West Virginia vs Houston will be played Thursday, as the Mountaineers hope to be a game where they can get to 3-0 in Big 12 play.
Our staff predicts how they think the game will go and they give their score predictions for Thursday night’s contest.
Ashley O’ Brien: West Virginia sees a familiar friend in Dana Holgorsen, with two teams in two very different places. West Virginia is looking to stay near the top of the Big 12 as they are off to a 2-0 start in conference play. For Houston, they are looking to be the first addition of this year to get a team against what could be called the “old” Big 12. I think the bye week gives the Mountaineers a big added bonus from how beat up they were. I think this offense is set to get on track in a big way this week and I think the defense does enough to stop Houston’s strong offense.
West Virginia 35, Houston 31
Wesley Shoemaker: Coming into the year, you thought this might be a brutal look for either head coach as there were not high expectations for either team. The Mountaineers have exceeded expectations through five games but now it’s about how do they handle success. Will West Virginia show up and continue to play inspired football like they have the last two games or are they going to fall to the level of their competition and be in for a long Texas night. I think things are close, and I think the question marks surrounding Aubrey Burks and Wyatt Milum will have big implications on this game. I do think though that the Mountaineers get to 3-0 in Big 12 play with a win Thursday night.
West Virginia 34, Houston 24
Aaron Parker: After an impressive 4-1 start to the season, I think a Thursday night game against a struggling Houston team could be a trap game. Dana Holgorsen’s teams have always had a history of scoring a high clips, but this year’s Houston team seems to be capable, yet inconsistent in that department. The Cougars put up four touchdowns in a loss to Texas Tech and 41 points in a loss to Rice, which tells us the defense isn’t quite there. With WVU’s offense still not where it needs to be, I think it will be vital for the Mountaineers to score early and often. If that doesn’t happen, don’t be surprised if Holgorsen’s squad pulls the upset, but I do think WVU will again find a way to get it done.
West Virginia 27, Houston 21
Patrick Reneau: This week I think the mountaineers go into Houston and make a statement. I see this as a game where they can really get everything on the same page offensively and defensively. The Houston passing attack will be unlike one the mountaineers have seen but I see them stopping it to an extent. I think West Virginia jumps out to an early lead and never looks back.
West Virginia 35, Houston 21
Mark Wratchford: Ah yes, the Dana Holgorsen revenge game. West Virginia is sitting as a 2.5-point favorite but in my opinion, that spread should be way higher in favor of West Virginia. West Virginia has turned their season around after a season-opening loss to Penn State, while Houston has been regarded in the most recent of conference power rankings as the worst team in the Big 12. West Virginia has baited opposing quarterbacks into having bad games here in recent weeks, and I feel they can do the same against Houston’s Donovan Smith. For what it’s worth, Texas Tech and TCU both beat Houston by double digits, and West Virginia has beaten both of those teams already this season.
West Virginia 33, Houston 10
Korey Moore: There is no doubt in my mind that West Virginia can keep the Cougars winless in conference play, but I also think the Mountaineers could lose this game. There are a number of slight abnormalities in the atmosphere of this game, with it being on Thursday night in Texas after a week of going without the Texas time change. West Virginia will also not be at home for this game and, deserved or not, have new expectations to live up to. At the end of the day, I think these factors will give Houston a bit of a boost, but it will only be enough to scare the No. 2 team in the Big 12 standings. Injury concerns exist for WVU, but Neal Brown and his team seem confident that there are enough options available, regardless of whether or not Milum and Burks play. Especially considering how Houston has fared defensively this season, the Mountaineers should be able to make up for any potential defensive liabilities caused by the Burks injury.
West Virginia 27, Houston 21
Bryce Cohen: West Virginia is fresh off a bye week to face Houston in Texas. The Thursday night matchup is highly anticipated as the Mountaineers face off against former head coach Dana Holgorsen. The Mountaineers need a big win to cement themselves as true contenders in the Big 12. They’re 2-0 in conference play, but both wins came down to the wire. Their only blow-out win was against an FCS opponent (Duquesne). I think the Mountaineers have a statement win, both on the offensive side and defensive side. Garrett Greene will throw for two touchdown passes and rush for two more, while the defense racks up six sacks. The Mountaineers keep the winning ways rolling before a key matchup with Oklahoma State.
West Virginia 35, Houston 10
