WVU Football Back in Bowl Projections Against New ACC School

As WVU enjoys their final bye week of the season, their win at Arizona earned the Mountaineers a return to bowl projections. A week after taking West Virginia off his projections all together, Brett McMurphy of the Action Network believes WVU will reach a bowl game again.

Following their 31-26 win over the Wildcats, McMurphy has WVU in the Independence Bowl against a new ACC school. West Virginia would be a 2-point favorite against California in McMurphy’s latest projections.

WVU also enters the bye week back inside the top 5o of the ESPN FPI (Football Power Index). The Mountaineers improved five spots after plummeting to their worst placement of the season last week following their 45-18 loss to Kansas State.

Traveling across the country and returning with a win has West Virginia at No. 48, sitting just behind Army and just in front of fellow Big 12 school Arizona State.

Despite being banged up and without several key starters, WVU managed to control most of the game and then hold on for a victory in Tucson on Saturday night. Nicco Marchiol, who was experiencing a homecoming having played high school football in Arizona, was composed and played well throughout the game. Marchiol completed 18-of-22 for 198 yards and a couple touchdown passes in the game. He also added 39 yards on the ground.

Brown and West Virginia advanced to 4-4 (3-2, Big 12) and are now in their final bye week of the season. Following the bye is a winnable slate of four games to close out the regular season.

For a related story, Mike Asti talked with WVU fans during a postgame show after the Arizona game.