Who's Afraid of W. Virginia?

[CroKev]

I keep hearing a lot of folks on here predicting a sure loss to W. Virginia, but I just don't get it. They were 7-6 with several losses to unranked teams (beaten up in their bowl game by a 7-6 Utah team). Granted, we were terrible last year. But if you look at the recruiting rankings on 247 for the last 5 years below, we have a big advantage in recruiting. Assuming that CJP & company are better coaches than Holgorsen et al., we should have a good shot at beating these guys.

YEAR....UT....WV
2018....20....35
2017....17....57
2016....14....39
2015..... 4....35
2014..... 7....39

I know the recruiting thing is fluid with injuries, transfers, etc. but, still, there's no good excuse for these guys (coaches & players) to lose this one. Flame away.

 

[zeppelin128]

I keep hearing a lot of folks on here predicting a sure loss to W. Virginia, but I just don't get it. They were 7-6 with several losses to unranked teams (beaten up in their bowl game by a 7-6 Utah team). Granted, we were terrible last year. But if you look at the recruiting rankings on 247 for the last 5 years below, we have a big advantage in recruiting. Assuming that CJP & company are better coaches than Holgorsen et al., we should have a good shot at beating these guys.

YEAR UT WV
2018 20 35
2017 17 57
2016 14 39
2015 4 35
2014 7 39

We are returning the same defense that gave up 600 yards to Vandy. I know we have new coaches, but I ain't buying it until I see it. WVU's offense will torch our secondary.

 

[UT Hill Man]

This is a game we should expect to win.

I understand lowered expectations against Bama right now.

Not with fricking West Virginia.

 

[Biopsyman]

We will be shredded... We have a Big East roster thanks to Jones, New System, New everything....Unsure at QB. OL... Hell the the whole Offense and Defense... NOT GOOD

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I am not afraid of WV. IMO, it all comes down to changing our entire football culture. We have a team full of lazy, undeveloped players who have been under the tutelage of yet another one of the SECs worst coaches of all time.

We still have depth issues on all levels. Trouble with the OL. A new offensive and defensive scheme. Guys switching positions. And lets not forget, we had the worst season and one of the worst defenses in school history last year. WV returns most of its offense that can light the scoreboard and stat sheet up. We return an offense that had trouble scoring against teams like UMASS and Vandy.

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

Not afraid at all. Their defense is trash and we’ve got more talent. Bottom line. It’s a winnable game.

 

[tnvol16]

not afraid at all. Their defense is trash and we’ve got more talent. Bottom line. It’s a winnable game.

w.g.w.t.f.a.

 

[VOLnMiami]

Yeah they are gonna smoke us....Our defense is horrid...Even JG had a field day against it the other day.

 

[Wylo]

Tennessee lost 8 games last year. Everyone that fields a team should make Tennessee fans worry. Stop with the we are Tennessee crap.

Tennessee is a big east team until they prove they aren't.

 

[volfannbama]

Noone here should he afraid, we are only going to be watch the vols get there butt kicked

 

[VolinMC]

Not scared of them just do not know if this team can do the job yet myself. If the players can improve from last year and the new ones can play plus not many key injuries I believe they got a chance to win. It's a 50/50 game right now.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

I think you guys are underestimating just how bad Butch Jones was, recruiting rankings are nice but point to one player he and his staff developed?

 

[fade route]

We’re getting boat raced

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Not scared of WVU but don't expect a win.

The defensive roster is thin and unsettled thanks to injury and lousy recruiting by Jones.

The defense is also working in a new system which was historically bad the last time the Vols tried to transition to it(Sunseri).

I'd expect a high scoring game but don't think the Vols have the horses on offense to keep up.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

I ain't skeered but let's face it, we are returning a defense that was steamrolled by much worse teams last year (Vandy, GTECH).

 

[Vol423]

Afraid of West VA? No. Expect them to best us this year? Yes, probably by 10+ points.

 

[Munarb]

I keep hearing a lot of folks on here predicting a sure loss to W. Virginia, but I just don't get it. They were 7-6 with several losses to unranked teams (beaten up in their bowl game by a 7-6 Utah team). Granted, we were terrible last year. But if you look at the recruiting rankings on 247 for the last 5 years below, we have a big advantage in recruiting. Assuming that CJP & company are better coaches than Holgorsen et al., we should have a good shot at beating these guys.

YEAR....UT....WV
2018....20....35
2017....17....57
2016....14....39
2015..... 4....35
2014..... 7....39

I know the recruiting thing is fluid with injuries, transfers, etc. but, still, there's no good excuse for these guys (coaches & players) to lose this one. Flame away.

No one is saying WVU is a playoff team, but we are talking about a Tennessee team that lost 8 games, went 15 quarters without a TD, and had a defense that couldn't stop UMASS...

A lot of people on here like to predict our W/L record based on what we COULD be. Most sane people predict based on what we HAVE seen.

 

[Special Ed]

Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Taylor)?

 

[LibertyVolance]

Nobody is afraid of WV, but I still see them torching our defense in the opener. Whatever they lacked in recruiting, they gained in development and continuity.

 

[wtmvol]

There are several things about the state of West Virginia that should frighten you.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Scared? Absolutely not.

Respectful? Definitely.

West Virginia is "peer competition." We and they (and Florida and South Carolina) all float around the same rough ability level as programs these days. We have more raw talent than the Mountaineers; they have more stable coaching and better player development over the past few years.

Bottom line is, they're a good team. Not Alabama or Clemson, but a good team and our peers. Beating them will be an achievement worthy of celebration. Losing to them would not be a disaster.

So, yeah. No fear.

 

[Boca Vol]

I don't need to look at subjective recruiting rankings as a false reason to feel good about this game. WVU's passing game is pretty legit (maybe the best UT will see all season). I hope UT finds some DBs between now and then.

If UT can run the clock on O and slow them down and hold them to FG's instead of TD's then UT has a chance.

 

[golf437]

This is a game we should expect to win.

I understand lowered expectations against Bama right now.

Not with fricking West Virginia.

We are not a good football team right not. So yes they could beat us.

 

[Biopsyman]

Ray Raulerson has our playbook

 

[Glocker_Alum_2005]

Best advantage is that with the new staff, they won't have tape on us. Maybe another advantage could be is we can run the ball eat the clock etc. Bottom line nobody will be picking us.