West Virginia Defense Primed For Georgia Southern's Triple Option Offense

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Football:

PredictionMachine.com simulations show WVU as top-25 team with 8 or 9 wins | WV MetroNews
After 50,000 computer simulations, the quantitative analysts at PredictionMachine.com rated West Virginia as the Big 12’s fourth-best team destined to win between eight to nine games.

Georgia Southern Preview | WVU Athletics
Georgia Southern has been one giant toothache for the West Virginia University football coaches to prepare for this summer. The Eagles do some unconventional things, especially on offense, requiring Mountaineer defensive coordinator Tony Gibson to spend more time in the film room than Gene Siskel. What Gibson has been watching is his personal "Nightmare on Elm Street."

Warning: Eagles coming to Morgantown for more than paycheck | Beckley Register-Herald
As the Mountaineers prepare to face a Georgia Southern team in just its second season as a Football Bowl Subdivision member, head coach Dana Holgorsen has been pumping up the Eagles more than he did Alabama before the 2014 opener.

Fritz: No Moral Victory Versus West Virginia | Blue Gold News
Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz acknowledged the night atmosphere expected here this week, but said the biggest focus for his team was its own execution in the season-opener against West Virginia – and that the only goal was made quite clear.

Mountaineer Defense Primed For GSU's Test | Blue Gold News
West Virginia's defensive effectiveness could be glimpsed in the initial stages of the game, but won't become fully known until late in the fourth quarter, when the unit has proven itself adept at the breadth of mental, physical and psychological challenges presented.

WVU defense will have its hands full with GSU scheme, playmakers | The Daily Athenaeum
Heading into Saturday’s prime-time season opener against the Georgia Southern Eagles, the West Virginia University football team will have their hands full stopping GSU’s tricky triple option offense and dynamic offensive weapons.

WVU defense moves into spotlight this season | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
With eight starters back, West Virginia’s defense hopes to build on its 2014 progress, but it will be counted on more than ever.

West Virginia LB Barber ready for return from ACL tear | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Senior linebacker Jared Barber has more in common with Shaq Petteway than just being a key member of West Virginia's 3-3-5 defense.

Tackling important for Joseph, WVU | The Exponent Telegram
Safety Karl Joseph is a fixture on any defensive highlight tape West Virginia University puts out. That’s how he came to be known as college football’s hardest hitter.

Terrell Chestnut Sets High Standards On and Off Field for WVU | WV Illustrated
The senior cornerback has taken a winding road to get to where he is now and with one season remaining, he plans to "go out on top" with the Mountaineers.

Will we recognize Holgorsen’s offense with running quarterback? | WV MetroNews
Funny, isn’t it, recalling 2012 and Geno Smith acting offended any time someone dared to label him a "running quarterback." Now West Virginia has three of them.

Offensive line must gel if WVU wants to score consistently | The Daily Athenaeum
It’s going to be a brand-new look for the West Virginia Mountaineers on offense this season. The old core of Clint Trickett, Kevin White and Mario Alford, the playmakers that made the WVU scoring attack hum, is lost, and a new quarterback and his newer receivers will be forced to rebuild. But while a lot has been made of how West Virginia will try to replace its big-name weapons, the losses of mainstay offensive linemen Mark Glowinski and Quinton Spain loom just as large.

Surging Bosch gets starting nod at right guard | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Ron Crook has figured out more than just the five starters on his offensive line. The West Virginia assistant football coach has also picked the first substitute for Saturday’s season-opening game against Georgia Southern.

This year’s Mountaineers have similarities to 2005 team | Charleston Gazette-Mail
His fifth season as West Virginia’s football coach begins in an unusual, though promising, position. The situation on offense, where he’s made his name, is the best available example.

Basketball:

ESPNU Adds Another Hoop Game | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University’s basketball game at Virginia Tech on Dec. 30 will be televised by ESPNU and will tip at noon.

Around The Big 12:

Big 12 Football Preview | WV Illustrated
The Associated Press College Football Preseason Top 25 poll was released Sunday afternoon, included in it were three Big 12 teams. Ironically the official ranking to start the College Football season puts the two Big 12 teams that were snubbed from the College Football Playoff in position to theoretically both get in to this year’s Playoff.

Hard Knocks: Playing Defense With TCU’s Gary Patterson | Grantland
The Horned Frogs have a Heisman candidate at quarterback and a shiny no. 2 preseason ranking, but the main attraction in Fort Worth remains the innovative 4-2-5 defense that’s proven uniquely capable of slowing the no-huddle and spread

Corner Matthew Boateng Dismissed From Kansas | Land Grant Gauntlet
Are you athletic? Do you attend the University of Kansas? If you answered yes to both of those questions, first-year Jayhawk head coach David Beaty might want to talk to you. It’s been a tough, tough preseason for KU, and it’s not getting any easier as they get ready to take the field on Saturday.

The Walk-on: Meet Kansas DE T.J. Semke, part-time bounty hunter | Campus Rush
The first time he tagged along to track down bad guys, T.J. Semke threw on jeans, boots and a cut-off T-shirt—the standard outfit for someone living in Lee's Summit, Mo.—in hopes that his toned frame might intimidate the law-breaker from running. It didn't work.

Oklahoma kicks off the season Saturday, playing host to Akron | FOX Sports
Bob Stoops and Oklahoma are looking to get off to a strong start as they play host to Akron in the season opener.

Tennessee Plans To Welcome Sooners With Checkered Stadium | Land Grant Gauntlet
With expectations high for the Vols' 2015 season, they're organizing a special welcome as they look to atone for last seasons loss to the Sooners.

Central Michigan, QB Rush have Oklahoma State's attention | FOX Sports
The final quarter of Central Michigan's 2014 season has Oklahoma State's attention heading into their matchup on Thursday night.

Baylor handling of sex assault cases gets outside probe | FOX Sports
Baylor University has hired a Philadelphia law firm to independently investigate the university's handling of sexual assault complaints, including one against defensive end Sam Ukwuachu.

Around The NCAA:

Heisman odds: Ezekiel Elliott, Trevone Boykin are preseason favorites | SI.com
After a fantastic run to end last season, Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott enters 2015 as the preseason betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin checks in as a co-favorite, with several others trailing behind the pair.

Back in the day, college football scheduling was fun. (But now it's much, much better.) | SBNation
If teams scheduled like they did 30 years ago, you might have fewer cupcakes. But you'd have fewer big games, fewer bowls, no conference titles, no Playoff ... and still plenty of cupcakes.

As the 2015 college football season kicks off, game-changing litigation looms | Sporting News
When the 2015 college football season kicks off Thursday evening with North Carolina and South Carolina playing at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, headlines involving the NCAA and student-athlete rights will move to the backburner, replaced by game stories, playoff discussion and Heisman candidates.

You rarely get to see head coaches having fun, so these 13 Big Ten ads are cool | SBNation
Your first look at Pat Fitzgerald with a bunch of cats! Paul Chryst jumpin' around! Kyle Flood sharpening an axe!

Cardale Jones rushed to hospital with severe headache, according to family | Sporting News
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones isn't doing well just days before the Buckeyes' season opener against Virginia Tech, according to family members.

Have the Rams finally figured out what to do with Tavon Austin? | SBNation
The Rams have a new offensive coordinator, and that could mean big things for Tavon Austin.

Brandon Marshall believes Tavon Austin has had a 'great offseason' | FOX Sports
Head coach Jeff Fisher believes Tavon Austin is poised for a breakout year in 2015. Now Austin is receiving high praise from wideout Brandon Marshall.

Bruce Irvin has advice for Seahawks rookie Frank Clark about entering the NFL with 'baggage' - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
Bruce Irvin has had plenty of advice for Seahawks rookie Frank Clark when it comes to overcoming a turbulent past. Irvin told 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Salk" on Tuesday that he's spoken with Clark about the extra pressure that comes with entering the league with "baggage."

Cris Collinsworth says Jets could very easily stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick after Geno Smith heals | NJ.com
When Geno Smith's broken jaw heals, will he be the Jets' starting quarterback again? Or will the Jets stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick?

North Carolina vs. South Carolina
6PM this evening on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. South Carolina and the Ol' Ball Coach are 2 point favorites.

Oklahoma State vs. Central Michigan
7PM on ESPNU from Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, MI. The Cowboys ride into Mount Pleasant as 23.5 point favorites

Michigan vs. Utah
8:30PM on Fox Sports 1 from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT. The Jim Harbaugh Era begins with the Wolverines as 5 point underdogs to the Utes.

(2) TCU Horned Frogs vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
9PM tonight on ESPN from TCF Bank Stadium. The Horned Frogs are spotting the Gophers 17 points in the season opener.

A guide to all of college football's opening night games | Sports On Earth
The wait is over. Nearly eight months after the national championship game, we have new games that will produce results that we'll wildly overreact to, because that is what always happens during Week 1. Here are picks and previews for all 19 opening night games.

College football TV/streaming schedule guide, Week 1: 5 straight days of action | SBNation
The season's here, y'all, and you're busy watching college football through Labor Day.

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