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The West Virginia Mountaineers have achieved a better than expected 4-1 record entering last weekend's bye on the schedule. Three of those wins over Pitt, Texas Tech and TCU were achieved with solid defense and special teams play.
But most of all, these games have been decided by making winning plays in the final minutes---stopping Texas Tech on four pass plays from the 11-yard line and blocking two late TCU field goal attempts.
In recent seasons these were the kind of plays that WVU often did not make, leaving fans with an empty feeling that a potential win had slipped away.
One positive aspect of finding ways to win close games is that it gives a team confidence that it can make the plays that make the difference between wins and losses and a belief that a favorable outcome will occur. That's why good teams win more close contests.
That being said, not every game that goes down to the wire is always going to go the same way.
The law of averages will eventually come into play. Even the good teams are not going to win every close game.
The Mountaineer offense has been hampered due to injuries at the quarterback position and a receiving corps which remains a work in progress. As we have seen this is not an offense which has been able to score enough points to put games well in hand. A look at the remaining games on the schedule tells us that with the exception of Oklahoma on the road West Virginia has a reasonable opportunity to win against any other opponent. But to avoid the inevitable loss that will eventually occur in a game coming down to the wire the offense will need to be more productive.
In his press conference last Monday, Neal Brown said that he believed this team's best football is ahead of it.
If he is right the opportunity for a very successful season is on the table. The key to that success will be improved offense performance.
THIS THURSDAY: The Mountaineers travel to Houston for a Thursday night battle against our old friend Dana Holgorsen. WVU will now be favored after being the underdog in ten consecutive Big 12 Conference games.
Playing these midweek night games is always a concern for the team that has to travel, so being prepared and focused will be the challenge. Houston has not played well defensively in its two league games thus far but overall at times shown the ability to put points on the board. Holgorsen would like nothing better than to get his first league win over his old employer so the Cougars will be primed. WVU 27, HOUSTON 23