The Mountaineers fell just short in their efforts to defeat No. 22 Texas and achieve a 5-2 record.
The Longhorns secured their third consecutive win after a failed fourth-down attempt with slightly over four minutes left on the clock.
The current record for WVU football is 4 wins and 3 losses overall, including 3 wins and 3 losses in the Big 12 Conference.
The absence of a penalty flag on the Mountaineers’ unsuccessful fourth down left head coach Neal Brown visibly displeased. It seemed evident that sophomore wide receiver Ali Jennings might have been impeded during the play.
Due to the ineffectiveness of a field goal in narrowing the four-point deficit, WVU had no choice but to opt for a first down. The team found itself in a promising position just beyond Texas’ five-yard line, but unfortunately, quarterback Jarret Doege’s throw narrowly missed its intended recipient.
The Mountaineers’ defense once again proved their worth by containing a formidable Texas offense. Throughout the season, the Longhorns managed to score at least 10 points more than their opponents in every game.
Doege accumulated more than 300 passing yards, although it required him to complete 35 out of 50 attempted passes.
This week, WVU faced a challenge in maintaining a consistent running game. Leddie Brown and the rest of the backfield struggled to make significant progress, which was a departure from their usual performance.
Brown only managed to accumulate 47 yards on 15 carries, whereas Alec Sinkfield’s rushing yardage was a meager five yards.
Fortunately for those supporting WVU, the point spread at West Virginia sportsbooks favored them with +6.5 points. Although moneyline bets would have resulted in losses, the Mountaineers secured another victory when it came to the spread.
So far this year, they have a 5-2 record at sportsbooks.
According to the online sports betting apps in the Mountain State, WVU has been listed as a slight favorite at home against TCU this weekend. Bettors have the opportunity to place their bets, expecting WVU to bounce back and secure a win.
WVU Mountaineers drop a close one
Once again, despite converting more first downs and winning the time of possession battle, the Mountaineers were unable to secure a victory.
Undoubtedly, this loss was challenging and the team regrets not being able to reclaim it.
After scoring on the first drive of the game, Texas faced a resilient WVU defense that effectively limited them to just 288 yards for the remainder of the match.
Regrettably, it failed to produce a significant turnover to contribute points to the offense. Despite a few fumbles occurring during the game, neither team actually incurred a turnover.
The sole player in double digits, senior linebacker Tony Fields II, dominated the Mountaineers’ total tackles, leading the team with an impressive 12. His exceptional performance solidified his position as the team’s top tackler for the entire season.
Fields’ mark of 65 tackles remains unmatched by any other Mountaineer, with no player coming within 15 tackles of his record.
The offense likely delivered one of its most underwhelming performances in 2020. Despite a remarkable 37-point display the previous week, they managed to score only one touchdown.
Although Doege didn’t perform at his peak while advancing down the field, he did distribute the ball effectively. A total of nine players managed to catch at least two passes.
Junior Isaiah Esdale and sophomore Bryce Ford-Wheaton equally caught six balls each to lead WVU. In terms of total yards, senior T.J. Simmons outshined all receivers by accumulating 71 yards on four receptions.
Despite the Mountaineers’ accumulation of statistics in this game, their ability to perform at crucial moments proved to be lacking.
During their final two drives of the game, they were unable to gain a single yard on both occasions and ultimately surrendered possession of the ball.
With approximately 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers found themselves at Texas’ 16-yard line. However, they were unable to secure a first down from the Longhorns’ eight-yard line with approximately five minutes left.
In both instances, WVU opted to throw the ball despite only needing one yard.
WVU football and TCU betting preview
This week, the Mountaineers will have a chance to demonstrate their resilience in front of their home fans in Morgantown, as they prepare to host the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday at noon.
TCU comes into this game with a conference record of 3-3, which is the same as their opponent. They have recently won their last two games against Baylor and Texas Tech.
Earlier in the season, Texas was also defeated by the Horned Frogs.
Iowa State, Kansas State, and Oklahoma are the teams responsible for their three losses.
Max Duggan, a sophomore quarterback, is the offensive leader for TCU. With over 1,100 passing yards and a completion rate of over 65%, he has proven his proficiency.
TCU’s leading rusher is none other than the dual-threat QB.
So far this year, Duggan has recorded 329 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 80 carries.
In addition to their standout players, the Horned Frogs possess a talented group of individuals who can make a significant impact on the ground game. Darwin Barlow, Kendre Miller, and Zach Evans, all freshmen running backs, boast an impressive average of at least 5.3 yards per rush.
TCU’s most formidable weapon on the outside is Taye Barber, a junior receiver. Barber currently holds the top spot in the team’s records for receptions, yards gained, and receiving touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Garret Wallow and sophomore defensive end Ochaun Mathis are the ones to watch on the defensive front. To ensure a successful game on Saturday, the WVU offense must contain these two players and prevent them from wreaking havoc.
In TCU’s six games, Wallow leads the team in tackles with 46 and forced fumbles with two, whereas Mathis has recorded four sacks.
For WVU to regain their winning momentum, it is crucial for them to prioritize and frequently utilize the running game. Even though Brown didn’t deliver his finest performance last week, giving him only 15 rushing attempts is insufficient for one of the team’s top players.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, this game is predicted to be closely contested. The Mountaineers are given a 53% probability of winning.
College football betting odds at WV sportsbooks
Residents of the state have the opportunity to place bets on the Mountaineers, as well as any other college football match, using one of the various online platforms provided.
They include:
- DraftKings Sportsbook WV
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook WV
- William Hill Sportsbook
- Betly Sportsbook
As anticipated, the point spread for the upcoming game this week is remarkably close. According to DraftKings, the current odds for the WVU versus TCU game are as follows:
- The West Virginia University team is favored by 3 points with a moneyline of -143.
- The moneyline for TCU is +118 with a point spread of +3.
- Over 45.5 (-107)
- Under 45.5 (-113)