklahoma State – the tests are coming over the next month.

Oklahoma has lived off the great fourth quarter and overtime against Tennessee, and it came back roaring with a win over Tulsa – but that was Tulsa. The offense still has to rise up for a full sixty minutes against a decent defense, the running game has to start rolling, and Baker Mayfield has to prove he can keep the momentum going, but at the moment, OU will be more than happy with its start. With a relatively easy stretch of road games coming up – going to Dallas to face Texas and facing Kansas State and Kansas, to go along with a home date against Texas Tech – this should be the toughest test until mid-November.

Why West Virginia Will Win

On the road against a talented team with a great group of skill players, West Virginia has to own the turnover margin. So far it’s No. 1 in the nation with just one giveaway – losing one last week against Maryland – and coming up with five takeaways against Georgia Southern and four against Maryland. Oklahoma has yet to win the turnover battle in any of the three games, going a -4 on the year, and it can’t afford to come up with too many mistakes. There have only been three turnovers so far, but West Virginia just isn’t giving up the ball.

Why Oklahoma Will Win

How do you keep an offense that’s playing at a high level from taking off? Keep it pinned deep, especially when it’s on the road. No one’s kicking the ball better right now than Oklahoma’s Austin Seibert, who’s averaging 45.8 yards per kick and doing a terrific job of keeping the field tilted to the other side. The OU defense has been great on third downs, and while WVU can move the ball, it’s not going to be able to do it consistently if it has to keep starting from inside its own 20.

Player Who Matters

Could this be Skyler Howard’s national coming out party? Everyone will tune in to watch Baker Mayfield, but the West Virginia quarterback could steal the show if he plays as well as he has over the first three weeks. With 916 yards, nine touchdowns, one pick, and lots and lots of big plays down the field, he’s been one of the nation’s most efficient and effective passers, but now he has to deal with a rested and ready Oklahoma defense that’s coming off an embarrassment two weeks ago against the Tulsa passing game. Howard has to be fantastic.

What’s Going To Happen?

West Virginia is more than good enough to pull this off, but this is the week when the Oklahoma running game takes over – even though it seems like that’s been said for the last few games. Samaje Perine has been fine, but now he’s about to build off his 152-yard day against Tulsa with a grinding effort that keeps the Mountaineer offense off the field.