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OPENING THOUGHTS
The only team left in the way of that 10th win is the controversial Baylor Bears. They’re crumbling, they’re polarizing, they’re coming to Morgantown.For the first time since joining the Big 12, the Mountaineers are on the doorstep of a 10th win and will (barring something unforeseen) will go to a pretty choice bowl game.
We all have opinions on the scandal of 30 for 30 proportions going on at Baylor. I personally think the NCAA should pull an SMU on them, but I digress.
I’m going to try to keep the rest of this preview on a strictly X’s and O’s platform. That way we try our best to treat the Bears like they’re every other opponent (even though they're not).
WHEN/WHERE
Date: Saturday, December 3rd
Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM ET
Where: The House That Epipens Built, Morgantown, WV
Tickets: General Public ; WVU Students
WATCH/LISTEN
TV: FS1
Streaming Video: FoxSportsGO (or the FoxSportsGO app for smartphones)
Radio: WZST Variety 101 (100.9 FM in Morgantown) and the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Radio Affiliates)
Streaming Audio: Locate the Mountaineers Sports Network from IMG on TuneIn Radio (or the TuneIn app for smartphones)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 136; XM 199
THREADS
West Virginia:
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Baylor:
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Green hats, white shirts, white pants
ODDS
Spread: WVU by 17-17.5
O/U: 66.5
Bill C:
| Spread (Home) | S&P+ Projection | Margin | Win Prob. | S&P+ Pick (ATS) | F/+ Projection | F/+ Pick (ATS) |
| -18 | West Virginia (36.6-27.5) | 9.1 | 70.0% | Baylor | West Virginia by 11.7 | Baylor |
WEATHER FORECAST
Partly cloudy during tailgate and commuting time with temps in the low 40s. The sky will turn to overcast at kickoff and temps will get closer to freezing as the game goes on.
THE ENEMY
Where are they from? Waco, Texas
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Series History: Series tied 2-2
Last Year: No. 2 Baylor 62, West Virginia 38
SB Nation Blog: Our Daily Bears
Record: 6-5 (3-5 Big 12)
Head Coach: Jim Grobe (for now…)
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KEYS TO THE GAME
- KD Cannon and Ishmael Zamora. Both of these guys make up most of Baylor’s receiving stats this season. Enter Rasul Douglas.
- RUN DEFENSE. Believe it or not, Shock Linwood had Heisman talks surrounding him a couple of years ago...
HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?
Three. I’m about as afraid of the Baylor Bears as I am of Disney’s Humphrey the Bear.
PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG
With the way Baylor is reeling right now I don’t see a win for them. Saturday’s game should be a really festive atmosphere to celebrate this year’s surprisingly good season and nothing would be better than creaming this unethical football program.
West Virginia 45, Baylor 21
BOWL PROJECTIONS
Looking like a trip to Orlando, possibly against an old Big East rival!
| WEBSITE | BOWL GAME | OPPONENT |
| 247Sports | Russell Athletic Bowl | Louisville |
| Athlon Sports | Russell Athletic Bowl | Pitt |
| Bleacher Report | Russell Athletic Bowl | Louisville |
| Campus Insiders | Russell Athletic Bowl | Miami |
| CBS Sports | Alamo Bowl | USC |
| College Football News | Russell Athletic Bowl | Louisville |
| ESPN (Big 12/ACC blogs) | Russell Athletic Bowl | Louisville |
| ESPN (McMurphy) | Russell Athletic Bowl | Miami |
| ESPN (Schlabach) | Russell Athletic Bowl | Miami |
| Fox Sports | Russell Athletic Bowl | Miami |
| NBC Sports | Russell Athletic Bowl | Virginia Tech |
| SB Nation | Russell Athletic Bowl | Florida State |
| Sports Illustrated | Alamo Bowl | Colorado |
| Sporting News | Alamo Bowl | USC |
| USA Today | Russell Athletic Bowl | Virginia Tech |