No. 25: West Virginia Mountaineers
Today marks the first day of the One Great Season College Football Countdown. We'll be counting down the preseason Top 25 teams in 2010. Today's No. 25 is West Virginia.
By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
To err is human, to carry the ball for West Virginia this season will be Heisman candidate Noel Devine.
Devine will lead a strong rushing attack behind four returning starters on the offensive line.
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But breaking in a new quarterback is often difficult, and that's what WVU will be doing for the second straight year in 2010. Jarrett Brown did a mostly competent job following Pat White last year, and now it's Geno Smith's turn.
Just as they do on offense, the Mountaineers return nine starters on defense, including end Julian Miller, who had nine sacks as a breakout sophomore last year. Six-foot-five safety Robert Sands will make big plays all season for a defense that could dominate its Big East competition.
Who's back? RB Noel Devine, WR Jock Sanders, DE Julian Miller, FS Robert Sands, PK Tyler Bitancourt
Who's gone? QB Jarrett Brown
Why they'll win: The Mountaineers must get the productivity that's expected from a potent rushing attack.
Why they'll lose: The rushing game falls short of expectations and new quarterback Geno Smith is asked to win games.
Get your tickets: at LSU (Sept. 25), vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 13), at Pittsburgh (Nov. 26)
Prediction: 9-3 (5-2, second place Big East)
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