After securing a convincing victory over Virginia Tech last Thursday, WVU football showcased its strength. With a current record of 2-2, the team now shifts its focus towards the Big 12 Conference. This Saturday night, they will be heading to Austin to take on Texas.
This week, West Virginia sportsbooks depict the Mountaineers as nearly 10-point underdogs.
Given the challenging schedule awaiting the conference, each victory holds great significance. The Mountaineers recently seized their chance and successfully defeated their rival, Virginia Tech, with a conclusive score of 33-10.
The defense should be commended for their performance in this game, considering that the offense struggled to find their rhythm until late in the first half. Tech managed to maintain the lead well into the second quarter until quarterback JT Daniels connected with Sam James for a 24-yard touchdown.
In the second half, WVU’s defense maintained their outstanding performance by creating two turnovers and allowing only three points.
We should revisit the Mountaineers’ recent victory and get a sneak peek of their upcoming game against the Longhorns this weekend.
Mountaineers climb back to 2-2
For a significant portion of the game, WVU’s exceptional performance wasn’t accurately represented by the scoreboard. Despite holding a 13-7 lead at halftime, they extended their advantage to 16-10 by the end of the third quarter.
WVU secured a road victory with an impressive fourth quarter that included an offensive score, a field goal, and a defensive touchdown. In the final minutes, freshman Jacolby Spells sealed the deal by intercepting the ball and returning it for a six-point touchdown.
In total, the Mountaineers achieved nearly double the yardage of the Hokies, accumulating over 420 yards compared to the home side’s mere 228. Additionally, there were significant differences in time of possession and first downs, with WVU securing 32 first downs while Tech only managed 14.
Once again, Lee Kpogba, a junior linebacker, showcased his exceptional skills across the field. With a total of six tackles, he emerged as the leading force in head coach Neal Brown’s team. Moreover, Kpogba is the sole player on the team to surpass the 20-tackle mark, currently standing at an impressive 24 tackles.
Despite not being a stellar performance, the offense managed to do enough to accomplish the task at hand.
Daniels successfully completed 20 out of 30 attempts, amassing 203 yards and securing one touchdown.
Although they didn’t score frequently, the offense managed to compile a strong sequence of possessions. They successfully scored five consecutive times after gaining possession from the end of the first half until the beginning of the second half. Kicker Casey Legg contributed significantly to this streak by successfully kicking three field goals, with the longest one being from a distance of 38 yards.
CJ Donaldson, a freshman, outperformed all the other running backs in terms of yards gained. However, it was a collective effort as multiple players made significant contributions. Donaldson recorded an impressive 106 yards by carrying the ball 23 times. On the other hand, sophomore Justin Johnson Jr. managed to accumulate 83 yards and scored a touchdown with just 11 touches.
Tony Mathis Jr. observed a significant decrease in his attempts compared to the two previously mentioned backs. He only managed to rush nine times, accumulating a total of 38 yards.
WVU football vs. Texas preview
WVU’s triumph brought immense joy to both the university and its supporters at WV sportsbooks. Not only did it surpass the point spread of -2 with ease, but it also improved their season record against the spread to an impressive 3-1.
Coach Brown appeared to be satisfied with the outcome of this challenging examination, as stated by the Associated Press.
The win was fantastic. Our preparation beforehand instilled confidence in me, especially considering the challenging nature of this venue. I felt amazing. We had been anticipating this Thursday night game for quite some time, and I believe we executed our plan swiftly. Our performance was marked by speed and physicality.
With the hope of maintaining their momentum and having a bit more time to prepare, the Mountaineers aim to deliver another impressive performance at Texas. Presently, WV sportsbooks indicate that the Mountaineers are given a +9.5 point spread.
In a repeat of last year’s victory over Virginia Tech, WVU aims to once again emerge triumphant against the Longhorns. Their 31-23 win in 2021 not only secured their victory but also knocked Texas out of bowl contention.
In order to succeed, the Mountaineers must deliver another exceptional performance. According to DraftKings WV Sportsbook, they are listed at +270 on the moneyline, while Texas’ odds are set at -325 for this particular matchup.
The total score for this week’s game is even greater than the majority of WVU games, reaching a staggering 62 points.
After Quinn Ewers’ injury, Texas has chosen to start sophomore QB Hudson Card. However, there is a possibility that Ewers might make his comeback this week, as he was dressed and warmed up during the previous week.
Despite their loss, Card had a strong performance for the Longhorns in the afternoon. He managed to throw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in the close overtime defeat.
Regardless of the quarterback on the field, Texas is expected to rely on the exceptional skills of Bijan Robinson. The talented junior running back has been consistently making an impact, averaging over six yards per carry. Despite a challenging game against Alabama, Robinson has bounced back remarkably. In the previous two games, he has accumulated over 285 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns.
WVU football odds at WV sportsbooks
As usual, West Virginia sportsbooks offer numerous opportunities for placing bets on this upcoming match.
Currently, FanDuel Sportsbook WV is offering a narrower spread for the first half of Saturday’s game. According to their online platform, WVU is favored by +6.5 points with odds of -115.
DraftKings currently offers a few options such as team and game props as part of their wide range of betting choices, typically provided closer to the start of the game.
WVU’s team total is set at an intriguing 26.5 points with both over and under options available at -115.
In addition, the book provides bettors with alternative options for the spread. You have the choice to wager on WVU +14 at -185, or you can adjust it to +5.5, which will result in enhanced odds of +145.
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