Three keys and a prediction
MORGANTOWN, WVA -- The Wolfpack is off to a solid start in 2019, winning its first two games in impressive fashion with plenty of young players -- including sophomore quarterback Matthew McKay -- getting valuable experience.
But this afternoon in Morgantown, State will take a step up in competition and face its first real challenge of the new season. Although West Virginia had had its early problems in winning a close opener against James Madison and getting manhandled at Missouri, the Mountaineers aren't a team to be taken lightly. Especially in their raucous home stadium.
The Wolfpack is a seven-point favorite, but it will have to bring its "A" game to pull out its first road win against a nonconference Power 5 opponent in 17 years. Here are three keys that will help coach Dave Doeren's team make that happen:
START FAST
The Wolfpack took almost a quarter and a half to get its offense going in last week's 41-0 rout of Western Carolina. Coach Dave Doeren's team can get away with that against an outmanned FCS team whose starting quarterback was suspended just before game time, but it will be playing with fire if it waits that long to find its rhythm against a more talented team such as WVU. The Mountaineers are reeling right now and the last thing State wants to do is give them a boost of confidence. Scoring early and playing with the lead would not only help keep WVU down, but it would also quiet a hostile crowd and negate some of the Mountaineers' home field advantage.
TUNE OUT THE NOISE
Ah yes, that home crowd. Milan Puskar Stadium is famous for having one of the best atmospheres in college football and though while the game isn't a sellout, a large crowd is expected. And they're going to be doing everything they can to help their team and new coach turn things around and get the season headed in the right direction. Things don't always go according to plan, when when adversity hits -- and it will at some point in the game -- it's going to get loud. As Doeren said earlier this week, McKay in particular is going to hear some words he might never have heard before. It's incumbent on McKay and State's young players making their first road starts ignore the crowd, keep their poise and not get rattled by the hostile environment.
PRESSURE THE QUARTERBACK
WVU has been an incredibly one-dimensional team through its first two games under new coach Neal Brown. The Mountaineers have rushed for 114 yards and are averaging 1.1 yards per carry. In an effort to become more productive, Brown has made some lineup changes on his offense line. WVU will also get running back Leddie Brown back from an ankle injury. But even with those changes it's going to be hard to run against a State defense that is allowing the fourth fewest rushing yards in the FBS. All that adds up to a lot of passing by Mountaineers quarterback Austin Kendall. The Oklahoma transfer, who is in his first season as a college starter, has completed 63 percent of his passes thus far. But he's also been intercepted twice and is averaging less than 10 yards per completion. And he's been sacked six times. If the Wolfpack can keep him on the run and knock him down a few times, its chances of winning will go up exponentially
PREDICTION
WVU might eventually be a solid team once it settles in under it's new coach, but for now, the Mountaineers are ripe for the picking. As long as State doesn't lose its cool playing on the road for the first time or commit a bundle of turnovers, it should finally break its long nonconference Power 5 road drought ... Wolfpack 24, Mountaineers 16
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