This past weekend, the WVU Mountaineers faced yet another challenging loss. They were defeated by Texas Tech by a mere three points, as a late field goal once again sealed their fate.
With a record of 2-3 overall, including 0-2 in conference games, WVU has experienced a disappointing start. Remarkably, all three of their losses were determined by a mere 12 points in total.
In contrast to their performance in previous weeks, the Mountaineers showed a noticeable improvement during the second half of the game. However, it was disappointing to see that coach Neal Brown and his team failed to deliver in the first half.
The team’s offense failed to score, causing them to fall into a significant disadvantage. Throughout the first half, their four possessions led to two punts, a turnover, and a series that concluded without success.
The defense of WVU also faced difficulties from the beginning, allowing two touchdowns in the first quarter. However, the offense shares some responsibility for the second touchdown, as the Red Raiders gained possession in WVU territory after a fumble.
Both the fans in Morgantown and the supporters at West Virginia sportsbooks were left disappointed by this game. Prior to kickoff, the Mountaineers were favored by approximately -7.5 in the point spread, but failed to meet the expectations.
Once again, they are under pressure to swiftly change their fate as they face yet another formidable opponent in their upcoming match. WVU is set to visit Baylor this Saturday, determined to break free from their current losing streak.
Mountaineers Lose Again
The Mountaineers seemed destined for a crushing defeat on their own turf when Texas Tech built a commanding 17-point lead going into halftime. Nevertheless, WVU had a complete turnaround on offense and defense, managing to level the score before heading into the final quarter.
Leddie Brown, the running back, successfully concluded a seven-play drive to commence the second half, and Jarret Doege connected with senior Isaiah Esdale to score the equalizing point in the latter part of the third quarter.
In the first four games of the year, the wide receiver had a meager total of only eight receptions. However, on Saturday, their performance skyrocketed. Esdale managed to catch six passes for an impressive 113 yards, with one of them resulting in a 55-yard gain.
Additionally, WVU’s defense played a crucial role in shifting the momentum of the game. By forcing back-to-back three-and-outs, they halted the opponent’s offensive progress and allowed the offense to eventually equalize the score.
Regrettably, the Mountaineers allowed two passes over 40 yards in their last two defensive possessions, resulting in two field goals for Tech. The second field goal was scored with a mere 18 seconds left on the clock.
Despite a terrible first half, the team’s impressive performance in the third and fourth quarters came too late to make a difference. Throughout the second half, the offense managed to score on every possession except for the last two plays.
Texas Tech managed to secure its fourth win of the season with just enough effort.
In spite of the early fumble, Doege showcased an impressive performance. He successfully connected on 25 out of 33 attempts, accumulating over 300 yards and securing a touchdown.
Brown had a subpar performance in the running game, accumulating a total of 57 yards. His average yards per carry were only 3.4. Additionally, QB Garrett Greene made a valuable contribution, gaining 34 yards from five carries.
Despite not scoring a touchdown, Receiver Winston Wright Jr. managed to make an impressive nine catches for a total of 106 yards.
For the second consecutive week and third time this year, Safety Sean Mahone achieved double-digit tackles. Additionally, he played a crucial role in West Virginia University’s defense by securing the team’s sole turnover with an interception during the opening drive of the game.
Additionally, Dante Stills, a defensive lineman, recorded two additional sacks.
WVU Football Vs. Baylor Preview
Moving forward, the schedule remains challenging for the Mountaineers. Next up, the team will travel to Waco to face the Baylor Bears.
Despite not being expected to compete for the Big 12 title, the Bears have been performing impressively in 2021. However, their winning streak came to an end this past weekend when they suffered a defeat against No. 19 Oklahoma State.
Before that, Baylor had won its first four games, with the most notable being their victory over the 14th-ranked team, Iowa State, two weeks ago.
Even though they lost to the Cowboys, Baylor remains a confident team and is likely to present challenges for WVU.
Junior Gerry Bohanon has excelled as a dual-threat quarterback this season, showcasing impressive skills both in passing and running. So far, he has completed over 67% of his passes, accumulating nearly 1,000 yards in five games.
Bohanon has thrown seven touchdowns without any interceptions, and he has also gained 125 rushing yards along with five more touchdowns.
Baylor frequently engages in running and regularly employs multiple individuals for this purpose.
Senior Abram Smith has been leading the team and carrying the majority of the workload for the past week. He has been consistently gaining an average of over 7.5 yards per rush, accumulating a total of 510 yards and scoring six touchdowns thus far.
His teammate may have a slight lead, but Trestan Ebner is not too far behind. So far this season, he has accumulated approximately 350 rushing yards, maintaining an impressive average of six yards per touch.
Bohanon’s top targets on the outside consist of two additional seniors. Collectively, R.J. Sneed and Tyquan Thornton have amassed 37 catches, nearly 600 yards, and four touchdowns.
Linebacker Dillon Doyle showcases his pervasive presence on the defense, as he leads the Bears in tackles with a remarkable 39, surpassing the second leading player by an impressive margin of 10.
Even though no Baylor defender has recorded more than one sack, the team does have eight players who have contributed at least a half sack.
WVU Football Odds At WV Sportsbooks
To secure a victory and make their way back to Morgantown, the Mountaineers must deliver a strong performance. As per DraftKings WV Sportsbook, they are slightly considered the underdogs for this week’s game, with a +3 point spread advantage to overcome.
Baylor is listed at -145 moneyline, while the opposing team’s moneyline stands at +125.
The total score for this game is significantly lower compared to last week and previous WVU games. The online sportsbook has set the number at a mere 44.5 points, which is a considerable drop from the previous 56 points against Texas Tech.
This Saturday, there are additional betting options available for the contest. DraftKings has set WVU’s team total at a modest 20.5 for this week. While they have not exceeded this score in the past two games, they did manage to surpass it in each of the first three games.
There are also favorable odds available for bettors who want to predict the correct winning margin, in addition to other betting options. If you think WVU will rebound, there are opportunities for you to take advantage of.
The odds for the Mountaineers to win by 1-6 points are displayed at +370, while a win by 7-12 points has odds of +500.
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