BAYLOR VS. WEST VIRGINIA 6-5 9-2
WHEN: 2:30 P.M. SATURDAY • WHERE: MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM, MORGANTOWN, W. VA. • TV: FS1 • RADIO: 1070 AM
Series history: Tied 2-2.
Key players: BU — QB Zach Smith, RB Terence Williams, LB Raaquan Davis; WVU — QB Skyler Howard, RB Martell Pettaway, CB Rasul Douglas.
Who has the edge:
Offense — West Virginia. The Mountaineers and Bears have similar averages across the season, with the Mountaineers averaging 33.4 points and 514.6 yards and the Bears at 36.2 and 530.9. But the Bears are without injured QB Seth Russell, they’re averaging only 27.2 points during their five-game skid, and they trailed Texas Tech, with the worst defense in the Big 12, 34-7 before making their 54-35 loss look closer than it was.
Defense — West Virginia. West Virginia and Baylor are first and second, respectively, in pass defense efficiency, and third and fourth, respectively in total defense, with West Virginia allowing 430.4 yards per game and Baylor 435.5. But the Mountaineers held Kansas, Texas and Iowa State to an average of 20 points in its past three wins and the Bears are allowing 47.6 points per game in their five-game losing streak.
Special teams — West Virginia. Baylor K Chris Callahan is 9-of-14 on field goals, making him, statistically, the worst kicker in the Big 12. West Virginia K Mike Molina is 14-of-19.
Notable: The Bears and Mountaineers have alternated wins since their series began in 2012, with the Bears winning 73-42 and 62-38 in Waco and the Mountaineers prevailing 70-63 and 4127 in Morgantown. Russell torched West Virginia in last year’s Bears win, throwing for 330 yards and five TDs and rushing for 160 yards and a TD.
About Baylor: Once upon a time, the Bears (6-5, 3-5) were 6-0 and seemingly impervious to the controversy surrounding their program. Then they lost to Texas, and Texas Christian, and Oklahoma, Kansas State and, most recently, Texas Tech. Losing Russell was a big blow, but they won with a third-string QB last year.
About West Virginia: The Mountaineers (9-2, 6-2) would be perfect if not for those pesky Oklahoma schools. Still, they haven’t lost to a Texas squad, and handled Iowa State with ease last week, winning 49-19.