Two names: Pat White and Steve Slayton. Summing up the chances for the Mountaineers of West Virginia can be done with just those four little words. True, the top receiving threat from 2006 is back, as well as three offensive lineman. And the defense will return Erik Witts, the hard hitting safety roaming the secondary for the Mountaineers who led the team in tackles last year. What Coach Rich Rodriguez will rely on, though, are the two work horses who will vie for attention in Morgantown as well as New York City for the Heismann Trophy.
Over the past few years, Rodriguez’s innovative spread offense has helped WVU become a national force amongst voters of all polls. With the drubbing of Georgia (ignore the furious comeback late in the game by the Bulldogs - WVU spanked the SEC champs for 3 quarters) in the Sugar Bowl following the 2005 season, WVU followed up with a near return trip to the BCS last year.
The only thing keeping them from returning to the top of the mountain, and potentially taking one of the two spots in New Orleans will be the health of their dynamic duo in the backfield. If Slayton and White can both stay healthy, expect WVU to be in it at the end when they run their own personal gauntlet at Rutgers and home to Louisville in late October.
As mentioned previously, defense will NOT win the Big East, and there is little chance that Louisville or Rutgers would have the strength to stop West Virginia down the stretch. Expect one upset loss (they still face South Florida this year), but a return to the BCS.
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