Following a lengthy hiatus, the WVU Mountaineers are set to make their return to the field on Tuesday night for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
West Virginia sportsbooks indicate that the Mountaineers have a point spread of approximately +5.
In their quest for victory, WVU aims to defy expectations and secure another bowl game win, just as they did last year when they triumphed over Army in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Despite holding a 6-6 record, the Mountaineers have displayed an impressive surge towards the end of the regular season. Their victories over Texas and Kansas in the last two weeks have secured their eligibility for a bowl game.
On Tuesday night, they will face off against Minnesota, a Big Ten opponent. Minnesota had a successful campaign, finishing with an 8-4 record and securing the second-place position in the west division.
The contest is scheduled to begin late at 10:15 p.m. EST, commencing at Chase Field, the home stadium of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Arizona.
WVU Football Bowl Odds At WV Sportsbooks
Given the results from the regular season, it’s not all that shocking to witness Minnesota emerge as the favored team leading up to the bowl game. Outperforming WVU by securing two additional wins in a conference that many argue is superior to the overall Big 12, it’s understandable why they are seen as the top pick.
Like WVU, the Gophers wrapped up their schedule by winning their last two games after a challenging period. They ended their season with a victory against Indiana away from home, and then secured a 10-point win against No. 14 Wisconsin. This outcome prevented Wisconsin from qualifying for the Big Ten title game.
Minnesota’s offensive strategy leans towards relying on their running game rather than passing the ball. Due to injuries, the team had several freshmen players take on significant roles. Ky Thomas and Mar’Keise Irving both have ample opportunities to carry the ball and make a significant impact.
Thomas was the leading rusher for the Gophers, accumulating 680 yards on 145 carries. Meanwhile, Irving managed to gain 570 yards from 114 rushes. Together, they scored a total of nine rushing touchdowns.
Their usual success against Wisconsin was not evident as they only managed to generate 94 yards on 30 carries.
The bowl game with WVU will be significantly impacted by this factor.
If the Mountaineers are able to hinder Minnesota’s running game, they could potentially compel them to rely more on passing. Although senior quarterback Tanner Morgan is skilled, the Gophers’ strength does not lie in consistent passing.
In order to succeed, the Mountaineers need to prioritize their efforts on minimizing yard gains during the initial downs, thus pressuring Minnesota to face third-and-long situations.
In order to succeed, it is crucial for their defensive front to maintain a fast pace throughout the entire game. Leading the team with an impressive 104 tackles this season, linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo outperformed all others on the WVU roster. Additionally, his 64 solo tackles ranked him 21st in the entire nation.
WVU Football Vs. Minnesota Preview
When the Mountaineers have possession of the ball, their offense will aim to replicate similar strategies and tactics.
Leddie Brown, the running back, once again emerged as one of the primary contributors, surpassing his yardage total from the previous year.
Leading the Mountaineers, the senior hailing from Philadelphia achieved an impressive rushing record of 1,065 yards, with an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. Additionally, Brown exhibited his versatility by catching 36 passes, accumulating over 200 receiving yards. Notably, his exceptional performance resulted in a remarkable 14 touchdowns, surpassing all other players on the team.
To open up the field for quarterback Jarret Doege and a talented group of weapons, it is highly probable that Head Coach Neal Brown will heavily rely on Brown.
Doege came extremely close to reaching the 3,000-yard passing mark, successfully completing approximately 66% of his passes.
WVU boasts a plethora of skilled players on the perimeter, comprising a trio of agile receivers: Winston Wright Jr., Bryce Ford-Wheaton, and Sam James. This formidable group possesses the ability to pose challenges for opposing secondaries.
The Mountaineers will continue their running game unless they are significantly behind on the scoreboard, but they are also willing to take strategic shots down the field.
Currently, DraftKings WV Sportsbook has the Mountaineers listed as +5.5 in the spread, offering a moneyline of +180. On the other hand, Minnesota is available either giving the points or with straight-up odds of -220.
Currently, the game total stands at 44.5, which is slightly below the average total seen in most WVU contests.
Throughout a significant portion of the year, the Mountaineers have displayed a commendable performance during the initial half of their games. The first-half spread predicted by DraftKings grants them a favorable advantage of +3.5, while their moneyline stands at +165.
The online sportsbook offers various spread options, including an alternative for WVU backers. They have the choice to decrease the point spread to just +2 for the game, albeit with odds of +155.
Alternatively, you could choose to take WVU receiving +7.5 points at odds of -150.
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