WVU Men’s Basketball Odds: Can Mountaineers Avoid Spiders’ Traps?

On Sunday, the West Virginia University men’s basketball team, ranked 11th, is set to face one of their toughest opponents in the 2020-21 season. This presents a great opportunity for Mountaineer hoops betting for those who believe in WVU’s capability to defeat the 19th-ranked Richmond Spiders.

On Sunday morning, West Virginia kicks off the betting as the favored team by 7.5 points. Certain statistics indicate that Richmond has the potential to narrow the game’s margin, despite the difference reflected in the moneyline market.

The complete college hoops odds at WV sportsbooks are provided below.

What to know for Mountaineer hoops betting Sunday against Richmond

The upcoming game on Sunday will mark the second official home game for WVU’s men’s team this season. On the other hand, it will also be the second away game for the undefeated Richmond Spiders, who currently hold a 4-0 record. Additionally, Richmond has impressively won their last eight games outright.

• The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Location: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown
• TV: ESPN

Both teams have already faced the challenges of playing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Richmond has already lost two games due to cancellations this year, and the Mountaineers experienced the same outcome in their game against Robert Morris last Wednesday.

Even though both teams are at full strength, the Spiders might have an advantage in terms of rest. Richmond’s last game was on Wednesday, whereas WVU hosted North Texas on Friday afternoon and emerged victorious with a score of 62-50.

The Spiders have an impressive victory over the then-10th ranked Kentucky on their record, while the Mountaineers’ notable win thus far is a comeback against Georgetown. Although WVU did hold a halftime advantage over top-ranked Gonzaga as well.

Richmond may not be scoring a lot of points, but that doesn’t mean their offense is inefficient. In fact, five players who play at least 10 minutes per game have a shooting percentage of over 50% this season.

In addition to their impressive assist record of over 51% on made baskets, the Spiders have also showcased remarkable defensive skills.

In one of its four contests, Richmond conceded a whopping 70 points. This can be attributed, in part, to their opponents’ shooting accuracy of only 41.9% from the floor, as well as Richmond’s ability to force an average of 16 turnovers per game.

The numbers make the Richmond spread tempting

If bettors are wondering why the Spiders are considered as significant underdogs on the moneyline, the reason is quite straightforward. The Spider offense primarily relies on inside and mid-range shots. In their first four games, they have only tried 22 shots from beyond the arc, and this is justified by their low shooting percentage of just 34.1%.

The Mountaineers’ 3-point shooting has been even worse than the Spiders’, making it unlikely for the total score to reach the 160s or higher. This also diminishes the Mountaineers’ chances of disrupting Richmond’s game by pressuring them to rely on long-range shots to match the score.

In order for WVU to cover the 7.5-point spread, they will need to focus on clogging up cutting and passing lanes. The team’s statistical advantage in rebounding makes it important to restrict the Spiders’ chances for second scores and reduce their possessions. These strategies will play a crucial role in achieving the desired outcome.

Maintaining such a feat against such a powerful offense could pose a challenge, particularly as the game progresses. The Spiders have demonstrated their capability to exhaust their opponents by securing victories in the second halves of their previous six away games.

Oddsmakers have set the total line at approximately 145 points for this game, indicating that they anticipate both teams to repeat their previous performances. Richmond’s average total in their four games is 145.3, while the Mountaineers’ average total in their five games is 143.3.

The Spiders have been acknowledged by WV sportsbooks for their efforts in reducing the point spread in this game, considering that WVU typically wins by an average of 9.4 points. If Richmond can effectively execute their offensive strategies as they have demonstrated, this game has the potential to be much closer.