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TCU has, by all accounts, exceeded expectations for the season. I don't think anyone looked at the schedule before the season and said, through seven games, we'll be 6-1 and should probably be 7-0.
The same could be said for West Virginia. The two newest teams in the Big 12 have taken it by storm in 2014, proving that their first two seasons were simply an adjustment period. Now, the two teams face off in front of the country, as this weekend's ESPN GameDay game.
The Mountaineers sit at 5-2 on the season, with losses to Alabama and Oklahoma the only blemishes on their record. They did what TCU could not, in defeating Baylor, but TCU did what they could not, in defeating OU.
Kevin White, West Virginia's top wide receiver, is a mirror image of Josh Doctson. White stands at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and has incredible hands, allowing him to make ridiculous catches in traffic. Once he has the ball, much like Doctson, he's got the speed to pull away from the secondary for the score. On the season White already has 72 receptions for 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns, and he'll be more of a handful for TCU's secondary than any receiver they've faced this season.
On the other side, Mario Alford already has 600 yards receiving and six touchdowns, and is a Deante' Gray style receiver.
Clint Trickett is closing in on 3,000 passing yards this season and to supplement, the Mountaineers have to receivers that have rushed for over 400 yards, at 4.6 yards per carry.
TCU's defense will be tested, but it has been up to the test most of the season. Meanwhile, West Virginia is improved on defense, but there are weaknesses to be exploited.The Mountaineers allow opponents 170 rushing yards per game and have allowed 11 rushing touchdowns on the season, with the weather looking to be rainy in the mid-40s, if TCU has to resort to the ground game, they'll have the edge. Regardless of weather though, running the ball should be priority No. 1.
Look for more about West Virginia throughout the week, as we get closer to TCU's first gameday appearance this season.