William & Mary vs. West Virginia: TV Info, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

While the William & Mary Tribe may be a pushover for the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Week 1 battle will be a good showcase of what the fans can expect from a program that lost two of the most explosive playmakers in the nation.

With quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver Tavon Austin leaving for the NFL, the way the Mountaineers handle the Tribe will be a great gauge of how well the program will perform during the 2013 regular season.

This may not be the sexiest matchup of Week 1, but college football fans won’t want to miss West Virginia try to find its identity on the fly against William & Mary.

When: Saturday, August 31 at 12 p.m. ET

Where: Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va.

Watch: FOX Sports 1

Live Stream: FOX Sports Live

Radio: Free Football Radio

Betting Line (via Covers)

Over/Under: 58.5

Spread: West Virginia (-33)

While West Virginia is a BCS contender, William & Mary isn't on the same level as the Mountaineers. Stay away from the over/under and take West Virginia to cover the spread in this lopsided matchup.

Injury Report (via USA Today)

West Virginia: DL Logan Mayes, personal, questionable

William & Mary: No injuries to report.

BCS/Top 25 Implications

William & Mary will not be considered for a spot in the top 25 this year (ended last season with a 2-9 record that featured the team going 1-7 in the CAA), and the focus of this game will be solely on the Mountaineers.

West Virginia finished a very mediocre 7-6 considering all the NFL-level talent on the roster, but how the team bounces back from losing so much talent will determine if the program can improve that record and contend in the Big 12.

Mountaineers Players to Watch: QBs Clint Trickett, Paul Millard and Ford Childress

Taking the starting job over from a dynamic weapon like Geno Smith will not be easy, but Clint Trickett, Paul Millard and Ford Childress are all battling to be the No. 1 quarterback in West Virginia.

While Millard and Childress are still getting reps with the first team at times and seeing plenty of action in training camp, the belief now is that it will be Trickett that wins the starting job and begins the season as the team’s top QB, per Dave Hickman of The Charleston Gazette.

The offense will take a step backward no matter who is under center, but the bigger concern for West Virginia is the defense.

After ranking 117th in the nation on that side of the ball (allowed 38.1 points per game in 2012), the Mountaineers must improve on defense in order to give the new QB a chance to succeed.

Tribe Players to Watch: QBs Michael Graham and Brent Caprio

While William & Mary will not get any love from the mainstream media, the battle between Michael Graham and Brent Caprio is the focus of the program during training camp and the build to Week 1.

The team has remained uncommitted to naming a starter leading into the regular season, but with both possible starters having experience from 2012, the Tribe is in a good position moving forward with either man under center.

Prediction: West Virginia 34, William & Mary 10

There is no question that West Virginia won’t have the same firepower the program did in 2012, but with William & Mary not on the same level as the Mountaineers, this game will be a one-sided beating.

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