West Virginia
7th Big 127-5
Iowa State
9th Big 126-6
West Virginia @ Iowa State preview
Jack Trice Stadium
The “Geno Smith for Heisman” train got off the tracks at about the same time West Virginia’s inaugural Big 12 season started to slip away. With two games left, the Mountaineers are just hoping to become bowl eligible and get their quarterback an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. West Virginia will be trying to snap a five-game losing streak when it visits Iowa State on Friday. The Cyclones earned their bowl eligibility with a win at Kansas last week while exploding for a season-high 51 points. That came under redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Richardson, who replaced senior Steele Jantz on the third possession and drove Iowa State for touchdowns on his first four chances. The Mountaineers have proven over and over during their losing streak that they have no answer for a quarterback that can make plays.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: West Virginia -1
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (5-5, 2-5 Big 12): Smith still has outstanding numbers but with his team success dwindling, what once seemed like a sure invitation to the Heisman ceremony has become an afterthought. The Mountaineers rank last in the nation in passing defense, allowing 364.6 yards, and have surrendered an average of 42.3 points - 123rd in the country. After winning shootouts over Baylor and Texas in its first two conference games, West Virginia has not quite been able to keep pace. Smith passed for 320 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma last week but Sooners quarterback Landry Jones topped him with 554 yards and six scores, including a touchdown pass with 24 seconds left that sealed the 50-49 victory.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (6-5, 3-5): Richardson threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score in his first extended playing time last week and will likely get the nod for his first career start Saturday. Whoever plays quarterback for the Cyclones will probably be able to put up points, the problem is stopping the Mountaineers. Iowa State uses a bend-don’t-break approach to defense, ranking seventh in the Big 12 in yards allowed but third in scoring defense, yielding an average of 22.6 points. The Cyclones will also try to keep Geno Smith and company off the field with their running game, which rolled up 241 yards last week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin caught four passes for 82 yards last week but also switched over to running back for the first time since high school and carried the ball 21 times for a school-record 344 yards.
2. Iowa State expects to break its all-time attendance record Friday.
3. Mountaineers WR Stedman Bailey was announced Monday as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation.
PREDICTION: Iowa State 45, West Virginia 38
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: West Virginia -1
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (5-5, 2-5 Big 12): Smith still has outstanding numbers but with his team success dwindling, what once seemed like a sure invitation to the Heisman ceremony has become an afterthought. The Mountaineers rank last in the nation in passing defense, allowing 364.6 yards, and have surrendered an average of 42.3 points - 123rd in the country. After winning shootouts over Baylor and Texas in its first two conference games, West Virginia has not quite been able to keep pace. Smith passed for 320 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma last week but Sooners quarterback Landry Jones topped him with 554 yards and six scores, including a touchdown pass with 24 seconds left that sealed the 50-49 victory.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (6-5, 3-5): Richardson threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score in his first extended playing time last week and will likely get the nod for his first career start Saturday. Whoever plays quarterback for the Cyclones will probably be able to put up points, the problem is stopping the Mountaineers. Iowa State uses a bend-don’t-break approach to defense, ranking seventh in the Big 12 in yards allowed but third in scoring defense, yielding an average of 22.6 points. The Cyclones will also try to keep Geno Smith and company off the field with their running game, which rolled up 241 yards last week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin caught four passes for 82 yards last week but also switched over to running back for the first time since high school and carried the ball 21 times for a school-record 344 yards.
2. Iowa State expects to break its all-time attendance record Friday.
3. Mountaineers WR Stedman Bailey was announced Monday as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation.
PREDICTION: Iowa State 45, West Virginia 38