FACTOR FIVE FIVE FACTOR PREVIEW: WEST VIRGINIA AT TCU

NEBULOUS STATISTICAL COMPARISONS OF DUBIOUS VALIDITY

West Virginia, you are indeed wild and wonderful because despite having a 3-3 record you enjoy a statistical profile that is the envy of all but nine other teams in the nation. Somehow the Mountaineers are tenth in overall S&P, yet all over the place in terms of efficiency (very good!) to explosiveness (bad on both sides of the ball!) The offense also fades badly in the 4th quarter, most likely thanks to an efficient offense falling behind and being forced to play out of their comfort zone.

But if they're on schedule and not behind, WVU's really good. It's just a matter of staying there.

TCU, in contrast, is just as you imagined. They're ninth in total S&P, despite their issues on defense. No one has been more lethal with the pass this year, and few have been as effective in the fourth quarter. Their defense is demonstrably mediocre, particularly against the run. Trevone Boykin's numbers are pornographic: if he touches the ball, he'll average 9.11 yards no matter if he's throwing or running with it.

ADVANTAGE: TCU

TCU, YOU'VE BEEN FACTOR'D

MASCOT

Super Frog is fine. He/she is FINE. (Super Frog is a reptile. Knowing their gender is difficult, determining it is awfully technical, and you'll have to get to know them really well before you even attempt it.) Super Frog is also up against the undefeated Mountaineer, America's only mascot with a real live functioning firearm and buckskin costume custom made for them upon their ascension to the throne.

In short, we could opt for Super Frog, but can Super Frog walk into any Sheetz and take anything they want by decree of the governor, so long as they're in costume and carrying the musket? No, Super Frog cannot, and that's why Super Frog must join the club of a long line of mascots who lose to the Mountaineer in this category. There was a Mountaineer mascot named Burdette "Irish" Crow. You just lose here, and will have to accept that.

ADVANTAGE: WEST VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA, YOU'VE BEEN FACTOR'D!

NAMES

Since this game involves Texans and West Virginians, we might as well judge this category on the metric of False Names You'd Give To A Law Enforcement Officer.

West Virginia

Rick Rumph III
R.C. Brunstetter
Stone Underwood
Daejuan Funderburk
Deamonte Lindsay

TCU

Ranthony Texada
Joseph Broadnax
Joseph Noteboom
Grayson Muehlstein
Kolby Listenbee

R.C. Brunstetter's pretty solid on that scale, as is Stone Underwood. Joseph Noteboom raises too many questions, though. Especially when your buddy tells the same cop his name is Joseph Broadnax.

ADVANTAGE: WEST VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA, YOU'VE BEEN FACTOR'D!

AURA

Amon G. Carter might be the most anagram-friendly stadium name in FBS. You can get:

- Mango Crater
- Orca Garment
- Ram Torn Cage
- Tang Or Cream
- Mr. Rag Octane
- Tar Me, Garcon
- Tag Em, Rancor

#TAGEMRANCOR indeed.

ADVANTAGE: TCU

TCU, YOU'VE BEEN FACTOR'D!

GRUDGES/SCORES TO SETTLE/SHEER CUSSEDNESS

Taking out a West Virginia win in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl, this is a recent but very intense rivalry. The last three games have been decided by a total of five points, including two one-point margins of victory (2012 and 2014, both TCU victories.) West Virginia has a valid chance to reverse role and spoil TCU's perfect season this time while Baylor chuckles at home. That seems to be the Mountaineers' designated role in the Big 12: Never a bride, but always the bridesmaid who gets drunk and punches the groom's mother because she didn't like the way she was looking at her.

ADVANTAGE: WEST VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA, YOU'VE BEEN FACTOR'D!

FINAL TALLY: That's a narrow 3-2 victory for the Mountaineers, which will definitely not cause Gary Patterson to grow to 50 times his present size and destroy anything in his path. Have fun bringing him down, U.S. Air Force!