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West Virginia (5-4) just needs one win to become bowl eligible, but it needs to do far more than that down the stretch against the easy part of the schedule. Kansas (0-10) is coming off its best performance of the season in a 23-17 loss to TCU, but it’s still winless for the season and on a run of 13 straight losses 18 of its last 19. Check out the West Virginia vs. Kansas game preview and prediction.

West Virginia vs. Kansas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

Network: FOX College

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Why You Need To Care

West Virginia got the two wins it needed to have over Texas Tech and Texas in the last few weeks to establish itself as the fifth-best team in the Big 12 – that’s not that bad. Now it can’t blow the layup if it wants a good overall record and to not be laughed at by the rest of the Big 12. The chance is there to finish up red hot by beating Iowa State and Kansas State after this week’s scrimmage. Finish with five straight regular season wins, and take a bowl game, and this will be the hot team going into the offseason.

Kansas had its moment. It was never really going to beat TCU, but it showed off an aggressive defense and just enough offense to be interesting against a team pushing for a playoff spot. The victories are all moral right now, and not getting blasted by a bazillion is a plus. This is still the nation’s worst defense, and the offense is among the worst in college football in a league that has some of the best attacks in all of sports. Next week’s finale against Kansas State is the win the team will really want, but it’ll take anything it can get.

Why West Virginia Will Win

The Kansas offense is awful, but the defense is the biggest issue giving up a college football high 578 yards per game with the run defense particularly galling. The big plays have been there, but for the most part the run defense has been getting pounded on. Texas ran for six touchdowns, Memphis five, Oklahoma State four, and everyone but South Dakota State has gotten fat with 200 yards or more. The West Virginia rushing offense has found its groove with 557 yards and six touchdowns over the last two games.

Why Kansas Will Win

Can the pass rush kick it in like it did last week against TCU? The Jayhawks not only came up with three sacks, but it knocked Trevone Boykin out of the game and came up with eight tackles for loss. As bad as the D has been, at least it’s been getting behind the line with 15 tackles for loss in the last two games 33 in the last five games. A few big defensive plays, and considering all of the penalties West Virginia gets hit for, there should be several stalled Mountaineers drives.

Player Who Matters

Kansas senior DE Ben Goodman, Jr. has turned into a key playmaker late in the season for the struggling D. A decent pass rusher, the 6-3, 253-pounder cranked up eight tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss against TCU, and on the year he’s come up with a team-leading 9.5 tackles for loss with 5.5 sacks. He has to do even more to help out the rest of the defense against the balanced West Virginia offense.

What’s Going To Happen?

Kansas had its fun, but West Virginia is going to come in looking for a bowl bid. The Mountaineer offense will put this away by halftime.

West Virginia vs. Kansas Prediction

Final Score: West Virginia 52, Kansas 20, Line: West Virginia -28, o/u: 59.5

Must See Rating: 5: The Night Before – 1: Donny! … 2