West Virginia vs. Syracuse: 5 Things to Look for from the Mountaineers

West Virginia needed a bye week about as much as any team in the nation.

Now it's time for the Mountaineers to begin a four-game stretch of Big East competition that begins with a rivalry game against Syracuse Friday night.

WVU would like to return the Schwartzwalder Trophy back to Morgantown where it had been located for eight years before the Orange pulled out a 19-14 win.

That loss last year was the beginning of the end for former coach Bill Stewart.

First-year coach Dana Holgorsen gets his first taste of this rivalry on Friday. As we wait for the start of this game, let's look at five things every Mountaineer fan should be looking for from WVU Friday.

Playing on the Road

The Mountaineers are playing just their second game away from Morgantown and their first Big East road contest.

The Carrier Dome is never an easy place to play, and the Orange crowd will be ready for WVU to come in on a Friday night.

It will be interesting to see how the team rallies around each other while playing in a hostile environment.

New Wrinkles

Every team likes to add a few new plays or new looks during a bye week.

WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen was probably trying to get the offense to get a better grasp of his plays, but I'm sure he tried to work in a few new plays that might get unveiled Friday against Syracuse.

It will be interesting to see what Holgorsen has added since it will give fans a feel for what to expect the rest of the season.

Running Game

West Virginia's running game has come around a little since the loss to LSU, but there needs to be more consistency if the Mountaineers are really going to finish 11-1 this season.

Dustin Garrison has become the go-to guy, especially after his 291-yard performance against Bowling Green. He followed that performance with an 80-yard, one-touchdown game in a big win over Connecticut.

Look for Dana Holgorsen to try establishing the run more against Syracuse to help offset the Orange's blitz packages.

Pressuring the QB

West Virginia has struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks most of the season, but there should be some opportunities to get after Syracuse's Ryan Nassib.

Nassib has performed above expectations, completing nearly 65 percent of his passes for close to 1,300 yards.

But if WVU can build an early lead, Nassib may be forced to throw more than Syracuse wants. That would allow Bruce Irvin to fire off and got right after Nassib.

This could also create more turnover opportunities for the Mountaineers.

Playing a Complete Game

Except for the Bowling Green game, West Virginia has yet to put together a complete performance. Even in the 43-16 win over Connecticut, WVU led just 10-9 at halftime.

A week to rest and learn more about Holgorsen's system should be of huge benefit and should help the Mountaineers avoid the slow start.

It also helps that WVU is out to avenge last year's loss to Syracuse in Morgantown.