WVU football has had a fantastic beginning to the season, despite facing numerous challenges during the offseason as a result of COVID-19. The team’s victories have sparked excitement among the residents of Morgantown.
Through three games, Neal Brown’s team has a record of 2-1, and they have a chance to secure another win this upcoming weekend.
On Saturday, a Big 12 matchup between WVU and Kansas will unfold at Milan Puskar Stadium.
West Virginia sportsbooks are consistently favoring the Mountaineers with a significant point spread of over three touchdowns, although the exact numbers may differ depending on the specific sportsbook.
Starting the year with a 3-1 record would hold great significance, especially considering the upcoming challenging schedule. The Mountaineers’ last five games will prove to be more formidable compared to the initial few.
Nevertheless, due to the outstanding performance of a few players, this year’s team is well-positioned to achieve success.
Naturally, when discussing a football team’s triumphs, the quarterback is the initial individual that springs to one’s thoughts. Fortunately for WVU, it seems they have discovered their ideal candidate.
Junior Jarret Doege is displaying excellent performance, which is undeniably uplifting the entire team. Despite not heavily relying on their passing game like other teams, the Mountaineers witness Doege stepping up remarkably when the situation demands it.
Doege’s not burdened with the entire offensive responsibility due to WVU’s strong rushing game. Led by running back Leddie Brown, the Mountaineers have accumulated over 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Linebacker Tony Fields II is shouldering a significant burden on defense. He currently tops the team in total tackles and shares the lead in interceptions.
Now, let’s analyze the influence that each of these players has exerted until now and take a glimpse into WVU’s upcoming match against the Jayhawks.
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Winning in a highly competitive conference like the Big 12 becomes exceedingly difficult if your quarterback is not performing well.
Doege may not be in the running for the Heisman anytime soon, but he is undoubtedly making significant contributions to help the Mountaineers secure victories.
Doege has accumulated a total of 724 passing yards and five touchdowns in the first three games. His interceptions count remains low, with only two thrown thus far.
Although these numbers may not immediately catch your attention, Doege’s efficiency is remarkable. He has successfully completed 69 out of 104 attempts, surpassing a 66% completion rate.
Doege ranks among the top leaders in completion percentage across college football, as his 66.3% places him at the 16th spot in the nation.
Despite facing difficulties against Baylor, the junior quarterback, Doege, successfully completed 71% of his passes.
The Mountaineers may surprise people this season if he can maintain his high level of play.
In addition, running back Leddie Brown will play a significant role in this as well. Throughout 2020, he has been the primary rusher for the team, accounting for nearly fifty percent of WVU’s rushing attempts.
Additionally, Brown contributes to the passing game as well, occupying the fourth spot on the team in receptions with a total of seven.
Brown was the primary target of the Mountaineers’ offense during their most recent game. He managed to accumulate 124 yards on 31 touches, contributing significantly to the team’s double-overtime victory.
Although offensive players tend to receive the majority of attention, it’s important to recognize the deserving efforts of WVU’s defense. With an impressive average of only 19.3 points surrendered per game, the Mountaineers’ defensive unit ranks 13th in terms of points against.
When considering yards per game, the Mountaineers excel even more. With an impressive average of just 268 yards given up, they secure the eighth position in total defense nationwide.
The defense’s toughness owes much to Tony Fields II, who showcased his skills with an impressive performance against the Bears. Fields II recorded a remarkable 10 total tackles, comprising of five solo tackles and a sack.
WVU has a great opportunity to achieve a commendable record this year if their defense can consistently restrict opposing offenses.
WVU vs. Kansas preview
In recent years, Kansas has been the unfortunate exception in the Big 12, which is widely recognized as one of the most challenging conferences in college football.
After beginning with a 0-3 record, the Jayhawks find themselves once again at the bottom of the standings.
Just a year ago, KU only managed to secure a mere three victories, and in the two seasons prior to that, they could only muster up four wins. As the team embarked on this new campaign, they were saddled with the lowest odds of winning the conference, as declared by the Mountain State’s online sportsbooks.
It seems that the Jayhawks are not surpassing these expectations, given their recent blowout losses in the past two games.
In their second game, they allowed Baylor to score 47 points, and later on, they could only manage to gain 193 yards in a 40-point loss against Oklahoma State.
Given that WVU performed significantly better against both teams, it is unlikely to encounter many problems this upcoming Saturday.
The Mountaineers defense has the potential to enhance their overall statistics when facing an offense that has been struggling to gain momentum. Kansas has only managed to score a total of 21 points in the previous two weeks.
The responsibilities at quarterback have been shared between Miles Kendrick and Jalon Daniels. Both players have comparable passing statistics and possess the ability to excel in running plays as well.
Although Kendrick received most of the snaps during the game against Oklahoma State, it was Daniels who took the starting position at Baylor. The Jayhawks’ strategy for utilizing both players this upcoming weekend remains uncertain.
Similar to WVU, Kansas is also seeking to generate some productivity through their running game. They have attempted 121 rushes this year, as opposed to only 92 pass attempts.
Pooka Williams Jr. and Velton Gardner form a formidable duo, as they both boast an average of over 4.4 yards per carry.
WVU has a relatively straightforward week ahead in their college football schedule. As per ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Mountaineers possess a staggering 94% likelihood of emerging victorious.
Odds at WV sportsbooks
WV now offers numerous excellent online sports betting options, making it incredibly convenient to bet on college football.
At present, individuals have the option to download and place bets on the subsequent platforms:
- DraftKings WV Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook WV
- William Hill Sportsbook
- betly Sportsbook
These can be utilized by bettors to make a current futures bet on the season or to wager on individual games.
DraftKings has provided the following odds for the Mountaineers’ upcoming game against Kansas on Saturday.
- West Virginia University is favored by 22.5 points with a moneyline of -3335.
- The moneyline for Kansas is +1200 with a spread of +22.5.
- Over 52 (-108)
- Under 52 (-113)
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