West Virginia vs. Baylor: Preview, Prediction, and Game Odds
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Baylor Bears.
GAME INFO
Saturday, November 25; 6:00 p.m. CT; McLane Stadium; Waco, Texas
TV: FS1
Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network (Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace, Jed Drenning); Baylor Sports Network (John Morris, J.J. Joe, Ricky Thompson)
Records: West Virginia 7-4 (5-3); Baylor 3-8 (2-6)
Last Week: West Virginia 42, Cincinnati 21; TCU 42, Baylor 17
Rankings: N/A
Series History: West Virginia leads 7-4
Last Meeting: West Virginia 43, Baylor 40 (2022)
Line: West Virginia (-9.5)
Fun Fact:Â If not for a 38-36 win for West Virginia in 2017, every game in this series would have alternating winners from year to year. The Mountaineers have wins in 2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2012. Meanwhile, Baylor’s wins have all come in odd years: 2021, 2019, 2015, and 2013.
KEY PLAYERS
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
QB GARRETT GREENE
Junior quarterback Garrett Greene is coming off of a monster performance against Cincinnati in week 12 where he accounted for a total of 364 yards and four touchdowns. Greene was effective as both a passer and as a rusher with 12 completions for 210 yards and a score through the air, paired with 11 carries for 154 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Florida native will have an opportunity to keep his hot streak going against a shaky Baylor defense in Week 13.
LB LEE KPOGBA
West Virginia linebacker Lee Kpogba has been the model of consistency this season for the Mountaineers’ defense this season leading his team with 81 total tackles. Kpogba has also recorded three sacks and a forced fumble in his senior season which brings his career numbers to 7.5 sacks and the lone fumble. While Baylor’s offense has been inconsistent in 2023, Kpogba will be tasked with slowing down the Baylor rushing attack which has helped the Bears find success in their lone wins.
BAYLOR BEARS
QB SAWYER ROBERTSON
According to Dave Aranda earlier this week, it sounds like Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen is “not looking great right now” when it comes to his chances of playing vs. West Virginia. If Shapen is unable to go, Sawyer Robertson would step in as the starter. On the year, Robertson has thrown for 649 yards and one touchdown with four interceptions. He’ll need to be much better than that if BU hopes to pull of an upset on Senior Day.
LB MATT JONES
Senior linebacker Matt Jones has been the leader of a much-maligned Bears defense this season, pacing the team in tackles (76), sacks (4.0), and tackles for losses (10.0) in 2023. Jones’ leadership has been paramount to any of the success that Baylor has had defensively this season, and despite the down year as a unit, Jones has turned in the best season of his career in Waco.
KEY STORYLINES
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Can West Virginia put together a complete performance on the road? Three of the Mountaineers’ four losses have come away from Milan Puskar Stadium, and their final road test of the year comes against Baylor, which has grown into something of an unpredictable series. Getting to 8-4 on the year would be massive for Neal Brown and Co., and would look worlds better than 7-5. Can they put it all together for one more week?
BAYLOR BEARS
Is Sawyer Robertson capable of beating a team like West Virginia? It doesn’t sound like Blake Shapen will go, and that’s a big problem if you’re the Baylor Bears. Robertson has been ineffective as a downfield passer and has shown the propensity to put the ball in harm’s way. Can Robertson buck that trend against a West Virginia defense that holds up fairly well against the pass? If not, it could be a long day for the Bears.
PREDICTION: WEST VIRGINIA 38, BAYLOR 14
With Blake Shapen not likely to go in this game, I like the Mountaineers to win and cover in this matchup. These two teams are headed in different directions as the season comes to a close and there’s not many things going right for Dave Aranda’s group right now. With West Virginia motivated to continue proving they’re much better than “14,” I think Neal Brown’s group gets to 8-4 on the year and secures a good bowl bid with a blowout win.
