Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly affect WVU football and colleges nationwide. As the college football regular season is due to commence in approximately two months, the sport remains shrouded in uncertainty.
As of June 15, WVU initiated voluntary workouts for college football players who tested negative for COVID-19, marking a recent change in policy across college football programs.
Regrettably, Morgantown and numerous other colleges across the nation have experienced a series of unfortunate events.
A second WVU Mountaineer has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, following the announcement of the first case last Monday upon the players’ return to the university grounds.
Both players embarked on a two-week period of self-quarantine.
Furthermore, apart from taking these student-athletes off the field, additional individuals were identified through contact-tracing procedures as being at a higher risk of catching the virus. Consequently, these remaining football players have also been placed in quarantine as a precautionary measure under the athletic department’s updated health and safety protocols.
Although the positive tests at West Virginia are notable, the severity of virus outbreaks has been significantly higher in other locations.
Texas, a rival team in the Big 12 Conference, has disclosed that 15 of their athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus. The situation is even more concerning for Clemson, last season’s runner-up in the National Championship, as they have reported that 23 of their football players have recently tested positive for the virus.
College football is not off to a promising start in what is expected to be one of the most challenging years in sports history.
This fall, West Virginia sportsbooks are eagerly anticipating the availability of one of their top betting markets, and it’s not just football fans who share this nervous excitement.
This year, let’s explore the existence of college football betting and the various preparations teams are undertaking.
College Football’s Rocky Start
There was a widespread belief that college football, as well as the NFL, would face fewer challenges in commencing their 2020 seasons. The reasoning behind this was that both sports would have the advantage of observing how other leagues tackled COVID-19 concerns before embarking on their own seasons.
Regrettably, the opposite has proven to be true as the number of positive cases in the US was expected to dwindle by now.
With the NBA and NHL finalizing their restart plans in late July, college football leagues and programs will only have a limited amount of time to observe.
Despite a significant decrease in coronavirus cases, numerous states have witnessed a substantial surge in infections after initiating the process of reopening.
As football players gear up for their forthcoming season, they are slowly realizing the immense challenges that lie ahead.
Medical professionals and administrators from colleges are currently working together to find the most effective approach that ensures the safety of all individuals involved, while also allowing for the continuation of the season.
Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Jill Weatherhead, recently addressed the challenges that college programs are expected to encounter in terms of testing. Her insights were shared with The Washington Post.
The major issue with college sports lies in the fact that professional sports possess more resources to effectively implement necessary procedures and protocols, thereby significantly reducing the risk of outbreaks.
Each school has been provided with a variety of safety protocols by officials from the Power Five conferences, with each conference offering different guidelines.
With the inclusion of numerous states, conferences, and programs in college football, it is highly likely that a multitude of regulations will be implemented for the current year.
Big 12 Conference Safety Protocols
While college football’s major conferences collaborate to identify optimal health practices, the responsibility of determining testing policies will rest with individual schools.
This could potentially become a problem, according to an unidentified sports administrator who spoke to The Washington Post.
The major issue at hand is that even if we devise the most exceptional policy imaginable, it becomes meaningless if Texas or Florida implement contrasting measures. In such a scenario, can we truly venture there and proceed with our game?
The frequency of testing and the accuracy of those tests will play a crucial role in determining the feasibility of college football participation this year.
In Arizona, players are undergoing three distinct COVID-19 tests every week to evaluate their precision and effectiveness. Given that the cost of each test varies between $40 and $240, conducting weekly tests for an entire football team and staff could potentially incur significant expenses.
During his recent remarks, Anthony Fauci, the esteemed infectious disease expert of the federal government, discussed the feasibility of the NFL conducting their season.
It would be extremely challenging to envision football being played this autumn unless players are essentially isolated from the community, living in a controlled environment, and undergoing frequent testing.
Due to the significantly larger number of college football teams, the college season potentially presents a more demanding challenge compared to the NFL. Moreover, these players are required to attend classes in addition to their rigorous practice schedules.
The implementation of social distancing rules in schools will be highly intriguing to witness. Additionally, there is a possibility that numerous schools may opt for complete absence of on-campus classes.
During an interview on the Dennis and Cowlishaw show on ESPN Dallas 103.3, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby shared his thoughts on the comeback of college football.
Regarding my level of confidence, I have faith in the medical professionals, consultants, and institution leadership that we are collaborating with. However, it is important to acknowledge that this virus is highly contagious. Consequently, we must adapt and find a way to coexist with it.
WVU Football Betting Odds
The uncertainty of having a college football season this autumn lingers. In these challenging times, the hope persists that schools will find a means to bring joy to fans each Saturday.
Despite the continued closure of certain retail sportsbooks in the Mountain State, online sports betting apps remain accessible at all times. These apps include:
Although DraftKings currently does not offer specific game lines, they do provide a futures bet on WVU for 2020.
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