Suddenly, the WVU football team’s optimism for their Big 12 schedule has surged. Following Oklahoma State’s narrow victory over Tulsa on Saturday, there is a genuine chance for WVU to cause an upset.
Ranked 11th in the nation and filled with aspirations of conference domination, the Cowboys embarked on their inaugural game of the season. Unfortunately, their initial encounter didn’t unfold according to plan, resulting in a mere 16-7 victory over Tulsa on their home turf.
Oklahoma State’s challenging performance was evident in the latest AP poll, as they slid down four spots to No. 15 despite their victory. This sets the stage for their upcoming matchup with WVU.
After easily winning their opening game, the Mountaineers enjoyed a week off. They dominated Eastern Kentucky with a massive 46-point victory in an almost empty Milan Puskar Stadium.
In addition to OSU’s challenges, WVU’s sideline offers plenty of reasons for excitement.
In his inaugural start of the year, Quarterback Jarret Doege exhibited exceptional composure and confidence. Undoubtedly, his performance was enhanced by the unwavering support of a highly dependable running game throughout the entire match. The Mountaineers displayed an outstanding feat by accumulating over 300 rushing yards, showcasing the talent of numerous skilled athletes in their backfield.
Despite not being the favored team to win on Saturday, WVU still has the potential to come out victorious. Coach Neal Brown and his team should anticipate a challenging 60-minute contest against one of the stronger teams in the Big 12.
Whether you’re looking to place bets on college football, West Virginia sportsbooks have you covered from all angles.
Individuals living in the Mountain State have the option to conveniently partake in the game either by visiting physical sportsbooks or by engaging in online betting via various mobile applications.
The point spread for this week’s game is approximately eight in favor of WVU, but it may differ depending on the online sportsbook.
These are the most recent betting odds for WVU in West Virginia.
Is Oklahoma State overrated?
The initial release of the schedule indicated that the Mountaineers could potentially face challenges in their first conference game.
Last year, Oklahoma State emerged victorious in eight games, with a commendable 5-4 record in the Big 12. Additionally, they retained their star offensive player and came close to securing a spot within the top 10 rankings at the start of the season.
However, the Cowboys did not live up to expectations in their first game against Tulsa. Despite being heavily favored, with odds of around -24 points at WV sportsbooks, Oklahoma State did not perform as anticipated.
The offense of OSU faced early problems and struggled to overcome them. At halftime, OSU was behind with a score of 7-3. The third quarter remained without any points, but in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys finally scored their only touchdown of the day along with two field goals.
Tulsa came close to causing an early-season upset by displaying an impressive defensive performance. They successfully restricted OSU to a mere 279 total yards throughout the game. In contrast, the Cowboys’ offense averaged over 450 yards per game last year.
Slowing down Chuba Hubbard, the future NFL running back, was undoubtedly the most significant factor.
Despite having 27 carries, Hubbard’s ground game only yielded him 93 yards, resulting in an average of merely 3.4 yards per carry.
The remaining members of the team also struggled to achieve success in their running game. Quarterback Spencer Sanders, in particular, only managed to gain a total of nine yards from five runs. However, Senior LD Brown provided a glimmer of hope as he averaged seven yards per rush, accumulating a total of 63 yards.
Tulsa exhibited exceptional defensive strategy, effectively crowding the box and compelling Oklahoma State to rely on their passing game. Following Sanders’ departure due to injury, both freshman Shane Illingworth and junior Ethan Bullock received substantial playing opportunities.
We can look forward to witnessing how Oklahoma State will utilize their quarterbacks in the upcoming game against the Mountaineers.
WVU football betting preview
In order for WVU to achieve a 2-0 start this year, it is imperative that they emulate Tulsa’s defensive strategy against OSU. The outcome of Saturday’s game will heavily rely on their ability to dominate the line of scrimmage.
WVU’s ability to effectively defend against the run on early downs compels Oklahoma State to face challenging third-and-long situations. Consequently, the Cowboys will be compelled to attempt deeper passes down the field, which may prove challenging for them to sustain throughout the entire game.
Illingworth stood out as the Cowboys’ most accomplished passer, surpassing his teammates by a large margin. He impressively gained a total of 74 yards through the air with a 4-of-5 completion rate during his brief appearance. If the team encounters difficulties, they may consider relying on the true freshman once more.
WVU can also slow down Oklahoma State by maintaining possession of the ball, as demonstrated by Tulsa’s impressive performance last week.
Despite being the underdog, the time of possession for the team was nearly equal to that of OSU.
The Cowboys’ scoring opportunities decrease when they have fewer possessions, which is unfavorable for the Mountaineers in a high-scoring game.
The positive aspect is that this aligns with WVU’s likely game plan. Although Doege performed well in the first game, the Mountaineers prefer not to rely on him solely passing throughout the entire afternoon to overcome a deficit.
If they manage to run the ball effectively, they could also end up in a tight match towards the end.
Coach Brown discussed how there is minimal disparity between the two teams since their previous match, as reported by the WV MetroNews.
We both have a large number of people returning. In terms of our game plan, it’s likely that neither team will make significant adjustments. I believe there is a strong sense of familiarity because we played against each other so late in the previous season.
The final outcome of this contest might be determined by an intense battle that could extend until the last few minutes.
College football betting odds at WV Sportsbooks
There are now numerous online sports betting apps available in West Virginia, providing an array of options for Mountaineers fans who wish to bet on their favorite team.
- DraftKings Sportsbook WV
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook WV
- William Hill Sportsbook
- betly Sportsbook
The odds for this Saturday’s game between WVU and OSU are already available on each of these mobile platforms.
Related Articles
