GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: West Virginia’s defense versus the Texas offensive line. The best way the Longhorns can counter West Virginia’s powerful offense is to keep the Mountaineers wide-open passing attack off the field. To do that, Texas needs to run the ball effectively and win the time of possession battle.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR David Sills V was in his first full season as a wideout last year and produced some prodigious offensive stats (60 catches, 980 yards and 18 touchdowns). He’s one of two West Virginia players (Grier is the other) named to the AP preseason All-American team and is off to a flying start this year with 37 catches for 529 yards and eight touchdowns over the first seven games. He’s a prototype slot receiver who can make the big catches over the middle and handle one-on-one hand-play with defensive backs.
ROSTER REPORT:
–The Mountaineers have scored on 42 of their 81 drives this season, including 35 TDs, and they have scored 25-of-28 times in the red zone, including 20 touchdowns.
–WVU is No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring defense, No. 2 in opponent first-down defense and rushing defense, No. 3 in total and pass defense and opponent third-down defense.
–QB Will Grier and WR David Sills V have connected on 27 touchdowns since the start of the 2017 season — that’s nine more than any other QB-WR duo in FBS.
