(Photo by WVU Athletics)
Sitting at 2-2, WVU has to win half of their remaining eight games to become bowl eligible for the 2022 season. Will they be able to do it? Today, I give you my honest opinion on how the rest of the season will play out. Also, I will even throw in what I think WVU does with Neal Brown and his Herculean $20-million dollar buyout.
Here are my predictions below:
- Oct. 1, at Texas – (Loss)
The Longhorns are pissed. After losing to Texas Tech in gut-wrenching fashion, I expect them to come out and carve up the Mountaineer secondary. It’ll be a shootout, but give me Burnt Orange by double digits.
- Oct. 13, Baylor – (Loss)
This will be an emotional game for WVU. It’ll go back and forth, but I think the Baylor defense will be too much for the Mountaineers to handle. The Bears will escape with their first win in Morgantown. West Virginia drops to 2-4 for the second straight season.
- Oct. 22, at Texas Tech – (Win)
Things are about to get weird. This is where WVU will once again show life. After getting chewed out for nine days, the Mountaineers come out with life and hit the Red Raiders in the mouth. Neal Brown escapes Lubbock with his first win over the Red Raiders at WVU.
- Oct. 29, TCU – (Win)
This game will be a high-scoring affair that comes down to the very end. Casey Legg wins it on a walk-off for WVU. Things are evened up for the Mountaineers at 4-4.
- Nov. 5, at Iowa State – (Win)
I like Matt Campbell, but I don’t believe in his 2022 squad. WVU’s offense will be too much for the Cyclones. The Mountaineers now sit at 5-4.
- Nov. 12, Oklahoma – (Win)
Here it is, folks – WVU will FINALLY beat Oklahoma. Country Roads will be played in every office and home throughout the state for the next week. Neal Brown gets his signature win…6-4 record.
- Nov. 19, Kansas State – (Win)
WVU’s win streak hits five with a blowout win over Kansas State on Senior Day. Dante Stills keeps Deuce Vaughn in check as WVU wins 31-10. Neal Brown now has his team at 7-4 with his seat nearly completely cooled down.
- Nov. 26, at Oklahoma State – (Loss)
I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t see this Mountaineer team taking down Oklahoma State also. They are now the Sooners of the conference for the Mountaineers. They just can’t seem to beat them…no matter what they do. The Mountaineers finish the regular-season 7-5, Neal Brown’s best mark in Morgantown.
- AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL, vs Auburn -(Win)
West Virginia will cap off the 2022 season at 8-5 with a bowl victory over a team from the SEC West! J.T. Daniels announces he will return immediately following the game, stating that he and “the boys” have “unfinished business.” Neal Brown brings home his second Liberty Bowl trophy and is all smiles after an 8-3 finish to the season following an 0-2 start.
- THE FUTURE OF NEAL BROWN
He’s not going anywhere. No contract extension – no firing or deduction in any part of it. Things stay where they are at and it is business as usual moving forward. The future is starting to show glimpses of hope under Brown, so why mess that up now? 2023 will be labeled the official “produce or hit the road” season for Brown.
FINAL RECORD: 8-5 (5-4 Big 12)
Neal Brown’s seat: Cool – but not out of the woods just yet.
