BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #3 WEST VIRGINIA

September 18, 2008


The love affair with ESPN and the Big East on Thursday night continues as West Virginia travels to meet Colorado for the primetime Thursday night match-up. The Mountaineers are coming off a disappointing loss on the road against East Carolina, 24-3, back on September 6th and will look to get back on the right track this week.

Colorado is 2-0 on the young season with a win over in-state rival Colorado State, 38-17, in their opener. The Buffaloes needed to rally back from a 21-7 halftime defecit in their second contest to edge Eastern Washington 31-24 at home in their second game.

After giving a little back to the sportsbook last night being on the wrong side of the Louisville-Kansas State match-up, we will go back to basics tonight. Colorado is at home under the lights for a primetime match-up. Winning this game is a high priority for the program that hit rock bottom with a 2-10 record in 2006, rebounded to earn a bowl bid with a 6-6 record last season, which included a home win over Oklahoma, and now looks to take another step forward in 2008.

Sophomore Cody Hawkins returns as the starting QB, but leads a largely inexperienced group on offense with just three seniors. The Buffaloes will need to spread the field and use their speed to their advantage.

Through two games we are not quite sure what to make off West Virginia. In their loss to East Carolina, QB Pat White threw for just 72 yards (11-18), but had success on the ground with 97 yards on 20 carries. Stud runnng back Noel devine added 94 more on the ground in just 12 carries, but WVU managed just 12 first downs in the contest. This followed an opener in which White went to the air 33 times (for 5 TD's, but still just 208 yards on 25 completions), so the identity of Bill Stewart's new squad is a little mixed right now. Not an easy job finding an identity in Boulder.

The listing for the NCAA College Football Lines has the Mountaineers as three-point road favorites. Until they settle on who they are...we are going to go with the home team in this contest.


Prediction:

Colorado 30
West Virginia 24