(Photo from WV Metro News)
Next weekend’s game against the Texas Longhorns 2-2 (0-1) will really show what conference play has in store for the Mountaineers this season.
Texas’s starting QB Quinn Ewers was injured in their game against then top-ranked Alabama in the first quarter. Since then he has been out with a shoulder injury but might make it back to the starting lineup against the Mountaineers this coming Saturday
Before last night’s game against Texas Tech, Ewers was named the “co-starter”. This essentially meant that he had a chance at playing, but was not guaranteed. He ended up not playing against the Red Raiders, but this brings up an important question.
Will Quinn Ewers be the starting QB against West Virginia?
I would say maybe. Ewers was first predicted to be out for four to six weeks, but it seems like he is recovering faster than experts originally anticipated. He was co-starter this weekend, and with poor QB playing from backup Hudson Card, I would not be at all surprised to see Ewers make the start, despite the risk of injury. Texas needs this victory just as bad or more than West Virginia does.
How does this affect West Virginia?
This could really be the deciding factor on who wins or loses this weekend. Ewers is a legit QB who proved himself in the first quarter against Alabama, and despite Card’s efforts, they were not able to get it done and took a 20-19 loss at home. Texas’s offense this season depends on good QB play, and without a true starter, they have struggled.
If Ewers makes the start, I think that West Virginia’s defense will struggle a good bit and it will come down to key offensive possessions by JT Daniels and the rest of the Mountaineer offense. If Ewers doesn’t make the start, I have a feeling that WVU’s defense will be able to come up big time, giving our offense the chance to slow it down and run out the clock.
Predictions?
With Ewers starting, I would say 35-32 Texas in a nail-biter that comes down to mistakes on the defensive side of the ball.
If Card is the starter, I expect a lower-scoring game with the Mountaineers taking the victory in Austin 28-24.
