So WVU football fans, how are we feeling at 3-2? Here’s my snapshot
So, I’m feeling a little better about WVU’s football team after last Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma State,
Yes, the Cowboys are 0-3 in Big 12 play and a huge league disappointment, but they were SUPPOSED to be good, right?
OK, yes, I’m grasping. But it’s better than gasping, which I did after the Mountaineers’ first couple of games.
And I have to ask my fellow WVU followers: How are we feeling at 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play?
The die-hard in me has (and will always have) me watching each week. But what about the enthusiasm? What about the way I used to be jacked up for the games?
I’m missing that, even though technically WVU is at the top of the Big 12 standings with 3-0 Texas Tech and 2-0 BYU, Iowa State and Colorado.
Last week’s game was certainly a good start. The Mountaineers had 389 yards on the ground in the victory over OSU. That was fun to watch, although I know the Cowboys had some injuries.
A big picture look?
Well, West Virginia is receiving no Top 25 votes in either the Associated Press writers’ or Coaches polls.
If you squint hard, you’ll see the Mountaineers 33rd in both the ESPN College Football Power Index and the TeamRankings advanced analytics list.
The 247 Sports’ Big 12 power rankings have WVU at No. 8 in the league.
“A lot more will be known about West Virginia in the next two weeks with Iowa State and Kansas State on deck, but the Mountaineers continue to trend upward,” it says before pointing out the two losses were to undefeated Pitt and Penn State.
Yet being the thorough researcher that I am, I also checked the stats. How are the Mountaineers stacking up that way?
• In passing offense, not great but actually better than I thought at No. 80, averaging 216.6 yards a game. For reference here and the rest of the way, there are 133 schools listed in the stats – all the way down to Army (90.6) and Air Force (76) in passing.
• In rushing offense, WVU is very good, No. 13 overall, averaging 223 yards a game,
• In scoring offense, the Mountaineers are tied at No. 41, averaging 33 points.
• In passing defense, which we know has been an issue prior to OSU, WVU is No. 99 (again of 133), allowing an average of 243.4 yards a game. They’re allowing 8.95 yards an attempt (ouch) and 15.21 yards per completion (ouch again).
• In rushing defense, West Virginia is middle of the pack at No. 57, allowing an average of 130.2 yards a game.
So that’s a snapshot.
Back in the day, before Wheelhouse Creative, I would have continued the stats dive. I would have looked at almost every stat. (I did sneak a peek at Garrett Greene’s pass completion percentage rate, which is No. 104 nationally at 57.1 percent.)
Yet you get the idea. Things are sort of trending up, but we’ll know more after this week’s game against No. 11 Iowa State and then the following game versus No. 18 Kansas State.
Two wins against those teams and the enthusiasm will definitely be back.
As for now, though, a little Tuesday grasping.
Have a great week, friends.
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Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.