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STATs to watch
By Carter Strickland
West Virginia will spread Texas out. With good reason. The Mountaineers complete 61 percent of their passes in four wide receiver sets. But it is when they go five wide that Texas needs to be concerned. In that set, Geno Smith is 19-of-20 for 320 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Most of that damage was done against Baylor. Smith was 16-of-17 for 271 yards and four TDs in the 70-point performance against the Bears.
Read our stats that matter here. 
HORNSNATION PREDICTIONS
Max Olson: Texas 38, WVU 27
Carter Strickland: Texas 45, WVU 42
William Wilkerson: Texas 42, WVU 38
Read the staff's full predictions here.
FOUR DOWNS: Meshing defense
By Sean Adams
There is a lot of attitude on this Texas team and much of it comes from the defense. It is coming from the right place. The defense is usually the emotional leader of the team outside of the quarterback. It has the players that usually dance, make noise, "make it rain" and body bump after big plays.
Here's the rub: at some point that confidence coupled with huge yards given up turns into false bravado. Confidence cannot remain in a group that gives up 18 receptions for an average of 16.7 yards per reception. Texas defines its explosive plays as any pass resulting in 16 yards or more. Yes, that means that Oklahoma State averaged an explosive play every time it completed a pass
The Texas defense looks confident. It sounds confident. Its talent says that it should be confident. Its play has not been reflective nor does it merit that confidence. At some point, the defense better mesh or it could become a liability.
Meshing on Saturday would be a good thing for Texas fans.
Read Adams' four downs here.
Stories Of The Week
Some of the top Texas stories from HornsNation in case you missed them:
• Daron Roberts' journey leads to football, WVU
• Sean Adams: UT defense needs to mesh
• Malcolm Brown out vs. West Virginia
• Five storylines: West Virginia vs. Texas
• How can Texas slow Geno Smith?
• WVU fans traveling in droves
• Three questions on West Virginia vs. Texas
• A closer look at UT's tackling woes
• Texas can learn from WVU's losses
• David Ash answering the call for Longhorns
For more discussion, check out The Tower
The Recruiting Trail
Longhorns recruiting tidbits:
• The Heard: In-depth Texas recruiting notes
• No. 3 hoops recruit has Texas in top six
• ESPN 100 SG visiting this weekend
• Chevoski Collins deciding next week
• Q&A: UT LB commit Deoundrei Davis
• Video: Texas WR commit Jake Oliver
• Devon Allen cancels Texas visit
For more, check out RecruitingNation
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