Are The West Virginia Mountaineers Still The Best In The Big 12 Conference?

For a team that graduated 20 seniors last year and lost key players to injury early this season, Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia Mountaineers should be getting a lot more respect than they are.

By Michael Miller@michaelmillerWV Nov 3, 2016, 12:53pm EDT

Welcome, By-Godders, to The Shotgun/Throwdown: WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

Football:

Are the Mountaineers still the Big 12’s best? | Heartland College Sports
For a team that graduated 20 seniors last year and lost key players to injury early this season, Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia Mountaineers should be getting a lot more respect than they are.

Nwachukwu coming on strong as season goes on | The Exponent Telegram
West Virginia defensive end Noble Nwachukwu has heated up after a slow start to the season, and become a force for the Mountaineers’ defense.

Lack of big plays a concern for WVU | The Exponent Telegram
Once upon a time, attending a West Virginia football game coached by Dana Holgorsen was like watching a pinball machine in operation, the ball bouncing off bumpers and being swatted around by flippers, bells ringing, buzzers buzzing, the score mounting with each passing second.

Jovon Durante’s role continues to evolve with WVU football | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There’s a reason teammates, defenders and fans notice Jovon Durante, and he’s only slightly shy about it.

Freshman running back itching to contribute if injuries require | WV MetroNews
Seven games in, preference dictates that Martell Pettaway continue on his redshirt path. Injuries could alter that plan, obviously, especially if No. 20 West Virginia stays in the Big 12 hunt.

WVU Legend Nehlen To Receive 2017 Stagg Award | WVU Athletics
Former Bowling Green State and West Virginia head coach, Don Nehlen, has been named the recipient of the AFCA’s 2017 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award.

Basketball:

Changes help WVU basketball bounce back | Charleston Gazette-Mail
As hard as it is to believe nowadays with a spot seemingly reserved in the top 25 and high seeds awarded for the NCAA tournament, West Virginia basketball was in need of a change not too long ago.

Around The Big XII:

Big 12 Week 10 game picks: A shootout for Horns-Red Raiders? | ESPN
Scoring should be in ample supply when QB Patrick Mahomes and the Red Raiders host the Longhorns on Saturday.

After disappointing 4-4 start, what's wrong with TCU? | ESPN
The Horned Frogs, who have struggled in close games this season, are still searching for consistent offense and clutch kicks as their bowl hopes fade.

Oklahoma Sooners WR Dede Westbrook enjoyed a sterling October | ESPN
Dede Westbrook was prolific in October with 881 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches as Oklahoma went unbeaten.

Around The NCAA:

Let’s talk college football title droughts. Which school is our Cleveland Indians? | SBNation
If this had been published one day earlier, it would be titled, "Which school is our Chicago Cubs?"

LSU must do these 4 things to even have a chance to upset Alabama | SBNation
Ed Orgeron can stake his claim to the permanent LSU job if he crashes the Playoff race on Saturday. Here’s how it can happen.

LSU’s radical new approach on offense: do what works | SBNation
For years, the Tigers sought to make defenses worry about power running and deep passes. Now they want defenses to worry about everything.

Big Ten schools have good reasons to oppose Friday night football games | SBNation
Night games are coming to the Big Ten. High schools coaches won’t like it, and neither will some colleges.

Alabama and Ohio State roll, plus 22 other picks for Week 10 of college football | SBNation
Let’s pick some winners in SB Nation’s weekly college football gambling column.

The Solid Verbal: Week 10 looks light on drama, so here it comes | SBNation
Now that we've entered into November (or ... NovemBERT, as it were), we can start asking both some big and little picture questions.