No. 17 Houston at West Virginia: Week 12 preview

No. 17 Houston (7-2) visits West Virginia (5-4) on Sat, Nov 21 · TBD.
SP+ power ratings: Houston 14.1 (25th), West Virginia -0.2 (73rd). SP+ projects Houston by 11.8, including 2.5 points of home field.
The Houston offense ranks 8th in FBS in EPA per play (+0.28); the West Virginia defense ranks 134th (+0.31 allowed). Biggest Houston edges: passing success rate, EPA per pass, EPA per play. The West Virginia defense holds the edge in rushing explosiveness.
The West Virginia offense ranks 45th in FBS in EPA per play (+0.16); the Houston defense ranks 111th (+0.20 allowed). Biggest West Virginia edges: passing explosiveness, EPA per pass, EPA per play.
Schedule: comparable so far (Houston 18th toughest, opp. SP+ +8.6; West Virginia 33rd toughest, opp. SP+ +6.4), so their numbers compare on even footing.
Pace: projected for about 138 total snaps in regulation (+6.9 vs. the FBS average of 132), faster than average. Single games vary a lot: most land within 12 snaps of the projection.
Weather: Cloudy, 66°F at kickoff (feels like 67°), 25% chance of rain, wind SE 5 mph gusting to 14.