The Mountaineers are a double-digit underdog for the second week in a row, but this time they are the home team. The Mountaineer faithful always give them an extra jolt, as they did in the Backyard Brawl. They have a more challenging test this week against Utah, who are 3-1 after they suffered their first loss of the season last week to Texas Tech. WVU has an uphill battle, dealing with several injuries to some key players. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be aired on FOX. Read more: WVU vs. Utah Preview: Mountaineers Look To Bounce Back.
WVU vs. Utah Preview: Mountaineers Look To Bounce Back
WVU’s starting center, Landen Livingston, is listed as doubtful on the injury report for the Mountaineers. He went down and left the game against Kansas with a lower-body injury, which turned out to be a deep bruise. It was initially believed to be a high ankle sprain. Running back Cyncir Bowers is also doubtful as he deals with a concussion.
Related: Player Spotlight – Jaylen Henderson
Running back Tye Edwards and quarterback Nicco Marchiol are both listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. Marchiol was added to the injury report earlier this week with a foot injury, which is being evaluated this week. Edwards missed last week’s game and is still battling a hip pointer.
Matchups To Watch
How the Mountaineers handle Utah quarterback Devon Dampier is the biggest matchup to watch. Dampier is the leading rusher on the team with 44 carries for 225 yards and a touchdown. He also has 790 passing yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions through four games. The Red Raiders held him in check last week, only allowing 27 rushing yards and 162 passing yards with two interceptions.
Utah’s offense goes as well as Dampier plays. He is their best weapon and is hard to stop. WVU must force him into uncomfortable throws and close any running lanes early. Utah is fantastic at staying ahead of the chains, which has led to an efficient third-down conversion rate. The Utes convert on 62.07% of third downs this season. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley should get his unit back on track this week after allowing 41 points on the road last season.
WVU’s offensive line against the defensive front of Utah is the key matchup to watch when WVU has the football. Defensive end John Henry Daley leads the nation with six sacks, while the team has 10 sacks total, which is 2.5 per game. The pressure they generate has hurried quarterbacks, and the defense has forced six interceptions. Assuming Marchiol will not play, Jaylen Henderson is likely to draw the start for WVU. He must make good decisions and accurate throws.
The Mountaineers have to get back to running the ball efficiently. Jaylen Henderson under center could help with that issue. He is third on the team with 118 yards on 16 carries for an average of 7.4 yards per attempt. Tye Edwards suiting up would also go a long way, especially with Bowers likely out. The team needs the defense to step up and limit the number of points scored by Utah, as injuries are mounting, and points may be hard to come by.
Final Analysis
WVU faces a challenging task this week against Utah, which boasts an exceptional defensive front. Running the ball and protecting the quarterback must be of the utmost priority. Defensively, they must limit the effectiveness of Devon Dampier, and the offense can help them by staying on the field with long drives. Mountaineer fans can help their team this week, but only to a certain extent. The players must execute a good game plan from the coaches, unlike last week.
