NCAAF Week One – Villanova at West Virginia

While the West Virginia Mountaineers, (11-2 SU, 5-2 Conf., 7-6 ATS, 6-7 O/U) have become perennial national title contenders under former head coach Rich Rodriguez – and still possess a very talented roster - the fact of the matter is that new Mountaineers head coach Bill Stewart will be hard-pressed to match Rodriguez’s success, at least in the early going of his tenure of leading one of the top favorites to win the Big East title in 2008.

West Virginia also has a new offensive coordinator in former Wake Forest offensive coordinator, Jeff Mullen and will undoubtedly have an entirely new look in 2008.

The Mountaineers still have Heisman Trophy candidate Patrick White at quarterback, gifted running back Noel Devine and a veteran offensive line, not to mention one of the best kickers in the nation in Pat McAfee.

The Mountaineers recorded mostly mediocre wagering statistics in 2007, going 3-3 ATS at home and 4-3 ATS on the road last season while also recording a 3-3 O/U wagering record at home and 3-4 O/U on the road.

West Virginia also returns five offensive linemen who have starting experiencing, including gifted players, Greg Isdaner and Ryan Stanchek, two of the top offensive linemen in the nation.

Defensively, the Mountaineers could have big problems in the secondary depending on how much the team grows during the course of the regular season. West Virginia will be hard-pressed to replace safeties Ryan Mundy and Eric Wicks, not to mention cornerbacks Vaughn Rivers, Larry Williams and another safety in Ridwan Malik. Stewart will turn to younger defensive backs, Quinton Andrews, Charles Pugh and Boogie Allen to replace the departed seniors.

Linebacker should be a position of strength for the Mountaineers with their two top tacklers returning in middle linebacker Reed Williams and Mortty Ivy. The defensive line could also take a big hit with the loss of crucial players Johnny Dingle and Keilen Dykes.

The Mountaineers, who averaged 456.2 total yards of offense last season, including a whopping 297.2 yards per game on the ground, averaged a whopping 39.6 points per game last season while limiting their opponents to just 301.7 total yards per game and just 18.1 points per contest, will take on a Villanova team that returns 17 starters and both kicking specialists from a team that went 7-4 last season and were none-too-pleased about being left out of the Division I-AA playoffs

Villanova went 5-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season but were cheated out of a postseason spot while fellow CAA member New Hampshire got in with a 4-4 league mark.

The Wildcats return their entire offensive line as well as both of their starting wide receivers although they have big question marks in the backfield after seeing starting tailback Matt Dicken depart.

Defense should be Villanova’s strength with the team’s top four tacklers - and eight of the top 10 – all returning, including leading tacklers, Osayi Osunde and Darrel Young. Defensive lineman, Tim Kukucka, along with Osunde, will each compete for respective postseason honors at their respective positions.