The WVU Mountaineers faced another setback in their challenging 2021 campaign, suffering a defeat against Kansas State last weekend.
In order to achieve a 6-6 record and become bowl eligible, they must win their remaining two regular season games. Accomplishing this feat will not only bring them back to .500 but also add another game to their schedule.
Although a 6-6 record may not be ideal, it presents an opportunity for WVU to conclude the season on a positive note by achieving a 7-6 record. With more than 40 bowls scheduled this year, the Mountaineers are eager to secure a spot and be part of the postseason action.
This week will kick off with a win over Texas, as the Longhorns are not performing at their best. West Virginia sportsbooks have labeled the Mountaineers as the favored team in this match.
It will be a challenge as the Mountaineers struggled on the road against KSU. They fell behind early and were unable to make a comeback.
At halftime, Kansas State held a commanding 17-3 lead and didn’t face much pressure in the second half. Although WVU managed to narrow the gap to seven points at one moment, KSU swiftly responded with a touchdown, stretching their lead to 31-17.
Another tough loss in the Big 12 sent WVU home without scoring again.
Despite the numerous setbacks, there is still an opportunity for the Mountaineers to conclude the season in a positive manner, starting with the upcoming game against Texas on Saturday.
Mountaineers Lose Second Straight
After the first possession for WVU, it became apparent that it was going to be a lengthy day. Almost immediately, on just the second play from scrimmage, quarterback Jarret Doege’s pass was intercepted, giving KSU an advantageous starting position at their own 45-yard line.
After completing six plays, the Wildcats successfully scored the initial points of the game by covering a distance of 55 yards. Except for only four yards, the entire yardage was achieved through running plays.
Joe Ervin, the sophomore running back at KSU, concluded the drive by scoring a two-yard touchdown.
After the offense failed to make progress on several occasions, the special teams once again fell short. The Wildcats successfully blocked the punt, which occurred in WVU’s own territory, and managed to recover it for a touchdown.
In search of the end zone during the subsequent possession, the Mountaineers made the choice to forgo a field goal attempt and opt for a go-for-it approach. Unfortunately, Doege was tackled behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover as KSU gained possession near their own 40-yard line.
Despite the defense’s strong performance, the offense was unable to provide support. Despite advancing 45 yards in 10 plays, they failed to score due to a missed field goal.
Rather than going for it on fourth down in a similar position, head coach Neal Brown decided to opt for a field goal this time. Unfortunately, Casey Legg’s 47-yard attempt missed its target, leaving the score unchanged at 14-0.
The offense showed significant improvement in the second half by successfully maintaining possession of the ball.
Touchdowns were scored on a 10-play, 68-yard drive and a 14-play, 80-yard drive.
In addition to the defense allowing more points in the last two quarters, WVU’s chances were also hindered by another interception thrown by Doege and a fumble by Leddie Brown.
The defeat was disappointing for both the team in the locker room and the supporters who had bet on WV online sportsbooks, taking the +6 in the point spread.
Despite his mistakes, Doege managed to throw for nearly 270 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Brown gained a total of 85 yards on the ground, carrying the ball 20 times.
The touchdowns were caught by receivers Winston Wright Jr. and Reese Smith.
The team’s sole sack was recorded by senior Taijh Alston in a defensive play.
WVU Football Vs. Texas Preview
Winning any tilt becomes difficult when you lose the turnover battle by a margin of three. If WVU experiences a similar outcome against Texas, it is likely that the scoreboard will reflect the same.
Fortunately for the Mountaineers, they have the advantage of facing Texas during their dismal streak of losses. Texas has suffered five consecutive defeats, including a narrow 57-56 loss to Kansas just last week.
The Longhorns’ most recent victory occurred on October 2nd when they defeated TCU.
Ever since that time, the journey has been challenging for the new coach, Steve Sarkisian. Presently, Texas holds a 4-6 overall record for the year and struggles to effectively defend against opposing teams.
Last Saturday, Texas allowed Kansas to score 49 points in regulation and their defensive performance has not improved significantly in recent weeks. The opposing teams of Texas are averaging over 32 points per game.
In the past seven games, each team that has played against WVU has managed to score a minimum of 27 points. This serves as positive news for WVU’s offense, as they appeared to establish a steady flow in the second half during their game against KSU.
The Longhorns’ offense has the ability to put points on the board.
In the backfield, Quarterback Casey Thompson is accompanied by an exceptional dual threat player.
Thompson boasts an impressive record of 1,900+ yards and 27 touchdowns, with a mere seven interceptions.
Bijan Robinson, the running back, has surpassed 1,100 yards this season, making him the top rusher in his team. While he stands at third place among the conference’s successful backs, his performance ranks him at an impressive 10th position nationwide.
Xavier Worthy, the freshman receiver, has emerged as a rising star and poses a significant challenge for WVU. He leads Texas in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, boasting an impressive record of 49 receptions for 831 yards and 11 scores. WVU must find a way to contain him.
Making the bulk of the tackles on the opposing side of the field are DeMarvion Overshown and Luke Brockermeyer, the two linebackers.
B.J. Foster, the defensive back, has been excelling in the secondary position, currently sharing the top spot in the Big 12 with three interceptions.
WVU Football Odds At WV Sportsbooks
The current odds at WV sportsbooks for this matchup may come as a surprise. At DraftKings WV Sportsbook, WVU is favored with a spread of -3.5 points, and their moneyline is listed at -160.
There is another contrasting factor observed in this week’s meeting: the game total. DraftKings has currently set it at 56.5, which exhibits an increase of nearly 10 points compared to the previous week.
WVU typically performs strongly in the first half of their games. Currently, their point spread is -1.5, and they have a moneyline of -145.
With a +125 odds, bettors have the opportunity to choose Texas for the first half.
If you are contemplating placing a bet on the Mountaineers, it is advisable to adjust the spread to an alternate option, if available. Lowering it to less than three points can prove to be essential during a close match.
You can find WVU -2.5 at -135, whereas the online sportsbook offers -2 points at -140.
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