COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A fistful of questions to ponder as No. 9 West Virginia (4-0, 2-0) entertains Kansas (2-3, 0-2) at Milan Puskar Stadium:
Should you bet on another blowout?
On their three trips to Morgantown during the Big 12 era, Kansas has been outscored 140-45. (Even looking back to that Nov. 8, 1941, meeting at Old Mountaineer Field won’t help the visitors’ psyche: They lost that one 21-0 with WVU”s Ike Martin throwing a touchdown and making an interception.)
This week’s betting line expanded by five points, making West Virginia favored by 29. But comfortable wins haven’t equaled covers: KU bucked the number (31.5) by closing within 48-21 in 2016, and a massive yardage difference in 2014 only added up to a 33-14 win.
What needs work for West Virginia?
The offensive line suffered some unsettling moments at Texas Tech, yielding sacks, pressures and penetration on run plays. This looks like the ideal week to regain some moxie.
Among 129 FBS defenses, Kansas ranks 118th in sacks and 92nd against the rush.
Watch how WVU’s interior offensive line stands up against Daniel Wise. The Jayhawks’ senior defensive tackle, after mulling an early jump to the NFL, isn’t approaching last year’s pace of seven sacks and 16 TFLs.
“There’s more production there than you think,” said Kansas coach David Beaty. “Some of the things that we have asked him to do are really unselfish in nature, by being in an inside shade on a tackle, being at a four technique. You’re going to draw double teams the entire time.
“I’ve never seen him fight harder, but it’s tough when you have two, 350-plus guys on you, and he gets there, we’re just a hair late.”
Too preoccupied with Pooka?
Pooka Williams was the No. 2-ranked running back prospect signed by any Big 12 program this year, and his four-game sample size is breathtaking. Try 469 yards on only 51 carries. And talk about home-run twitchiness: His four touchdowns have come on runs that averaged 43 yards.
Still, he’s a freshman, and opposing defenders want to face him first-hand before buying into these Gale Sayers comparisons.
“He’s a pretty good player,” said Mountaineers linebacker David Long, reluctantly.
Told that Williams leads the league in rushing and ranks fourth nationally at 7.9 yards per carry, Long repeated: “Yeah, pretty good player. I ain’t going to say he’s excellent or an elite player, but he’s pretty good from what I’ve seen.”
West Virginia transfer Jabril Robinson admits Williams looks “spookier” than most backs, but he wants to know why no one is talking up Khalil Herbert, the KU runner who blistered WVU for 291 yards last season.
A backup now, Herbert still is producing 5.7 per carry, and ripped off a 59-yard score against Rutgers out of a two-back set in which the defense was preoccupied by Williams going in motion.
Did you know the Jayhawks are tops in takeaways?
Looking past the late-game sputtering at Texas Tech last week — a season-low 6.7 yards per play, zero points on its final five series — at least West Virginia’s offense played turnover-free football for h first time in 2018.
Another clean performance might be difficult against Kansas, whose defense leads the FBS with 14 takeaways. (Then again, 12 of those came in wins over Centra Michigan and Rutgers.)
How many unwitting fans will foil the Gold Rush theme?
There’s one in every crowd.
And you’ll spot him in a blue T-shirt.
