The Shotgun/Throwdown: James Madison defense likely to key in on West Virginia’s backs on Saturday

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Football

Brown expects James Madison defense to focus on WVU backs | WV MetroNews
Neal Brown expects James Madison to dare him to win Saturday’s season opener through the air.

Hot Reads: Clear and Present Danger | West Virginia University Athletics
Jed Drenning goes back 205 years to make a point about Saturday's season-opening game against giant killer James Madison, a program known for punching above

WVU, JMU cut from similar cloth | Blue Gold News
Saturday’s opening day combatants at Mountaineer Field, West Virginia and James Madison, have each plucked often from the transfer tree in recent years, but not necessarily from the same branch.

The transformation of Chase Behrndt | Times West Virginian
When West Virginia opened summer camp, Chase Behrndt was in a new dimension. It was like everything was coming up good in his life. After bouncing from defense to guard, he seemingly had found a home at center, playing No. 1 at the position as WVU went to camp at the start of August. But something went wrong.

Bonamico standing out on special teams | Times West Virginian
You look at Dante Bonamico, the one time Carl Lee Award winner given to the state’s best defensive back while he was at Bridgeport High, and you see someone who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 188 pounds. You don’t equate that with a head-banging safety about to enter his redshirt junior year at West Virginia, but the problem is you don’t look at him the way he looks at himself.

Return to West Virginia more than just a game for Cignetti family | WV MetroNews
In an unusual twist, the home coach’s experience in his home stadium pales in comparison to a visitor who will be ending a 35-year hiatus from the town where he grew up.

West Virginia Athletics

No. 12 Mountaineers Welcome High Point Friday | West Virginia University Athletics
The No. 12-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer returns to Morgantown to take on High Point on Friday, Aug. 30. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Mountaineers Open Campaign at Monmouth | West Virginia University Athletics
The No. 20/23/25 West Virginia University men's soccer team begins the 2019 season with a trip to Monmouth on Friday, Aug. 30. Kick off at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn in West Long Branch, New Jersey, is set for 4 p.m. ET.

WVU Opens 2019 Season in Delaware | West Virginia University Athletics
In its fifth season under coach Reed Sunahara, the West Virginia University volleyball team opens the 2019 season at the Delaware Classic on Friday, Aug. 31, inside the Bob Carpenter Center, in Newark, Delaware.

Around the Big 12

Texas is back? Longhorns have started past two years 0-1 | FOX Sports
If Texas is really going to be back among college football's elite, the Longhorns have to first win a season opener

No. 21 Iowa State opens promising season with Northern Iowa | FOX Sports
Iowa State fans have never been more excited for a season to get started. The Cyclones were ranked in the preseason poll for the first time in 41 years behind a punishing defense, a young quarterback who seems destined for stardom and a coach who always seems to push the right buttons. And yet, the enthusiasm of Iowa State’s supporters might give way to a tiny bit of pause when they see Northern Iowa

Oklahoma St starting QB still a mystery for Oregon St game | FOX Sports
Oklahoma State still hasn't officially named a starting quarterback heading into Friday night's season opener against Oregon State

K-State begins Chris Klieman era against Nicholls State | FOX Sports
Kansas State coach Chris Klieman knows better than to overlook Nicholls State, the lower-level opponent visiting for his debut with the Wildcats

Around the NCAA

Sportsbooks split on Tide, Tigers as title favorites | ESPN
Sportsbooks across the country are split between Clemson and Alabama winning the national title, but the bigger bets in Las Vegas have been placed on the Crimson Tide.

Which Teams Could Dethrone Clemson and Alabama This Season? | The Ringer
The college football world is ruled by twin powers. So who could challenge Alabama and Clemson for playoff superiority in 2019?

Hurricane threat moves FSU-Boise to Tallahassee | ESPN
With a state of emergency already being declared in Florida due to the threat of Hurricane Dorian, the Florida State-Boise State game on Saturday will be moved from Jacksonville to Tallahassee.

Be skeptical when big college athletic departments act broke | Banner Society
Official numbers need to be taken with several grains of salt.

How Gus Malzahn got that massive buyout | Banner Society
How one agent, no athletic director, two schools, and two very specific wins flipped Gus Malzahn from the hot seat to a massive contract extension

Chair shots to the head in wrestling are an unnecessary risk with permanent consequences | SB Nation
AEW’s mission is to support its wrestlers. Allowing unprotected chair shots flies in the face of that.

An Oral History of ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’ | The Ringer
As the legendary skateboarding video game turns 20, its creators and Mr. 900 himself reflect on its creation, soundtrack, and legacy

James Madison Dukes vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Saturday at 2PM ET on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh from Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers are just a 7 point favorite over the Dukes in their home opener.

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Oregon State Beavers
Friday at 10:30PM ET on FS1 from Corvallis, Oregon. Oklahoma State enters without a starting quarterback named, but are still 14 point favorites over the Pac12 basement dwelling Beavers.

Northern Iowa Panthers vs. No. 21 Iowa State Cyclones
Saturday at Noon ET on FS1 from Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are 18.5 point favorites to kick off what they hope is a Big 12 championship season.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Baylor Bears
Saturday at 7PM ET on ESPN+ from Waco, Texas. The Bears are favored by 38 points, but since has being a heavy underdog stopped a Stephen F. Austin team?

Nicholls Colonels vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Saturday at 7PM ET on ESPN+ from Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats start the Chris Klieman era as 23.5 point favorites.

No. 11 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 16 Auburn Tigers
Saturday at 7:30PM ET on ABC from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Auburn is favored by 4 points over the Ducks.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. No. 10 Texas Longhorns
Saturday at 8PM ET on The Longhorn Network from Austin, Texas. The Longhorns start the TEXAS BACK 2019 campaign as a 19.5 point favorite over a CUSA team.

Houston Cougars vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners
Sunday at 7:30PM ET on ABC from Norman, Oklahoma. Some guy I’ve never heard of before attempts to do something he’s never been able to do. The Sooners are 23 point favorites.

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