West Virginia Prepares to Extend Winning Streak Against Texas Tech
West Virginia’s football team is gearing up to face off against Texas Tech this weekend, with hopes of extending their two-game winning streak. Head coach Neal Brown is seeking his third consecutive victory, a feat he has yet to accomplish in his five-year tenure. Despite his team’s recent success, Brown’s future at West Virginia remains uncertain, making a strong start to the Big 12 schedule crucial for his prospects.
In their previous matchups, Texas Tech has emerged victorious in the last four meetings between the two teams. However, West Virginia is determined to turn the tide and secure a win on their home turf. Texas Tech, currently sporting a 1-2 record, will face the challenge of playing two of their next three games on the road.
The key matchup to watch in this game will be Texas Tech’s run defense against West Virginia’s potent rushing attack. The Red Raiders have been allowing an average of 143 rushing yards per game, while the Mountaineers have been averaging 200 rushing yards. West Virginia’s quarterback, Garrett Greene, who adds a significant running threat, may not be available due to a sore ankle. If Greene is unable to play, redshirt freshman Nicco Marchiol could make his first career start as the backup.
One player to keep an eye on for Texas Tech is quarterback Tyler Shough. Shough has been averaging 46 rushing yards per game and ranks 16th among all Big 12 rushers. However, he has missed the last two meetings with West Virginia due to injuries. Although Shough has thrown seven touchdown passes this season, he has also thrown four interceptions and has been sacked nine times.
On the West Virginia side, cornerback Beanie Bishop has been making his presence felt with interceptions in the last two games. His interception return of 40 yards set up a crucial touchdown in the team’s win over Pittsburgh last week.
In terms of the series history, West Virginia and Texas Tech are tied at 6-6. West Virginia has averaged 18.5 points scored and allowed 36 points per game in their four meetings under Neal Brown. Interestingly, Brown was previously the offensive coordinator for Texas Tech from 2010 to 2012, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup.
As the game unfolds, it will be interesting to see if West Virginia can maintain their strong ground attack against Texas Tech’s run defense. If the Mountaineers can establish their running game early on and potentially exploit Texas Tech’s vulnerabilities, they will have a good chance at extending their winning streak. On the other hand, Texas Tech’s success may depend on their ability to contain West Virginia’s ground game and exploit any weaknesses in the Mountaineers’ defense.
The clash between West Virginia and Texas Tech promises to be an exhilarating match, with both teams eager to secure a victory. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for Neal Brown’s future as head coach of West Virginia. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action on ESPN+.
