Last weekend, the WVU Mountaineers dominated the first half, propelling them towards yet another triumph. Despite only managing to score three points in the second half, the team endured against No. 15 Virginia Tech, securing their second consecutive victory.
In the first half, WVU managed to score 24 points and established a 17-point lead by halftime. Despite the Hokies’ two scores in the second half, the Mountaineers held on to secure a six-point victory.
Leddie Brown, the running back, had a remarkable performance in his most outstanding game of the 2021 season thus far. He skillfully carried the ball 19 times, amassing over 160 yards and securing a touchdown.
After just two plays, Brown sprinted 80 yards, scoring the first touchdown and putting the Mountaineers in the end zone.
Additionally, Brown made a significant contribution to the passing game. During Saturday’s match, he ranked third on the team in receiving, securing three catches for a total of 35 yards.
The senior player drove the offense forward, while the defense put in a sufficient effort to secure the victory.
With less than a minute left, the defense successfully prevented VT from completing a pass on fourth down and goal.
Despite the Mountaineers’ impressive outcome, they must swiftly shift their focus to the upcoming week. Departing from the comfort of Morgantown, they will face a tough challenge in Norman against the formidable fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
Mountaineers Defeat Hokies
Defeating Long Island was surely a significant win for WVU, however, it was crucial for the school to secure a triumph against a formidable Power 5 opponent prior to commencing the Big 12 schedule.
The victory over VT boosts the morale of a team that recently achieved a remarkable 66-point shutout.
Despite primarily relying on the run, the offense managed to make significant gains with quarterback Jarret Doege completing 15 passes for 193 yards, resulting in two touchdowns.
In addition to Brown, the backup quarterback, Garrett Greene, made a valuable contribution with four carries for 28 yards.
Similar to the previous week, the offense wasted no time in getting underway. Within minutes, Brown swiftly converted the Mountaineers’ second snap into a score.
Afterwards, during their second opportunity, wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton successfully received a 29-yard pass from Doege, resulting in a 14-0 advantage.
Before the first half ended, WVU managed to complete two additional scoring drives. The initial one culminated in a 16-yard touchdown by Sam James, while the other resulted in a successful field goal.
Despite only scoring three points, the offensive unit managed to accumulate almost 80 yards during the 12 plays of that drive.
Heading into halftime, the score was extended to 24-7.
In the third quarter, WVU managed to score three additional points during a lengthy drive. However, this proved to be the final time they added points to the scoreboard. Tech took advantage of two punts and two turnovers to make a comeback.
In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Doege experienced a fumble, followed by an unfortunate interception in his team’s own territory when there were approximately two minutes remaining.
Luckily, WVU’s defense came through and rescued Doege, ensuring that the team maintained their lead.
After VT reached first-and-goal, the Mountaineers’ defense became stronger. The Hokies’ initial two rushing attempts resulted in a one-yard loss, followed by incomplete passes on third and fourth down.
Throughout the afternoon, safety Alonzo Addae showcased an exceptional performance. He not only led the Mountaineers in tackles with a remarkable 10 but also contributed to the team’s impressive six sacks.
Jared Bartlett, a sophomore, also recorded his first three sacks of the season.
WVU Football Vs. Oklahoma Preview
While defeating Virginia Tech held significance, this week carries far greater weight as it involves Oklahoma’s historical dominion over the Big 12 conference, both in the past and recent times.
OU has won the league title seven times since WVU became a part of the conference in 2012.
Once more, the Sooners, led by head coach Lincoln Riley, are predicted to emerge as the frontrunners in the Big 12 according to online sportsbooks in West Virginia.
At the DraftKings WV Sportsbook, their odds are listed as -200.
The Mountaineers currently have the sixth-highest odds, standing at +2500.
If WVU manages to pull off the upset this weekend, it could lead to significant changes in both sportsbooks and the conference landscape.
After defeating Nebraska last Saturday, Oklahoma maintains a flawless 3-0 record as they warmly receive WVU in town. Despite being ranked as the No. 4 team in the country, their victory margin against an average opponent was only seven points, putting their skills to the test.
These two schools haven’t seen each other in quite some time, and their scheduled meetings from a year ago were both canceled.
In their most recent encounter in 2019, Jalen Hurts, who now serves as the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, played a pivotal role in leading OU to a dominant 52-14 victory over the Mountaineers.
Norman remains largely unchanged, with the Sooners showcasing yet another skilled dual-threat quarterback. Sophomore Spencer Rattler, currently ranked 15th in ESPN’s QBR, exhibits remarkable efficiency in his passing game this season.
In just three contests, he has gathered over 750 yards through his passes, with an impressive completion rate of almost 75%.
In addition, Rattler contributes to the rushing game, having carried the ball 18 times for a total of 71 yards and two touchdowns thus far.
Despite not being the frontrunner for this year’s Heisman, Rattler remains among the top contenders. According to PointsBet WV Sportsbook, the Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback is ranked third with odds of +1500.
The innovative OU offense employs various strategies to vex opponents, distributing the ball evenly and maintaining a quick pace to unsettle defenses.
On the young season, a total of five receivers successfully caught a minimum of eight passes each, while two running backs impressively accumulated over 30 rushes.
Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray, both in their junior year, contribute significantly to the OU offense by maintaining an impressive average of over 5.6 yards per carry.
WVU-OU Betting Odds At WV Sportsbooks
In order to increase their chances of winning on Saturday night, the Mountaineers must effectively slow down Oklahoma’s offense. Fortunately, Nebraska has recently showcased a strategy to contain this high-powered unit, providing the Mountaineers with valuable insights.
Despite the Huskers’ loss, they managed to limit the opposing team to just 23 points and successfully compelled OU to punt four times.
WVU would also greatly benefit from generating turnovers.
DraftKings has set the point spread for the WVU game at +17. The moneyline for WVU stands at +550, while Oklahoma’s moneyline is listed at -800.
The current total score for the game is approximately in line with the previous matchups this year. Currently, the online sportsbook has set it at 55.5 points.
WVU’s strong performance in the early stages of games makes the first-half markets a viable choice. The spread for the opening two quarters is set at +9.5 for the Mountaineers, alongside a moneyline of +410.
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