West Virginia will be on the road Saturday as they take on Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys are 3-2 after losing back-to-back games against ranked opponents in Utah and Kansas State. WVU is 2-2, coming off a bye week and defeating Kansas prior.
Our staff makes their predictions:
Ashley O’Brien:
West Virginia will be stepping into a tough road environment in Stillwater on Saturday. However, they have fared slightly better on the road than at home all-time against Oklahoma State. Last year’s matchup got out of hand when OSU running back Ollie Gordon took over in the fourth quarter. While I believe he’ll be less effective, I think he’ll still play a crucial part in Oklahoma State defeating WVU. I predict a close one, but West Virginia’s defense will be unable to make the big stops late.
OSU 28, WVU 24
Ryan Roddy:
This is a must-win game for Oklahoma State. A loss to West Virginia on Saturday would put them in a 0-3 hole at the start of their Big 12 play schedule. Ollie Gordon has gotten off to somewhat of a slow start this season against Power Four teams, but I predict he’ll refind his footing against the Mountaineers and be key in the Cowboys’ success. For West Virginia, look for them to try to establish a run game of their own, which starts with their signal caller, Garrett Greene. Also, look out for Hudson Clement to continue to impress and piece together another head-turning performance. In the end, I expect a high-scoring affair in which Oklahoma State comes out on top.
OSU 42, WVU 34
Korey Moore:
Neal Brown says everyone is healthy, and if that’s the case, the Mountaineers should be a lot more energized than an OSU team without a conference win or a break. Garrett Greene seems primed for a bit of a boost in production right about now, and Alan Bowman is only taking steps back for the Cowboys. Ollie Gordon II has not been used nearly as much as he was last season, so as long as he does not have another breakout game against WVU, Oklahoma State has an offense that can be stopped. The Mountaineers’ defense will of course struggle more than they need to, but this will be a race to the finish line offensively, and I think West Virginia will win it.
WVU 31, OSU 27
Tanner Mountz:
In what could be called a must-win for both teams, I expect both West Virginia and Oklahoma State to come out very desperate for a win. The Cowboys will be playing to keep any chance of making the college football playoffs alive while the Mountaineers will look to regain some positive energy moving to the toughest part of their schedule. Ollie Gordon II is going to be a critical piece for Oklahoma State on the ground. WVU might not be able to stop him, but they do need to contain him. This game will all come down to whether or not the Mountaineer defense can force Alan Bowman into turnovers. Other teams have done it a lot this season but the WVU secondary has struggled to do so throughout the year thus far. I think the extra bye week for WVU helps keep this game close but Oklahoma will pull it out in the end.
OSU 27, WVU 24
RJ Russell:
I think WVU starts off slow early in the game this week, coming off a bye week, but I think the offense will find its identity fast and get back to scoring points. Oklahoma State struggles to stop the run, and I believe West Virginia will be able to establish a strong rushing attack to ultimately win this game.
WVU 38, OSU 28
Joe Antenucci:
The Mountaineers look to capitalize on the road against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State, which was ranked for the first five weeks of the season. Oklahoma State ranks 25th in the country in points per game, presenting a significant test for WVU’s defense. For West Virginia to succeed on Saturday, they need to dominate in the running game. The trio of Jaheim White, CJ Donaldson, and Garrett Greene must take advantage of Oklahoma State’s struggling run defense, which is giving up an average of 224.3 rushing yards per game — one of the worst marks in the country. If the Mountaineers can establish the run early, they have a good chance of taking care of business, but it will also depend on whether the defense, particularly the secondary, can hold its own.
WVU 31, OSU 27
