Dein erstes Forum » themselves all over again at the SEC le

In a Big 12 Conference becoming known more and more for its wacky video-game-like scores, No. 20 West Virginia is off to a 4-0 start thanks to, gasp, defense.The Mountaineers certainly wont be confused with the 1986 Chicago Bears on that side of the ball, but they gave up just a combined 27 points in wins over Missouri (26-11) and Kansas State (17-16). They rank third in the Big 12 in scoring defense (20 points per game), pass defense (227.2 yards per game) and total defense (418.5 yards per game).But now comes the stiffest test of the season for West Virginia (4-0, 1-0) as it travels to Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday (noon ET, FS1).The Red Raiders lead the nation in passing yards per game (544) and are second to only Louisville in both scoring (55.2 points per game) and total offense (649.8 yards per game).Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the nation in passing yards per game (454.8) and total offense (487.2 yards per game). Despite being bothered by a sore shoulder, he has completed 166 of 228 passes for 2,274 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions.Whew! Good thing the Mountaineers had an extra week to get ready for this one. In their past nine games at Jones Stadium, the Red Raiders have averaged 60.1 points and 668.1 yards.Theyre so unique with what theyre doing, Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen said. Its not really a secret what theyre doing, its just that Mahomes is so good at keeping things alive. They play so fast and score so many points that its challenging.Since Mahomes took over the starting job last year, Texas Tech has scored at least 52 points and gained at least 607 yards in every home game.The best defense for West Virginia could be a prolific offense. The Mountaineers have shown they can make big plays at times in the first four games, but they really havent had that open-your-eyes outing, the game in which they go for a half-hundred or more.This will have to be that game, because it is unrealistic to count on the defense to hold down Mahomes. West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard might not have to outplay him, but he has to come close to matching him and avoid the mistakes that would give the Red Raiders extra possessions.When you get into these games like Texas Tech, you better score more, so that probably means you need to take a few more chances, maybe go for it on fourth down more and try and get touchdowns instead of field goals, Holgorsen said.One way for the Mountaineers to reduce the impact that Texas Techs offense could have is to run the ball often and well. Junior college transfer Justin Crawford has become the teams leading rusher as senior Rushel Shell has managed just 35 yards in each of the past two games. The Red Raiders are allowing 179.4 rushing yards per game, so opponent can run on them, and if West Virginias veteran offensive line can execute, Crawford and Shell could put up good numbers.Howard is quietly ninth in FBS in total offense through four games with 344.5 yards per game, yet there is a feeling he can probably be more efficient.Howard has tossed an interception in each game this year, but it hasnt come back to haunt the Mountaineers yet. This will be a good week for Howard to eliminate turnovers because if he can, the Texas Tech defense is pliable enough that West Virginia should post some healthy numbers.Wide receiver Shelton Gibson has been Howards top target, averaging 24.1 yards per catch. Gibson has caught 19 passes, and his average of 114.5 yards per game ranks third in the Big 12 and ninth in FBS. He will be going against a Red Raiders defense that is yielding more than 265 passing yards per game.Safety Kyzir White has been a nice addition to the Mountaineers defense, collecting 24 tackles in his first four games. White had an impactful game against Kansas State last Saturday with six stops, a sack and a pass breakup. He figures to have plenty of action this week against Texas Techs pass-happy attack, which will come at West Virginia from every imaginable angle.Mahomes was questionable last week due to a sore shoulder, then started and threw for 504 yards in a 44-38 loss at Kansas State. He also surrendered a pick-six, and the team struggled to pick up yardage in key spots late in the game.Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said that Mahomes appeared to be bothered again by his injured shoulder late in that contest but doesnt expect that to be a factor on Saturday.I think he pushed it to be out there this past week. A lot of guys would not have played in that game, Kingsbury said. He wanted to play, and threw it really well. So it will just continue to get better and better.Cheap Jerseys For Sale . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Replica Jerseys China . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. http://www.cheapjerseysreview.com/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Cheap Jerseys Review . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. NFL Jerseys From China . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off.FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Mike Anderson hasnt forgotten, and isnt ignoring, a difficult last season at Arkansas.Rather, the Razorbacks coach is simply treating the disappointing 16-16 record as a singular setback in whats been an otherwise growth-filled first five seasons following his return to the school where he was an assistant for 17 years. Anderson will have his first opportunity to see if last seasons struggles were an aberration or a sign of things to come when the new-look Razorbacks travel to Spain next week for a four-game exhibition schedule against European competition.Its a welcome trip for Anderson, who is eager to put last seasons up-and-down results behind him, and for Arkansas, which has added an influx of junior-college talent in search of returning to its NCAA Tournament level of two seasons ago.I feel the timing couldnt be any better for this kind of trip, Anderson said. For the junior-college kids, I think this is a real critical time for them to get acclimated.The Razorbacks have eight new players on their roster as they prepare for the 12-day trip that will see them play four games in three cities. Among those are three of the top JUCO recruits in the country, guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon along with forward Arlando Cook.Anderson had improved his win total each year at Arkansas until last season, but the departure of Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Bobby Portis and the offseason arrests of three players for using counterfeit money last summer helped put an end to that streak.Its a streak, however, a re-energized Anderson believes can begin again with a roster that has the potential to be as deep and talented as any hhes had.ddddddddddddWe had momentum going and kind of got knocked off the chart a little bit, that path, Anderson said. Now were back on that path, and I think this team has a chance to have some depth, some options. We didnt have options last year.The Razorbacks began the first of 10 practices this week in preparation for their trip to Spain. And while the group has gone through much of the offseason together, Anderson believes nothing will help bond his overhauled roster more than full-court action.Barford and Macon have been two of the most talked about Razorbacks since their arrivals in the offseason, and with just cause. The 6-foot-3 Barford led the country in junior-college scoring with an average of 26.2 points per game last season, while the 6-foot-3 Macon was close behind with an average of 23.9 points per game.Both know theyll have to prove themselves all over again at the SEC level, and that its critical to mesh quickly with returners such as sharp-shooter Dusty Hannahs and All-SEC center Moses Kingsley.Likewise, Hannahs -- who averaged a team-high 16.5 points per game -- is intent on working well with the newcomers, because were not going to deal with that (losing) ever again.Anderson has liked what hes seen so far from the new group, but he said theres still much to teach and he welcomes the upcoming trip as a chance to learn more about the new faces on his roster.Some of those newcomers, however, are bit more optimistic when evaluating the early practices.With this team, I think the Razorbacks are back, Macon said. ' ' '