West Virginia Football: Full Season Stat Predictions for 2012 Mountaineers

How many wins will the Mountaineer bring in 2012?
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The West Virginia Mountaineers have a lot of hype stirring about them as they get set to kickoff their season September 1 versus in-state rival Marshall.

With the school coming off a huge boost from The Princeton Review's rowdiest fan rankings, West Virginia will look to take advantage of a schedule with eight home games in Morgantown compared to only four games on the road.

2012 will mark their first year in the Big 12 conference, a highly competitive conference with six teams ranked in the AP Polls.

West Virginia, even with the switch, remain one of the best teams in their conference or any conference for that matter.

It should be a handful for their opponents and make lives especially tough for defensive coordinators.

Here are stat and game predictions for head coach Dana Holgorsen's 2012-2013 squad, which should light it up through the air on its way to a BCS bowl game. 

Week 1: Marshall

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

The Mountaineers open up against the Thundering Herd, a team over which West Virginia have long held the upper hand.

West Virginia is the toughest team on Marshall's schedule, and though it has proven to be a tough out before, look for the Mountaineers to cruise over this Conference USA opponent.

 

Offensive Stats

QB Geno Smith: 27-of-34, 305 yards, 3 TD

WR Tavon Austin: 6 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD

WR Stedman Bailey: 8 receptions, 114 yards

RB Shawne Alston: 17 rushes, 86 yards, TD; reception, 4 yards

K Tyler Bitancurt: 5/5 PAT, 1/2 FG

 

Defensive Stats

DT Will Clarke: 8 tackles, 2 TFL

OLB Terence Garvin: 11 tackles, 2 TFL, sack, FF, PD

SS Darwin Cook: 4 tackles, 2 PD, INT

 

Final Score: West Virginia 38, Marshall 17

Week 3: James Madison

Tavon Austin (1) should reach pay dirt against JMU
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

After a bye in Week 2, the Mountaineers face the weakest team on their schedule at home versus James Madison University.

It should be a one-sided affair, with the usual suspects on offense dominating in a rout.

 

Offense

Smith: 32-of-40, 395 yards, 4 TD; 3 rushes, 4 yards

Austin: 9 receptions, 176 yards, 2 TD; 3 rushes, 48 yards; punt return TD

Bailey: 7 receptions, 118 yards, TD

Alston: 20 rushes, 112 yards, TD

Bitancourt: 7/7 PAT

 

Defense

Clarke: 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL

Garvin: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, INT

Cook: 5 tackles,  PD

 

Final: West Virginia 49, JMU 6

Week 4: Maryland

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

On Saturday, September 22, West Virginia will take on the Maryland Terrapins in what has become an annual contest.

Terps head coach Randy Edsall is still looking for his first winning season in College Park. Though he is familiar with West Virgina dating back to his days in the Big East coaching Connecticut, do not look for him to get a win over the powerful Mountaineers.

 

Offense

Smith:  29-of-51, 346 yards, 4 TD, INT

Austin: 5 receptions, 102 yards, TD; 4 rushes, 71 yards

Bailey: 9 receptions, 154 yards, 2 TD

Alston: 11 rushes, 78 yards; 4 receptions, 31 yards, TD

Bitancourt: 4/4 PAT, 2/2 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 5 tackles, TFL

Garvin: 7 tackles, sack, 2 TFL

Cook: 5 tackles

 

Final: West Virginia 34, Maryland 27

Week 5: Baylor

Brett Deering/Getty Images

With Robert Griffin III no longer in the mix for Baylor, the rest of the Big 12 can breathe a sigh of relief.

Baylor should struggle this year in the power conference, as this is a game West Virginia must have at home on Saturday, September 29, to begin their run in the Big 12.

 

Offense

Smith: 31-of-53, 313 yards, 3 TD, INT

Austin: 9 catches, 156 yards, TD; 3 rushes, 31 yards; KR TD

Bailey: 7 receptions, 92 yards

Alston: 9 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD; 3 receptions, 31 yards

Bitancourt: 4/5 PAT, 1/2 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 5 tackles

Garvin: 9 tackles, TFL, PD, FR

Cook: 8 tackles, sack, FF

 

Final: WVU 37, Baylor 28

Current record: 4-0

Week 6: Texas

Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

The first losable game on the schedule comes on October 6 at No. 15 Texas.

The Longhorns have one of the best defenses in the NCAA and should keep Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey in check.

The Texas offense, however, will simply not keep pace with West Virginia's. The Mountaineers get a huge win and move up in the polls after beating Mack Brown's team.

 

Offense

Smith: 28-of-50, 287 yards, 2 TDs

Austin: 4 receptions, 81 yards; 3 rushes, 17 yards

Bailey: 8 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD

Alston: 11 rushes, 31 yards; reception, 5 yards

Bitancourt: 3/3 PAT, 2/2 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 2 tackles, sack

Garvin: 10 tackles, sack, FR, TD

Cook: 7 tackles, INT

 

Final: West Virginia 27, Texas 23

Week 7: Texas Tech

Texas Tech will need their old star Graham Harrell if they want to keep pace with WVU
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Always a team willing to get in a shootout, the Texas Tech Red Raiders may get a bit more than they ask for when Geno Smith comes to their stadium.

It will be interesting to see whether Holgorsen manages to keep the team in Texas for both of these road games or not.

Either way, expect the Mountaineers to perform well in their first trip to Texas Tech.

 

Offense

Smith: 36-of-49, 418 yards, 3 TD; 4 rushes, 4 yards, TD

Austin: 10 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD; 2 rushes, 9 yards

Bailey: 7 receptions, 118 yards, TD

Alston: 11 rushes, 78 yards, TD; 4 receptions, 37 yards, TD

Bitancourt: 4/4 PAT, 2/2 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 4 tackles, TFL

Garvin: 8 tackles, TFL

Cook: 5 tackles, INT

 

Final: WVU 41, Texas Tech 31

Week 8: Kansas State

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Mountaineers take on an underrated No. 22 Kansas State team on October 20, in what should be a matchup of two of the conference's best teams to date.

This prediction has West Virginia coming into this game at 7-0, but it is doubtful it keeps that run going into Week 9 and its game against TCU.

The Wildcats' quarterback Collin Klein is one of the best dual-threat players in the nation, as he and a strong defense should be enough to squeak one out against WVU.

 

Offense

Smith: 23-of-41, 283 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT    

Austin: 3 receptions, 82 yards; 2 rushes, 3 yards

Bailey: 7 receptions, 99 yards, TD

Alston: 14 rushes, 58 yards; 6 receptions, 31 yards

Bitancourt: 3/3 PAT, 1/3 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 3 tackles, sack, TFL

Garvin: 12 tackles, TFL, 3 PD

Cook: 6 tackles, INT, TD

 

Final: KST 31, WVU 24

Week 9: TCU

Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images

Casey Pachall (4) and No. 20 TCU come to Morgantown November 3 for a must-win game for West Virginia.

Trying to hang on to their national championship hopes, the Mountaineers should prove they are a more balanced and experienced team than the Horned Frogs.

 

Offense

Smith: 29-40, 325 yards, 4 TD; 3 rushes, 4 yards

Austin: 11 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD; 1 rush, 19 yards;

Bailey: 4 receptions, 38 yards, TD

Alston: 11 rushes, 48 yards; 4 receptions, 31 yards, TD

Bitancourt: 4/4 PAT, 1/2 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 4 tackles, TFL

Garvin: 8 tackles, 2 TFL

Cook: 5 tackles

 

Final:  WVU 31, TCU 19

Week 10: Oklahoma State

We will see how Gundy (left) does coaching an offense without Blackmon (center)
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Mountaineers will face Mike Gundy's No. 19 Oklahoma State team trying to bounce back from the losses of Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

With freshman Wes Lunt likely to get the start at quarterback, per ESPN's David Ubben, it will be hard for Oklahoma State to keep up with the West Virginia firepower.

 

Offense

Smith: 26-40, 288 yards, 3 TD, INT; 3 rushes, 4 yards

Austin: 8 receptions, 82 yards

Bailey: 4 receptions, 118 yards, TD

Alston: 15 rushes, 98 yards; 3 receptions, 21 yards, TD

Bitancourt: 3/3 PAT, 1/1 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 3 tackles, safety

Garvin: 9 tackles

Cook: 2 tackles, PD

 

Final: WVU 26, OK State 17

Week 11: Oklahoma

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

One of the best quarterback duels of the nation will occur in West Virginia's home stadium on Nov 17. The No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners will come into Morgantown ready to air it out, but expect Geno Smith to not be out-armed by Landry Jones, who has seen his numbers decline since his prolific sophomore season.

 

Offense

Smith: 35-56, 378 yards, 2 TD; 8 rushes, 14 yards, TD

Austin: 6 receptions, 122 yards, TD; 4 rushes, 29 yards, TD

Bailey: 10 receptions, 108 yards, TD

Alston: 9 rushes, 57 yards; 5 receptions, 11 yards

Bitancourt: 3/3 PAT, 3/4 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 5 tackles, TFL

Garvin: 4 tackles, INT, TD

Cook: 5 tackles

 

Final: WVU 37, Oklahoma 35

Week 12: Iowa State

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

After a difficult stretch facing four-straight ranked teams, the Mountaineers get a break with a November 23 matchup against the Iowa State Cyclones.

Sounds like a recipe for a trap game. Iowa State caught then No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State in a similar situation last year, and beat them in the most shocking upset of the college football season.

The loss ruined Oklahoma State's national championship hopes, as the Cowboys had to settle for a Fiesta bowl win.

West Virginia should not make this same mistake, and will improve to 10-1 with the win.

 

Offense

Smith: 27-40, 315 yards, 3 TD; 3 rushes, 4 yards

Austin: 10 receptions, 112 yards, TD; 2 rushes, 9 yards

Bailey: 7 receptions, 78 yards, TD

Alston: 16 rushes, 88 yards, 2 TD; 2 receptions, 11 yards

Bitancourt: 4/5 PAT, 1/1 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 3 tackles, sack, TFL

Garvin: 4 tackles, TFL

Cook: 2 tackles, INT

 

Final: WVU 38, Iowa State 13

Week 13: Kansas

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

To close out the regular season, the now 10-1 Mountaineers will face the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, December 1.

With Big 12 title game hopes and other BCS hopes as well, West Virginia will close out the year strong and let the computer polls take care of the rest of business.

 

Offense

Smith: 25-38, 297 yards, 2 TD; 3 rushes, 4 yards, TD

Austin: 7 receptions, 103 yards, TD; 2 rushes, 9 yards; punt return TD

Bailey: 5 receptions, 61 yards, TD

Alston: 18 rushes, 108 yards, TD; 2 receptions, 21 yards

Bitancourt: 4/4 PAT, 1/1 FG

 

Defense

Clarke: 2 tackles, sack, TFL

Garvin: 3 tackles, 2 TFL, FR

Cook: 5 tackles, FF

 

Final: WVU 31, Kansas 23

Season Totals

Geno Smith will try to add to his hardware collection
J. Meric/Getty Images

Record: 11-1

Big 12 Championship

National Championship Appearance

 

Offensive Totals

Passing

Smith: 348-532, 3,950 yards, 35 TD, 5 INT

 

Receiving

Austin: 88 receptions, 1,381 yards, 16 Total TD (10 receiving)

Bailey: 84 receptions, 1,217 yards, 11 TD

 

Rushing

Alston: 899 yards, 7 TD

 

Defensive Leaders

Tackles: Terence Garvin

Sacks: Will Clarke

TFL: Will Clarke

PD: Garvin

INT: Darwin Cook

FR: Garvin

FF: Cook

 

Kicking

Bitancourt: 48/50 PAT, 15/21 FG

 

Awards

Davey O'Brien: Geno Smith

Fred Biletnikoff: Tavon Austin

Heisman Trophy Runner-up: Geno Smith