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A Little Know-Howe: It's Week 7 for WVU and Yet Another Game vs. One of Nation's Top Quarterbacks

By Brad Howe on October 29, 2016 from A Little Know-Howe via Connect-Bridgeport.com

The more you win, the bigger your next game. Oh, how true that is for West Virginia's football team so far this year. 
 
Two weeks ago a trip to Lubbock and a date with Texas Tech was a big game. A chance for a defining moment. Check.
 
Last week, a bigger game. Sold out stadium, topic of conversation nationally and a chance to really make a statement. Check. 
 
This week ... the biggest test (and game) of 2016 so far, in my opinion. 
 
The Mountaineers go on the road to face an Oklahoma State team that many thought could at least make some noise in the Big 12 race this year. 
 
The Cowboys enter the game at 5-2, but should really be considered 6-1. They had a game stolen from them earlier this year when the officiating crew wrongly allowed a final play from scrimmage against Central Michigan. That final play was a miraculous Hail Mary that worked. Central Michigan scored a touchdown with no time on the clock and officially got the win even though the play should have never happened.
 
Oklahoma State has regained its footing and enters today's game the winner of three straight games and features one of the best quarterbacks in the league.  
 
West Virginia is no stranger to facing good quarterbacks. The last two opponents have had two of the best. Texas Tech's Pat Mahomes and TCU's Kenny Hill rank number one and two in total offense in the Big 12.  
 
Mason Rudolph ranks fifth in the league in total offense and has thrown 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions on the year. 
Last year in Morgantown, WVU gave him some fits. Oklahoma State won the game in overtime, but Rudolph was far from his best. The Cowboys overcame his three interceptions to walk out of Milan Puskar Stadium with a 33-26 win. 
 
Rudolph struggling on the road isn't a surprise, but unfortunately for WVU, today's game is in Stillwater.
 
Since 2015, Rudolph has thrown 29 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 12 games at home. On the road, he has thrown just five touchdowns and seven picks. 
 
West Virginia will need to reverse that trend to beat the Cowboys. 
 
Here's one other area to watch today. Oklahoma State's special teams are as good as anyone West Virginia will face. 
 
The Cowboys leads the country with five blocked kicks this year. Since 2013, Oklahoma State has more blocked kicks (18) than anyone else in college football. 
 
It feels like it's been years since I've talked about blocked kicks. That just hasn't been an area of concern in a long time. West Virginia needs to make sure it doesn't become one today.
 
I know what you're thinking ...lets keep it that way. Don't talk about it now and jinx WVU. 
 
I'll knock on some wood once I finish typing this, especially since this week happens to be the 20-year anniversary of the Tremain Mack/Miami punt block game. 
 
West Virginia is hot. It's rise to a national topic of conversation has been meteoric. A regular contributor to our football gameday radio coverage and professional handicapper, Brad Powers (@BradPowers7), always tells me to ride a team that is streaking. 
 
Your luck inevitably runs out, he says, but you can make some good money along the way.
 
I'll follow that advice today (minus the bet and the making money).
 
Give me West Virginia to stay red-hot and continue its march to a Big 12 title by beating Oklahoma State.
 
What say you? Who wins today? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @BradHowe07 and let me know what you think. 
 
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Mason Rudolph and middle picture is of Rushel Shell during last year's loss to OSU in overtime. WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen is shown with Cowboys' Coach Mike Gundy.  Photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.


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