It is now or never for the Neal Brown era in Morgantown. After posting a 22-25 record through four seasons, the former Troy head coach will be coaching for his job when the Mountaineers kick things off in September. Many outlets have West Virginia at the very bottom of their power rankings, and rightfully so. The Mountaineers are coming off of their third losing season in four years, and Brown has shown little to prove he is capable of leading WVU to new heights.
However, despite all of the negativity surrounding the program, I have a hard time believing that the Mountaineers will not turn some kind of corner in 2023. The team looked solid in their spring game, and they will now have a worthy successor at quarterback in either Garrett Greene or Nicco Marchiol.
Though the schedule will be one of the most difficult in the nation, I expect the Mountaineers to navigate it better than many believe.
Here are our Post Spring Game-By-Game Predictions for the Mountaineers in 2023:
- 9/2 – at Penn State
This is not a game that anyone will have the Mountaineers winning – including me. But this does not mean that I believe that West Virginia will not keep it interesting deep into the game. The Nittany Lions will ultimately pull away in the end, but West Virginia will put up an inspirational fight.
Prediction: Penn State 33, WVU 20 - 9/9 – Duquesne
The Dukes travel to Morgantown for their first FBS contest of the young season. West Virginia will be licking its wounds, and hungry for a victory. The Mountaineers get young players a lot of playing time late in this blowout. The game will start slow, but the depth of West Virginia will prevail in the end.
Prediction: WVU 48, Duquesne 7 - 9/16 – Pitt
This is the game that everyone has circled going into the season. After losing 38-31 to the Panthers in 2022, Neal Brown must win this game to keep anybody on his side. A loss here and things could quickly come off of the wheels. I do not see that happening. West Virginia uses an electric home atmosphere to knock off Pitt for the first time since 2011.
Prediction: WVU 23, Pitt 21 - 9/23 – Texas Tech
The Mountaineers have dropped four straight to the Red Raiders. Things got ugly in Lubbock last season, so the gap between these two teams is obvious. Things will not get as out of hand this season, but the Red Raiders win their fifth-straight in the series, and third-straight in Morgantown.
Prediction: Texas Tech 35, WVU 27 - 9/30 – at TCU
The Horned Frogs are coming off of a National Championship appearance in 2022. They will not be as good in 2023, but they will still be solid. Garrett Greene has his best game of the young season, but it isn’t enough to topple the Frogs in Fort Worth. The Mountaineers drop to 2-3, and Neal Brown’s seat is now scorching.
Prediction: TCU 34, WVU 17 - 10/12 – at Houston
Arguably the most important game on the schedule, WVU can absolutely not lose to Dana Holgorsen and the Cougars – and I don’t think they will. Neal Brown pulls the plug on Greene and gives Nicco Marchiol his first start of his career to try to give the team a spark. The Mountaineers seal it with an Aubrey Burks interception late.
Prediction: WVU 27, Houston 24 - 10/21 – Oklahoma State
Now sitting at 3-3, the Mountaineers can turn around their season with a victory here. High off of a solid performance against Houston, Nicco Marchiol has the game of his life in a huge home victory. West Virginia pulls away in the fourth quarter and takes this one by double-digits, moving to 4-3.
Prediction: WVU 26, Oklahoma State 16 - 10/28 – at UCF
UCF is new to the Big 12, and will not know what to expect from their conference opponents in 2023. I think the Mountaineers use this to their advantage, and fend off a comeback attempt by the Knights. Marchiol moves to 3-0 as a starting quarterback, and the Mountaineers improve to 5-3.
Prediction: WVU 31, UCF 24 - 11/4 – BYU
The Mountaineers and Cougars meet up for the second time in the history of their programs, and the first time since 2016. West Virginia can claim bowl eligibility with a victory here today, and should be able to get it done against inferior talent. Marchiol continues his hot streak.
Prediction: WVU 31, BYU 14 - 11/11 – at Oklahoma
The Sooners should be improved, and will be looking for revenge against the Mountaineers. For the first time since September, the Mountaineers add one to the loss column. I expect Oklahoma to have this one in hand come the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Oklahoma 41, WVU 20 - 11/18 – Cincinnati
Cincinnati will likely struggle during their first year in the Big 12. I don’t believe Scott Satterfield was a good hire, and Neal Brown will exploit him here. The Mountaineers win on Senior Day, and finally reach 7 wins under Neal Brown.
Prediction: WVU 28, Cincinnati 17 - 11/25 – at Baylor
Waco is never a place that the Mountaineers perform their best. The Bears will have a good game-plan, and will keep the solid WVU rushing attack in check. It will be close, but Baylor makes the stop that matters in the end.
Prediction: Baylor 33, WVU 28
Final Record Prediction – 7-5 (5-4 Big 12)
Neal Brown keeps his job.
