Last week, the WVU Mountaineers experienced a challenging defeat on the road against Pittsburgh to kick off the season. Fortunately, the upcoming game against Kansas this Saturday portrays them as strong favorites, with West Virginia sportsbooks indicating a lead of nearly two touchdowns.
After a challenging start to the year, WVU’s faithful fans are hopeful that the home opener will uplift their spirits. Following a long absence from the Backyard Brawl since 2011, WVU suffered a defeat against their old rival, Pitt.
Despite multiple ties and lead changes, it appeared that the Mountaineers had taken charge of the contest. Securing a go-ahead touchdown with approximately 10 minutes left, they managed to maintain a 31-24 advantage.
The closing moments of the game were disastrous, as the Panthers managed to equalize the score by completing a remarkable 92-yard drive in a little over two minutes. Unfortunately, for the Mountaineers, a dropped pass resulted in an interception that was swiftly returned for the deciding touchdown.
Now, let’s closely examine the initial loss of 2022 and anticipate the upcoming match against Kansas.
Late turnover costs Mountaineers in Week 1
Despite initially appearing to be on track for a remarkable performance against a rival on the road, WVU’s fortunes rapidly took a turn for the worse.
With little time remaining on the game clock, Pitt effortlessly advanced the entire field in just seven plays. Quarterback Kedon Slovis skillfully completed three consecutive passes, accumulating a total of 58 yards, ultimately resulting in a touchdown in the end zone. In a remarkable play, he located running back Israel Abanikanda, who sprinted 24 yards to even the score.
Despite having a solid opportunity to secure a victory, the WVU offense unfortunately handed the win to Pitt through a costly turnover.
Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, following an impressive game where he contributed significantly to the team’s offense, unfortunately failed to catch a crucial pass. As a result, the ball slipped from his hands and was intercepted by Pitt’s M.J. Devonshire, who swiftly carried it into the end zone for a touchdown.
Even though they suffered a defeat, there were numerous factors that gave cause for optimism regarding the rest of the campaign.
Compared to last year, the offense showed significant improvement. JT Daniels, the new quarterback, performed admirably for the most part, and the final interception was not his fault.
In his first game for WVU, Daniels made an impressive debut by throwing for 214 yards and scoring two touchdowns. However, he wasn’t the only player brimming with excitement for what lies ahead.
At times, Ford-Wheaton on offense appeared invincible. He successfully made nine receptions, accumulating 97 yards, and secured two touchdowns.
Although Tony Mathis Jr. had a decent performance, he was overshadowed by freshman CJ Donaldson. Mathis managed to accumulate 71 yards on 16 carries, but Donaldson made the most out of his chances. Donaldson impressively gained 125 yards on seven attempts, with a longest run of 44 yards.
Among the rest, a handful of Mountaineers displayed notable defensive prowess.
Throughout the entire night, Lee Kpogba, a junior linebacker, showcased his exceptional speed as he darted across the field. In the game, he demonstrated his prowess by recording a total of 10 tackles, leading the WVU team in both overall and individual tackles.
However, the standout player in the unit was undeniably defensive lineman Dante Stills. This senior athlete made a significant impact at the front, accumulating 1.5 sacks.
WVU football vs. Kansas preview
The Mountaineers are expected to even their win-loss ratio and secure a victory against the Jayhawks this upcoming weekend. According to various WV sportsbooks, the point spread indicates that they are favored by approximately -13.5 points.
With an unblemished 1-0 record, Kansas enters its inaugural Big 12 face-off. In their debut, they unleashed a dominant performance, overpowering Tennessee Tech by an impressive 46-point margin.
Even though WVU’s regular conference schedule won’t begin for a few more weeks, this match holds significant importance. A 0-2 start would be extremely unfavorable, especially considering KU is a Big 12 opponent.
For the past eight seasons, the fans in Morgantown have had little reason to worry about facing the Jayhawks. WVU has emerged victorious in each of these battles, with their last defeat dating all the way back to November 2013.
In Kansas, Junior Jalon Daniels takes charge as a versatile threat, showcasing his skills as both a runner and passer. He displayed exceptional efficiency in Kansas’ first game, successfully connecting on over 83% of his passing attempts. During the previous week, he accumulated 189 yards and recorded a touchdown with 15 completions.
In addition to his aerial prowess, Daniels also poses a threat to opposing teams on the field. He showcased his versatility by carrying the ball three times, gaining a total of 29 yards and scoring another touchdown during his team’s initial game.
Daniels relied heavily on the running game, as it accounted for a significant portion of the offense. Kansas collectively accumulated close to 300 yards rushing with a mere 30 attempts, rendering passing largely unnecessary for Daniels.
While multiple backs had impressive performances, it was sophomore Devin Neal who truly shone. In just four carries, Neal managed to accumulate an outstanding 108 yards and scored two touchdowns, with a remarkable 80-yard run as his longest.
In their first game, the Jayhawks only had one receiver who caught more than two passes. Leading the receiving corps was Lawrence Arnold, a sophomore, who made four receptions for a total of 56 yards.
Last week, defensive end Lonnie Phelps wreaked havoc on the opposing team. He not only emerged as the top tackler with seven tackles but also achieved three sacks.
West Virginia betting and WVU football odds
Despite the loss to Pitt, bettors remained relatively satisfied as WVU managed to cover the spread, receiving +7.5 points at most bookmakers.
In order to surpass the spread once more this week, they must secure a victory with a margin of at least two touchdowns.
Based on DraftKings WV Sportsbook, the Mountaineers are favored by -13.5 points, while their moneyline is at an impressive -520. Alternatively, Kansas is offering a straight-up bet at a +410 odds.
The game total listed on the online sportsbook is now at 59.5 points, slightly higher compared to the previous week.
When analyzing this game, bettors from Mountain State have numerous alternative choices to consider. Although Daniels fell short of his goal last week, his passing yardage against KU is notably higher. DraftKings offers his number at 292.5 yards, with both the over and under options available at -115.
There is an opportunity to place bets on the number of touchdowns Daniels will throw. DraftKings has set the line at 2.5 scores, offering odds of +105 for the over and -140 for the under.
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