Every week, play-wv.com provides recaps of games played by West Virginia and Marshall, the state’s two FBS schools. Last Saturday, the Mountaineers achieved a decisive victory over TCU in their home game, while Marshall managed to secure a win against UNC Charlotte while playing away.
West Virginia 47, TCU 10
West Virginia is favored by a spread of 13.5 points and the total combined score is set at 55.5.
West Virginia initially struggled but managed to turn the tide with an impressive 33-0 run, securing a dominant 47-10 victory against TCU in Morgantown on Saturday. Their performance comfortably surpassed the 13.5-point spread. Additionally, the final score exceeded the predicted total of 55.5.
Surprisingly, the game remained tied at 3-3 until the latter part of the first half. However, TCU experienced a sudden collapse as the Mountaineers seized the opportunity and scored three touchdowns in the last 5 minutes and 9 seconds. This impressive surge transformed a closely contested game into a dominant 24-3 halftime advantage for West Virginia. The momentum continued in the second half as the Mountaineers swiftly added nine points within the initial 1 minute and 48 seconds, further widening their lead to 33-3 and effectively securing the victory.
The total was the only remaining factor to determine. The Mountaineers managed to score the sole points in the fourth quarter through a touchdown pass from Will Grier to David Sills V. Despite this, it was sufficient to surpass the 55.5 point mark. With this victory, West Virginia’s record now stands at 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS. This marks the third consecutive game in which the Mountaineers have exceeded the spread.
Despite scoring 28 points against Ohio State in Week 3, the TCU offense faced ongoing challenges. Although their initial drive resulted in a field goal after accumulating 65 yards, the Horned Frogs only managed to obtain a total of 222 yards throughout the game, with a significant portion coming during the late stages when the outcome was already determined. Additionally, their rushing yards ended in negative territory, highlighting the struggles faced by the team.
Grier’s performance further solidified his invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. He impressively passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns, contributing to West Virginia’s impressive total of 535 yards.
After suffering a devastating 48-47 loss to their rival Oklahoma, Oklahoma State is gearing up to host West Virginia. Despite being on the road, West Virginia enters the matchup as a five-point favorite. This season, Oklahoma State holds a record of 5 wins and 5 losses in terms of straight up (SU) victories, while their against the spread (ATS) record stands at 6 wins and 4 losses.
Marshall 30, UNC Charlotte 13
Marshall is favored by 13.5 points with a total of 41.5.
On Saturday, Marshall emerged victorious against UNC Charlotte with a score of 30-13 during their away game. The Thundering Herd not only secured the win but also managed to cover the 13.5-point spread. Furthermore, the game surpassed the predicted total of 41.5 points.
Late in the third quarter, the outcome of both the side and total of the game was uncertain, with Marshall holding a 23-13 lead. However, Isaiah Green successfully connected with Obi Obialo for a 10-yard touchdown, resulting in Marshall securing the cover and surpassing the 41.5-point mark. This touchdown held significant importance for gamblers since neither team managed to score in the fourth quarter.
Marshall’s victory pushes them to a 6-3 record straight up (SU) and 4-5 against the spread (ATS). With this win, the Thundering Herd now qualify for a bowl game and secure second place in the Conference USA East division with a 4-2 standing. However, they still trail behind Middle Tennessee and Florida International. The standout performance by Brenden Knox, who rushed for 116 yards and scored a touchdown, played a pivotal role in Marshall’s triumph, marking their third win in the last four games.
On Saturday, the Thundering Herd are set to host UTSA (3-7). With a significant game against FIU approaching, Marshall cannot afford to underestimate the Road Runners. Initially, Marshall was favored by 24 points over UTSA. This season, the Road Runners have struggled with a record of 2-8 ATS and have suffered four consecutive defeats, being outscored 155-30.