Posted: October 22nd, 2008 - by: Jeremy Curtis

Auburn @ WVU Preview

7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, W.Va.

Auburn results:
8/30 – Louisiana Monroe – W, 34-0
9/6 – Southern Miss – W, 27-13
9/13 – at Mississippi State – W, 3-2
9/20 – LSU – L, 26-21
9/27 – Tennessee – W, 14-12
10/4 – at Vanderbilt – L, 14-13
10/11 – Arkansas – L, 25-22

West Virginia results:
8/30 – Villanova – W, 48-21
9/6 – at East Carolina – L, 24-3
9/18 – at Colorado – L, 17-14 OT
9/27 – Marshall – W, 27-3
10/4 – Rutgers – W, 24-17
10/11 – Syracuse – W, 17-6

Auburn leaders:
QB Chris Todd – 86/156 903 yards five touchdowns
RB Ben Tate – 121 carries 533 yards two touchdowns

WVU leaders:
QB Patrick White – 75/103 590 yards nine touchdowns
RB Noel Devine – 98 carries 642 yards two touchdowns

Thursday night will mark the first time the Auburn Tigers face the West Virginia Mountaineers in a football game.

The two entered the 2008 season will high expectations and lofty rankings to match.

All has not gone as completely expected. Many college football followers felt the Tigers and Mountaineers would be undefeated heading into a marquee match-up.

Auburn (4-3, 1-2 SEC) heads to Morgantown for a Thursday night ESPN nationally televised game against WVU (4-2, 2-0 Big East).

Both programs appear to be in a transition period and this game may shape the rest of either schools’ seasons. Though relatively speaking, neither team is a title contender and the game is a non-conference meeting, however,  much may be at stake in terms of national perception, as well as recruiting.

WVU is 4-0 at home this season and Auburn is 1-1 on the road, so a slight advantage may point to the Mountaineers. Auburn’s head Tommy Tuberville, is a great coach and motivator. His Tigers have been known to go into tough SEC road games and come out with wins.

Tuberville must rely on his stout defense, if the Tigers are to come away with a ‘W.’

Auburn ranks 100th in points scored and 105th in total yards. Recently, their spread offense has sputtered, as has WVU’s and the Tigers fired their offensive coordinator.

WVU ranks 14th in rushing yards, 115th in passing yards and 90th in points scored.

The Mountaineers haven’t played since Oct. 11, when they defeated Syracuse at home, 17-6. Auburn has lost three of its last four games, most recently a 25-22 loss at home, to Arkansas, also on Oct. 11.

How Auburn can win:
The Tigers’ defense is very good and can play with any team in the country. For much of the season, WVU has struggled with its passing offense and Auburn may likely stop the Mountaineers’ passing game. Once that happens, WVU will have to turn to its run game. If Auburn can control the ball and dominate on defense, they’ll be able to win the game.

How WVU can win:
Turnovers and ball control can help the Mountaineers beat the Tigers. WVU’s offense may look similar to what it produced at Colorado, relying on White and Devine to carry the load. I doubt Auburn has seen a spread-option offensive threat similar to WVU and may struggle stopping the run. The young Mountaineer defense seems to improve each time out and may make a key play to help the team win.

X-FACTORS FOR VICTORY:
Auburn won’t be phased by playing a big road game. White will be excited to get back in a game, as he missed half of the games against Marshall and Rutgers, while watching the Syracuse game in street clothes, on the sideline. Auburn’s defense is the only thing that can carry them to victory. Whether or not White is fully healthy and effective will be the determining factor for WVU.

THE BOTTOM LINE/PREDICTION:
This won’t be a pretty game to watch, but I think White will do enough, along with WVU’s defense, to earn a very narrow win.

MOUNTAINEERS – 13
TIGERS – 12

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