3 Guys Before The Game

The frustration is growing. The answers remain elusive. And the numbers are becoming impossible to ignore.West Virginia's 52-31 loss to Arizona on Saturday was another painful chapter in a season increasingly defined by defensive struggles.The Mountaineers have now surrendered a staggering 138 points in their last three games. Three consecutive Big 12 losses have transformed early-season optimism into mounting concern throughout Mountaineer Nation.So, where does WVU go from here?Coach Rich Rodriguez isn't hiding his frustration. He acknowledges the problems and vows to continue searching for solutions. But with the conference schedule moving forward, the time for finding answers is growing shorter.In this episode, the "Guys" examine the latest setback, dissect the defensive breakdowns and dig into the troubling numbers with Brad Howe's Spreads on Stats.Listener questions, frustrations and observations take center stage in another edition of Textual Healing.The crew returns Thursday with a complete preview of Saturday's Homecoming matchup against Cincinnati.

Opportunity and urgency will collide Saturday in Morgantown.After consecutive Big 12 losses, West Virginia returns home needing a response. Waiting for the Mountaineers is Arizona — and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football.Noah Fifita is already the Wildcats’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. He now gets his opportunity against a WVU defense that has surrendered 86 points over the last two games.It’s a matchup that could define where West Virginia’s season goes next.But the challenge works both ways.Arizona’s ultra-aggressive defense must contend with a Mountaineer offense powered by Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook. The duo has combined to produce 23 touchdowns through just five games and presents a very different problem for the Wildcats.Something has to give.In this episode, the “Guys” break down the matchups that will determine Saturday’s game and examine what West Virginia must do to end its two-game slide.Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe tells the analytical story with Spreads on Stats.Listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Saturday was memorable for the West Virginia football team — for all the wrong reasons.The Mountaineers scored 42 points on the road and still came home without a victory.Iowa State repeatedly overwhelmed the WVU defense on its way to a 45-42 win, handing West Virginia its second consecutive Big 12 loss and turning an early-season concern into an increasingly urgent question.Can the Mountaineers stop anyone?After opening the season with encouraging signs, WVU has reached a pivotal point. The offense produced enough points to win in Ames. The defense could not produce enough stops.Now, with Arizona coming to Morgantown, solutions must come quickly.In this episode, the “Guys” dissect what went wrong against Iowa State, examine the growing concerns defensively and dig into the numbers with Brad Howe’s Spreads on Stats.Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while listener questions, frustrations and comments pour into Textual Healing.The “Guys” return Thursday with their complete preview of West Virginia’s matchup against Arizona.

October has arrived, and with it comes West Virginia’s first Big 12 road test.The leaves may still be on the trees, but Saturday’s trip to Iowa State could tell us plenty about where the Mountaineers fit in the conference landscape.Was last week’s disappointing loss to Oklahoma State simply a bad night? Or did it expose problems that must be corrected before WVU can establish itself in the upper half of the Big 12?Ames should provide some answers.In this episode, the “Guys” take a deep dive into the Cyclones under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers. They examine the matchups, numbers and pressure points that could determine whether West Virginia can respond with an important road victory.Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe opens the statistical fire hose with Spreads on Stats.Listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Well, that was painful.One week after West Virginia energized Mountaineer Nation with an impressive victory over No. 25 Virginia, the momentum disappeared in a 41-24 loss to Oklahoma State.The result was more than a disappointing start to Big 12 play. It exposed problems that must be addressed quickly and left the Mountaineers facing an unavoidable question:Now what?There’s little time to dwell on the answer. West Virginia must identify what went wrong, correct it and prepare for its first Big 12 road test Saturday at Iowa State.In this episode, the “Guys” dissect the loss to the Cowboys, dig into the numbers behind the result and examine what must change for WVU to rebound in Ames.Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe goes inside the numbers with Spreads on Stats.And yes, there’s plenty to discuss. Listener questions, frustrations and observations pour into Textual Healing.The “Guys” return Thursday with their complete preview of West Virginia’s matchup against Iowa State.