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Liberty Bowl: West Virginia and Texas A&M should throw the ball a lot

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Texas A&M (7-5) vs. West Virginia (7-5)
Memphis, Tenn.
Dec. 29, 2014

Do you like offense? If you do, you are obligated to watch this game if you're off work or record it if you're going to be away from a television. If there was ever a bowl game this season that promises points, the Liberty Bowl is it.

Of course, that paragraph means we could very likely see a 14-13 finish, but we're betting against it. Each team has scored 20 or fewer points just twice this season. For Texas A&M, it was the embarrassing shutout at Alabama and a 23-17 loss to LSU in the last game of the regular season. West Virginia's two worst offensive efforts came at Texas and against Kansas State.

The Mountaineers enter at No. 9 in the country in passing yards. Texas A&M is No. 12. The respective defenses are basically the same, at least in the yardage category. Texas A&M is ranked No. 62 in passing defense, a half-yard better (225.5) than No. 63 West Virginia.

Texas A&M's starting quarterback will be Kyle Allen, the freshman who took over for Kenny Hill after Hill's brief Heisman campaign exploded like a grenade doused in lighter fluid thanks to poor play and a subsequent suspension. West Virginia will be without Clint Trickett, who was forced to retire earlier in the week thanks to five concussions in 14 months. In his place will be Skyler Howard, who actually has a better QB rating than Trickett does in his brief moments of 2014 playing time. However, we're obligated to point out that it's because of Howard's five passing touchdowns in 36 completions. His completion percentage is 12 points lower than Trickett's.

But we don't expect Howard's presence to change the WVU offense all that much. The Mountaineers knew that his bowl game cameo was a possibility for a while. Apparently, coach Dana Holgorsen told buddy and Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital that Trickett may not be cleared for the bowl game before the two teams were matched up against each other.

This game should be fun. And possibly take four hours. So schedule that DVR extra time liberally.

Vegas odds: West Virginia (-1.5)

FUN FACT

This is the first meeting ever between the two schools. West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, the year after Texas A&M and Missouri left for the SEC.

PREDICTIONS

Graham: Skyler Howard stepping in at quarterback for West Virginia is intriguing, but not enough to make me want to pick the Mountaineers in this game. Texas A&M QB Kyle Allen found a bit of a rhythm at the end of the season and I think his maturation continues in this one. Texas A&M 24, West Virginia 17.

Nick: WIll Holgo and Spav continue their buddy cop routine during the game? It could turn into a "anything you can do I can do better" game with the teams lining up their linemen outside the hashes in the fourth quarter for the hell of it. MAKE IT HAPPEN. Texas A&M 37, West Virginia 31

Sam: Extra bowl practices can really help a young team like A&M and I think that'll show, but West Virginia is a better all-around team. Skyler Howard did a decent job filling in for Clint Trickett down the stretch. As long as he doesn't turn the ball over, he'll do enough to help the Mountaineers pull out a win. West Virginia 34, Texas A&M 27.

For more Texas A&M news visit AggieYell.com.

For more West Virginia news, visit WVUSports.com.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!