Countdown to Kickoff
November 13, 2009 10:12 AM | General
November 13, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 23 West Virginia faces No. 5 Cincinnati in a Friday night game at Nippert Stadium that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
West Virginia and Cincinnati have played 17 previous times with the Mountaineers owning a 14-2-1 all-time advantage in the series. Both of Cincinnati’s victories over West Virginia have come in Morgantown.
Last year the Bearcats claimed a 26-23 overtime victory and two years ago West Virginia held on to defeat Cincinnati 28-23 in the Queen City.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – Offensive linemen Josh Jenkins and Joey Madsen will be making the TENTH starts of their young careers tonight against Cincinnati.
9 – West Virginia is looking for its NINTH straight victory on artificial surfaces tonight against Cincinnati. Overall, West Virginia is 14-1 on artificial surfaces under Bill Stewart.
8 – Freshman Tyler Bitancurt has made EIGHT of nine field goal attempts this year including six of six from inside 40 yards.
7 – The Mountaineers are looking for their SEVENTH victory against the Bearcats in Cincinnati. West Virginia is 6-0 in games played at Nippert Stadium.
6 – Cincinnati is SIXTH in the country in passing averaging 324.7 yards per game.
5 – FIVE true freshmen have seen action for West Virginia so far this year: Shawne Alston, Tavon Austin, Terence Garvin, Pat Miller and Geno Smith.
4 – Cincinnati’s quarterbacks have thrown just FOUR interceptions in nine games this season.
3 – West Virginia’s defense is holding opposing offenses to just a 34 percent success rate on its THIRD down conversion attempts this year. Last Saturday against Louisville, the Mountaineers limited the Cardinals to just 5 of 17 on third down for a 29 percent success rate.
2 – For the third straight week, West Virginia’s defense will be preparing for a team that has started at least TWO different quarterbacks this season. Against USF it was B.J. Daniels after Matt Grothe was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. Against Louisville West Virginia faced Will Stein after switching from Justin Burke and Adam Froman. And tonight, the Mountaineers are expected to face Zach Collaros for Cincinnati after Tony Pike began the season under center.
1 – Cincinnati is the only FBS team not to lose a SINGLE fumble so far this year.
Be sure to catch MSN's radio coverage beginning with The Mountaineers Today at 7 p.m. Satellite radio listeners can pick up the game on Sirius channel 125 and XM channel 203.
Enjoy tonight’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
