Not having Grier in this game IS going to hurt WVU

Codebreaker · Dec 28, 2018

Obviously, the guy who touches the ball on every play is very important. So is the guy a team looks to for leadership. That confidence is built up over thousands of hours and many examples of coming thru and making critical plays.

Perhaps the disappointment, as expressed by Grier, of not going to the B-12 champ game is a factor here. Grier quit on his team for selfish reasons. These guys have been thru hell together for 2 years and their leader ups and quits. Quitting is contagious, I don't see a sustained, maximum effort from WVU. The backup will have to establish quickly he can lead this team if he falters early lookout. Syracuse has a veteran QB who knows the game, and an offense that can score points.

I would value both defenses as equal. With a slight edge to Syracuse as having faced more balanced teams.

Pre Grier quitting the line was WVU -6.5, now it favors Syracuse by 3. Syracuse has a good coach and a veteran QB

Syracuse has a more balanced offense. I just don't see WVU's backup putting up numbers like Grier, their 358 passing yards per game has to take a hit. They only rush for 168 yards. WVU has to throw the ball to win. Obviously, Wisc had to run the ball to win vs Miami and they did. Wisc had a great OL and a great RB, it was plausible. WVU has a backup QB, and is missing their leader, a much less plausible outcome in my mind.

I don't know who the WVU backup is, he will have to put up Grier numbers to win this game, is that plausible?

Syracuse -3

winner72 · Dec 28, 2018

Codebreaker said:
Obviously, the guy who touches the ball on every play is very important. So is the guy a team looks to for leadership. That confidence is built up over thousands of hours and many examples of coming thru and making critical plays.

Perhaps the disappointment, as expressed by Grier, of not going to the B-12 champ game is a factor here. Grier quit on his team for selfish reasons. These guys have been thru hell together for 2 years and their leader ups and quits. Quitting is contagious, I don't see a sustained, maximum effort from WVU. The backup will have to establish quickly he can lead this team if he falters early lookout. Syracuse has a veteran QB who knows the game, and an offense that can score points.

I would value both defenses as equal. With a slight edge to Syracuse as having faced more balanced teams.

Pre Grier quitting the line was WVU -6.5, now it favors Syracuse by 3. Syracuse has a good coach and a veteran QB

Syracuse has a more balanced offense. I just don't see WVU's backup putting up numbers like Grier, their 358 passing yards per game has to take a hit. They only rush for 168 yards. WVU has to throw the ball to win. Obviously, Wisc had to run the ball to win vs Miami and they did. Wisc had a great OL and a great RB, it was plausible. WVU has a backup QB, and is missing their leader, a much less plausible outcome in my mind.

I don't know who the WVU backup is, he will have to put up Grier numbers to win this game, is that plausible?

Syracuse -3

Understand that WVU knows Cuse offense very well with or without Grier. J/S

OfficialSono · Dec 28, 2018

Codebreaker said:
Obviously, the guy who touches the ball on every play is very important. So is the guy a team looks to for leadership. That confidence is built up over thousands of hours and many examples of coming thru and making critical plays.

Perhaps the disappointment, as expressed by Grier, of not going to the B-12 champ game is a factor here. Grier quit on his team for selfish reasons. These guys have been thru hell together for 2 years and their leader ups and quits. Quitting is contagious, I don't see a sustained, maximum effort from WVU. The backup will have to establish quickly he can lead this team if he falters early lookout. Syracuse has a veteran QB who knows the game, and an offense that can score points.

I would value both defenses as equal. With a slight edge to Syracuse as having faced more balanced teams.

Pre Grier quitting the line was WVU -6.5, now it favors Syracuse by 3. Syracuse has a good coach and a veteran QB

Syracuse has a more balanced offense. I just don't see WVU's backup putting up numbers like Grier, their 358 passing yards per game has to take a hit. They only rush for 168 yards. WVU has to throw the ball to win. Obviously, Wisc had to run the ball to win vs Miami and they did. Wisc had a great OL and a great RB, it was plausible. WVU has a backup QB, and is missing their leader, a much less plausible outcome in my mind.

I don't know who the WVU backup is, he will have to put up Grier numbers to win this game, is that plausible?

Syracuse -3

couple with that WVU WR Jennings is out also.

HotRocks · Dec 28, 2018

just curious, but will Grier be on the sidelines with the team?

Codebreaker · Dec 28, 2018

I don't know if Grier will be there. WVU has 2 backups. One has played a little with less than 10 passes. the other has not played at all. Holgerson wants to see how the 2nd back up plays in a game. These guys have been in the system for a year and have had plenty of reps. Game speed is different, will they just fit into the system and put up 40 points?

Grier is a special player with a lot of experience, no way does a backup match his numbers in this game. Syracuse is an attacking defense and will bring pressure all game long. The backup will need to make throws he's never made before. I just don't see it. He might get better as the game goes on as he adjusts to game speed.