With the recent victory of the WVU Mountaineers and the reintroduction of online sports betting, sports bettors in West Virginia are enjoying a successful month.
During week 4 of the college football season, WVU emerged victorious over the Kansas Jayhawks with a score of 29-24 in Lawrence. This triumph held great importance for WVU and their newly appointed coach Neal Brown, although the point difference seemed rather notable to certain individuals.
WV sportsbook bettors who placed their trust in the Mountaineers with a -4.5-point spread were rewarded with a victorious day, as WVU’s five-point triumph secured their win.
The Mountaineers’ significant victory on the road against Kansas arrives at an opportune moment as the Morgantown team heads into their initial bye week of the season. With a challenging upcoming match against 11th-ranked Texas looming, they require ample time to prepare before the opposition arrives in town.
We should analyze the successes of the previous weekend and examine future predictions for WVU football.
WVU football: A look back
Following a sluggish beginning to the season, it appeared that the Mountaineers may encounter difficulties securing victories in 2019. Over the course of two weeks, WVU narrowly clinched a victory against FCS James Madison and suffered a crushing defeat of 31 points against Missouri.
The past fortnight has been significantly contrasting.
Even though they were considered much smaller in size, the Mountaineers managed to defeat NC State with a significant lead when playing at home last week. Moving into week 4, the WVU football team embarked on their Big 12 schedule by playing away and triumphed over the Jayhawks with a five-point victory, bringing their early season record to 3-1.
Coach Brown recognizes that, despite the lack of aesthetic appeal, the only thing that truly counts in the end is the outcome. As reported by the WV MetroNews, he stated:
“Fantastic victory! Our first triumph away from home and I couldn’t be prouder of our young team. Although we didn’t perform at our peak, we managed to navigate through and secure the win. Winning on the road requires determination and resilience, and today we demonstrated great composure.”
Although his team’s performance wasn’t outstanding, it was sufficient to secure a win against a conference rival on their opponent’s home turf. Any team in the nation would gladly accept such a result.
While a victory over Kansas may not alter the overall outcome of WVU’s season, it undeniably has the power to bolster their confidence and optimism. As the crucial Big 12 schedule lies ahead, WVU is eager to seize every opportunity for a win.
Previously viewed as an effortless opponent, Kansas has experienced a positive trajectory under the guidance of their new coach, Les Miles. Surpassing expectations, the Jayhawks are poised to trouble even formidable contenders such as the Sooners and Longhorns.
WVU covers the betting spread
The Mountaineers managed to secure a victory for themselves and bettors on Saturday by doing just enough. WV online sportsbooks, who anticipated a close game and potentially an upset, also favored the Mountaineers as the winners.
Despite not scoring many points, quarterback Austin Kendall and the offense controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes and successfully executed crucial plays when necessary.
Kendall threw for 200 yards while the team added another 192 yards rushing, resulting in a well-balanced attack that yielded comparable success as the previous week.
Despite not having the best yardage, the team displayed exceptional performance in crucial aspects of the game. WVU particularly stood out on third downs, successfully converting 9 out of 18 attempts. Additionally, the team managed to avoid any turnovers.
In addition to displaying intelligence in their ball handling, the Mountaineers executed some game-changing plays that altered the momentum of the game.
After the WVU defense successfully forced a three-and-out, Kendall swiftly advanced the ball 51 yards within a mere 49 seconds, placing his team in field-goal range. The talented Evan Staley nailed a 37-yarder, granting the Mountaineers a 10-7 halftime advantage.
The offense was ignited by two touchdown runs from senior Martell Pettaway in the latter half.
Pettaway, who did not participate in the game against NC State, made an impactful entrance by sprinting 23 yards into the end zone for his first carry, thus extending WVU’s lead to 10. Subsequently, in the final quarter, he sealed an 11-play drive with his second touchdown of the day.
Coach Brown was hopeful that by inserting his upperclassman into the game, it would have a positive impact. As stated by ESPN, he expressed this sentiment.
“The two remarkable touchdown runs he executed were significant plays. Martell displayed an impressive week of practice, reflecting the potential he possesses.”
The Mountaineers will conclude the month of September with a victory, bringing their record to 3-1. Following a bye week, they will then host Texas on Oct. 5.
WVU football predictions
At the moment, WVU is meeting the expectations of its fans for this college football season. The team’s commendable 3-1 start is definitely a reason for pride. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that the situation could swiftly change in the near future.
To prepare for the upcoming game against the highly ranked Texas Longhorns, WVU will utilize their current bye week.
With no game scheduled this week, Texas will head into the game in Morgantown with a matching record. Recently, the Longhorns achieved a 36-30 triumph over Oklahoma State, marking their only victory. However, their sole defeat was inflicted by the formidable 6th-ranked LSU.
In the opening month, Quarterback Sam Ehlinger, a junior, has demonstrated his leadership skills by leading the Longhorns. He has proven to be one of the country’s top players, amassing over 1,200 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Wide receiver Devin Duvernay will pose a significant challenge for the WVU secondary. Duvernay has impressive stats of 39 receptions, 377 yards, and four touchdowns in Texas’ initial four games.
However, Duvernay is not the sole Longhorn wide receiver capable of causing headaches. Brennan Eagles and Jake Smith have also contributed with four touchdowns each in the 2019 season.
This game will undeniably be one of WVU’s toughest matchups this season, but the sportsbooks should accurately reflect this challenge. Although there is currently no line set for the game, WVU supporters can anticipate receiving approximately a 20-point advantage.
Although playing at home will provide an advantage to the Mountaineers, Texas is a formidable team that has the potential to compete for the conference title and is expected to be the favorite. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, WVU’s chances of winning are estimated to be approximately 25%.
In order to stand a chance against the Longhorns, Coach Brown and his team must execute a flawless game. Despite the Longhorns’ significant lead and the overwhelming support from their home crowd, the Mountaineers could be a smart choice to surpass the spread.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Radio TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2020 | Eastern Kentucky | W, 56-10 | MSN, 100.9 |
| September 26, 2020 | at Oklahoma State | L, 27-13 | MSN, 100.9 ABC/ESPN |
| October 3, 2020 | Baylor | W, 27-21 (2OT) | MSN, 100.9 |
| October 17, 2020 | Kansas | W, 38-17 | MSN, 100.9 |
| October 24, 2020 | at Texas Tech | L, 34-27 | MSN, 100.9 |
| October 31, 2020 | Kansas State | W, 37-10 | MSN, 100.9 |
| November 7, 2020 | at Texas | L, 17-13 | MSN, 100.9 |
| November 14, 2020 | TCU | W, 24-6 | MSN, 100.9 |
| December 5, 2020 | Iowa State | L, 6-42 | MSN, 100.9 |
| December 12, 2020 | Oklahoma | Cancelled | MSN, 100.9 |
WVU football betting odds
Mobile device users can now conveniently access both DraftKings WV Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, providing gamblers with enhanced opportunities. The Mountaineers are actively contributing to a successful beginning.
The revival of the WV sports betting market has been sparked by the resurgence of mobile betting apps and the commencement of the college football season.
Once again, the state witnessed a surge in betting action, resulting in an impressive increase of over $6 million in the overall betting handle. The remarkable momentum continued as revenue figures soared, marking the sixth consecutive week of generating six-figure profits.
The pace of wagering in WV is expected to remain steady in the coming months. William Hill Sports Book and PointsBet sports betting are both slated to introduce their betting apps in the near future.
Despite missing the start of the college and NFL seasons, there are still ample opportunities for football gambling.
For week 5 of the college football season, WVU has a bye. At the moment, odds for WVU’s week 6 match against the Texas Longhorns have not been released. We will provide an update on this post once the odds are available.
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