In a surprising turn of events, the WVU Mountaineers suffered a defeat to Kansas during their home opener last weekend. However, they are now shifting their focus to the upcoming Saturday’s game, where they will be hosting the Towson Tigers. It is worth noting that West Virginia sportsbooks have not yet released any odds for this potentially one-sided matchup.
It appears likely that WVU will dominate Towson, although similar expectations were held last week. Kansas’ recent victory over the Mountaineers was the first time they were defeated since November 2013, after winning their previous eight matchups.
While it may not be the appropriate moment to panic, the situation is not favorable for WVU. This season stands out as the first time since 1979 that the team has suffered defeats in its initial two matches.
In this analysis, we will review the Mountaineers’ most recent loss to the Jayhawks and provide a preview of their upcoming game against Towson on Saturday.
WVU football’s comeback falls short
WVU started off the game against Kansas with a bang, taking an early lead with a long touchdown pass and a strong drive to go up 14-0 in the first quarter.
After a remarkable turnaround, Kansas dominated the second and third quarters, outscoring WVU 35-14. As the clock ticked under 11 minutes, the Mountaineers found themselves trailing by 11 points and desperately required two exceptional drives to push the game into overtime.
The initial drive covered a distance of 64 yards in 14 plays, leading to a successful short field goal by Casey Legg. Subsequently, the defensive team forced a punt, granting the offensive unit an opportunity to equalize the score with approximately two minutes remaining.
Quarterback JT Daniels skillfully guided WVU down the field during a pivotal drive, resulting in a touchdown with only 35 seconds remaining. Demonstrating great chemistry, Daniels connected with wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton once more for a triumphant two-point conversion, equalizing the score to an exciting 42-42.
Following the Jayhawks’ successful conversion on their initial possession in overtime, the responsibility of equalizing fell upon WVU. Regrettably, mirroring the previous week’s occurrence, a pass from Daniels intended for Ford-Wheaton was intercepted and subsequently returned for a touchdown, ultimately sealing the outcome.
The visitors sealed the win as Cobee Bryant from KU intercepted Daniels and sprinted 86 yards.
Naturally, WVU supporters were also left unsatisfied by the disheartening outcome. With a spread of -14 points, the team’s performance resulted in a straightforward victory for KU bettors.
WVU’s record against the spread at WV sportsbooks falls to 1-1 overall, while the over continues its winning streak at 2-0.
Although the Mountaineers scored 42 points during the game, most of their points were obtained through their passing game. Tony Mathis Jr. and CJ Donaldson had several opportunities to run the ball, but they only averaged 3.7 yards per carry.
On the day, Daniels achieved an impressive 365 passing yards with a completion rate of 70%. He managed to score three touchdowns before unfortunately throwing an interception during overtime.
Once again, Ford-Wheaton emerged as the primary receiver for the team. The talented junior wide receiver showcased his skills by securing 11 receptions, accumulating 152 yards, and adding two additional touchdowns during this week’s game.
WVU football vs. Towson preview
In addition to Ford-Wheaton, another WVU receiver had a noteworthy performance. Sam James accumulated 91 yards on four receptions, while Kaden Prather finished with six catches for 79 yards.
It is evident from the score that the Mountaineers did not perform well on defense against Kansas. They allowed over 400 yards of offense without forcing any turnovers. Additionally, the defense failed to record any sacks and only managed three tackles for loss.
Without a doubt, the defense needs to step up from their lackluster performance in order to accomplish their season objectives. Fortunately, facing Towson should provide an opportunity for them to do so effortlessly.
Although the Tigers have a 2-0 record this year, WVU should be considered superior to their opponent in a separate category.
For two consecutive victories, Towson emerged victorious against Bucknell and Morgan State, prevailing by a total of nine points. It proudly competes in the Colonial Athletic Association alongside esteemed teams like New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware.
In September of last year, Towson suffered defeats in two games against non-conference opponents, North Dakota State and San Diego State, with respective point differences of 28 and 27.
This is probably the reason why WV sportsbooks have not yet provided odds for this match. The popular choices may unveil a line closer to the beginning of the game.
The Tigers are led by senior quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome, but they heavily rely on their running game. Junior running back Devin Matthews leads the team with 166 yards on 37 carries, while Pigrome has been more efficient in terms of statistics.
In the two games, the QB has accumulated a total of 155 yards on 31 attempts, resulting in an average of five yards per carry.
Despite the absence of odds from WV sportsbooks currently, WVU is likely to face minimal difficulties in this particular game. ESPN’s Football Power Index indicates a staggering 96% chance of winning for WVU in the upcoming Saturday’s match.
The event will commence at Milan Puskar Stadium at 1 p.m. ET.
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