NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, October 3, 12 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Location: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Line: Oklahoma (-7)
In one of the biggest games of Week 5 in College Football, the Oklahoma Sooners will play host to the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday. This game will be the Big 12 conference opener for both teams, adding extra intrigue to a matchup featuring two ranked teams. The winner will have an opportunity to challenge TCU and Baylor for the Big 12 title, while a loss could make the trek very difficult.
The Mountaineers are coming off of a 45-6 romping of rival Maryland last Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium. West Virginia was clicking on all cylinders with the offense putting up 601 yards of total offense, including 304 rushing and 297 passing. Meanwhile the defense allowed Maryland to score its only points of the game in the third quarter after the starters had been pulled.
Currently, the Mountaineers rank 12th in the nation in total yards per game with 543, including 323 yards passing and 220 yards rushing. These stats show a great balance for head coach Dana Holgorsen. The offense is led by Skyler Howard, who is fourth in the nation with a 193.6 passing efficiency ranking. He’s thrown for 916 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception this season for the Mountaineers.
The key against Oklahoma will be to get the running game going early and often. The Sooners allowed nearly 150 yards rushing per game and Wendell Smallwood is averaging 110 yards per game himself. If the Mountaineers’ offensive line can control the line of scrimmage, it could be a long day for the Sooners’ defense.
Through three games, the Mountaineers’ defense has only allowed 23 total points which leads the nation. The unit has forced 11 turnovers in those three games with nine interceptions and two fumble recoveries. One area that needs to improve is getting pressure on the quarterback, as West Virginia has only recorded four sacks on the season. Against Oklahoma, the defensive ends need to make sure not to collapse the pocket too hard and allow Baker Mayfield to escape and make plays with his feet.
Who would’ve thought that a former walk-on from Texas Tech would have such an impact on one of the top programs in the country? Mayfield has been absolutely spectacular in 2015, completing 74 of 110 passes for 1,062 yards, 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He’s also added 139 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for the Sooners.
While Mayfield has been amazing this season, look for the Sooners’ offense to attempt to pound the rock on Saturday. Last season against West Virginia, Samaje Perine had 34 carries for 242 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-33 Oklahoma victory in Morgantown. Head coach Bob Stoops believes the Mountaineers’ 3-3-5 defensive scheme is vulnerable to power-running games and he will attempt to exploit that once again on Saturday.
This game should be a bit of a shootout. Although the Mountaineers’ defense is ranked highly, the unit has faced the porous offenses of Georgia Southern, Liberty and Maryland. Oklahoma’s offense will be a much stiffer test for the West Virginia defense, and vice versa. Eventually, the Sooners will use their edge in talent and find a way to come away with the victory.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38, West Virginia 34
Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
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