2008 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Preview

2008 West Virginia Mountaineers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official West Virginia Mountaineers football preview as well as the 2008 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule. After reading this article check out our college football predictions against the current point spread.

Coach: Bill Stewart (1st year at West Virginia)
Team Name: Mountaineers
2007 Overall Record: 11-2
Returning Starters: 12

The West Virginia Mountaineers (11-2 overall, 5-2 Big East) tied for first-place last season in the conference, with their loses coming at the hands of USF and Pittsburgh. The surprising Connecticut team tied them for first-place in the Big East. The Mountaineers stellar season earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, where they beat Oklahoma 48-28.

Senior QB Patrick White (216 ATT, 144 COMP, 1,724 YDS, 14 TDs, 4 INT) is an accurate passer and a dual threat. On the ground, he gained 1,335 yards, scoring 14 more touchdowns, matching his passing total. RB Noel Devine, a sophomore who averaged 8.6 YPC in his freshman season, will get a lot of work. White and Devine are both extremely speedy. Together they lead the third ranked running game in the nation. The wideouts are good enough for a team that was 114th in passing.

The Mountaineer defense was rated eighth in points allowed and seventh in total yards. The linebacking unit, which is lead by MLB Reed Williams (107 tackles, 48 solo), is solid. The frontline returns just one starter, but transfer Tevita Finau adds depth. The secondary shows speed and size but the talent level is worrisome.

The Mountaineers could go 12-0 if they can take their two swing games. The first is early in the season on September 18 at Colorado. The second tossup is at home when Auburn visits on October 23. Their final game of the season, against South Florida, looks to be a win for WVU. But an upset victory by the Bulls is not out of the question.

The team, which will run, run and run, is on track for another championship bid. Coach Bill Stewart (1-0) takes over for Rich Rodriguez, who went to Michigan, taking most of his staff with him. Stewart has a fine team with which to work. The Mountaineers look to be on track for another major bowl bid. After all, over the past five seasons, they’ve gone to a bowl game five times and won the conference four.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Villanova	Home
Sep 6	East Carolina	Away
Sep 18	Colorado	Away
Sep 27	Marshall	Home
Oct 4	Rutgers	Home
Oct 11	Syracuse	Home
Oct 23	Auburn	Home
Nov 1	Connecticut	Away
Nov 8	Cincinnati	Home
Nov 22	Louisville	Away
Nov 28	Pittsburgh	Away
Dec 6	South Florida	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football program, view the Mountaineers football site or you can read about other Big East teams below.