College Football
National Writer Projects WVU Football Meeting Old Big East Foe in Familiar Bowl Game
We are still months away from games being played, but that’s not stopping college football bowl projections. Even though some may feel WVU can contend for the Big 12 title, this projection has the Mountaineers wrapping up their season before the new year.
Bill Bender of the Sporting News placed West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against former Big East foe Rutgers in his most recent bowl projections. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will take place on Dec. 26. WVU last appeared in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in 2021, losing to Minnesota.
If this prediction comes true, it would mean WVU would fall well shy of its goal of winning the program’s first Big 12 title. Instead of West Virginia claiming a 16th conference championship all-time, Bender has Utah representing the Big 12 in the College Football Playoff in their debut season.
Despite the increased expectations from fans and the surprise success of 2023, the Sporting News’ projection falls in line with the ESPN FPI. Major sportsbooks also have West Virginia’s over/under win total only set at 6.5 and view the Mountaineers as a heavy underdog in their season opening game to Penn State, granted Athlon likely agrees with the latter since they have the Nittany Lions as their No. 8 best team in the country and a contender for making the College Football Playoff.
Fans may argue the Mountaineers are being disrespected by some while others may feel talk of winning a conference title is premature, but one thing is certain – Brown and the rest of the coaching staff prefer to be the underdog. However, any of the low projections are interesting, taking into account most of the key players are returning and the schedule is arguably similar to last year.
After a 9-4 (6-3) season and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, West Virginia is hungry to start the 2024 season getting revenge on the Nittany Lions. Penn State beat WVU in the 2023 season opener at Beaver Stadium 38-15. Penn State would finish the year at 10-3 (7-2), losing to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
Of course, the success or failure of the 2024 Mountaineers will largely depend on the play of Garrett Greene and if he lives up the hype or stays stagnate.
