West Virginia vs. Towson: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming matchup between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Towson Tigers.
GAME INFO
Saturday, September 17, 2022; 12:00 p.m. CT; Milan Puskar Stadium; Morgantown, West Virginia
TV: ESPN+ (Noah Reed, Adam Breneman)
Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network (Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace, Jed Drenning)
Records: West Virginia 0-2 (0-1 Big 12); Towson 2-0
Rankings: West Virginia unranked; Towson unranked
Series History: West Virginia leads series 1-0
Last Meeting: West Virginia 54, Towson 0 (2014)
Favorite: West Virginia (-31.5)
Fun Fact: West Virginia Defensive lineman Dante Stills has 45.5 career TFL’s, which ranks No. 2 in program history, and is now just 2.0 tackles for loss away from tying Grant Wiley for the school record (47.5).
KEY PLAYERS
West Virginia Mountaineers
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Through two weeks of play, junior wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton has been unstoppable for West Virginia. As J.T. Daniels favorite target, Ford-Wheaton has racked up 20 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns, including an 11-152-2 line last week. Unfortunately, two times that Daniels has targeted Ford-Wheaton have ended in interceptions, both of which have cost the Mountaineers the game.
DL Dante Stills
The heart and soul of the West Virginia defense, Dante Stills was a surprise returnee in 2022 and has made an impact for the Mountaineers thus far. With nine tackles, two TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, Stills has done his part to keep WVU in ball games. With two TFL’s this week, Dante Stills would become the all-time leader in tackles for loss at West Virginia.
Towson Tigers
QB Tyrrell Pigrome
Towson quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome leads the Tigers’ offense in 2022 and has been a dual-threat through two games this year. He has thrown for 352 yard and three touchdowns through two games, adding 31 rushing attempts for 155 yards, good for second on the team. A capable athlete, Pigrome will be the engine that makes the Towson offense go in 2022.
LB Mason Woods
Freshman linebacker Mason Woods has been an impact player for the 2-0 Tigers in his first two games. Woods ranks second on the team with 12 tackles, five of those being solo stops. He has made in impact in several other categories as well, recording one sack, one pass deflection, and one interception through the first two weeks. Woods will have his hands full on Saturday with surprise running back CJ Donaldson leading the way for the WVU running back room.
KEY STORYLINES
West Virginia Mountaineers
Before resuming Big 12 play, West Virginia needs to clean up its play on the field. The Mountaineers are -3 in turnover ratio, having fumbled four times and losing two of them, plus two costly interceptions. Add to that 19 penalties for a grand total of 137 yards over two games and you have sloppy football that has lost them two winnable games. Yes, West Virginia will win this game going away, but I am looking for a turnover free, and low penalty game if I’m a Mountaineer fan.
Towson Tigers
Towson brings in a 2-0 record and hopes of competing in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) this season, but expecting a win in Morgantown would likely lead to disappointment here. However, competing with West Virginia and putting some points on the board and getting a few stops throughout the game would be a good goal for the Tigers. A game against New Hampshire awaits Towson next week back in the confines of Johnny Unitas Stadium.
PREDICTION: West Virginia 45, Towson 3
This will be the get-right game that West Virginia desperately needs after getting hit in the mouth by Pitt and Kansas in back-to-back weeks. Expect the WVU offense to put up gaudy numbers in the first half and then rest most of its starters in the second. Another tough game awaits next week as the Mountaineers will head to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech Thursday night.
