Last week, WVU football suffered a disheartening defeat against Texas, with a final score of 38-20. However, the score alone fails to capture the full extent of their underwhelming performance, as the team found themselves trailing by a staggering 28 points on multiple occasions.
On Thursday, the Mountaineers aim to regain their momentum against Baylor, as per West Virginia sportsbooks which depict them as slight underdogs.
From a technical standpoint, the past week can be considered a bye on the WVU schedule, despite the team preparing for another early game this week. It is possible that this break will be beneficial for the Mountaineers, especially after their poor performance in Austin.
In the game, Texas began by scoring the initial four touchdowns, establishing their dominance with a commanding 28-0 lead during the second quarter. However, right before the start of the half, WVU managed to regain some ground with a lengthy 83-yard drive, resulting in a single score.
Throughout the game, the offense struggled to score effectively, only managing to add two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Although this slightly lessened the impact of the overwhelming defeat, the game was already out of control.
We will now closely analyze the recent defeat and shift our focus towards the upcoming game against Baylor for the Mountaineers.
Mountaineers lose to Texas, drop to 2-3
WVU faced difficulties from the start and failed to make the game competitive last Saturday. In no time, Texas scored four consecutive touchdowns after punting on their initial possession.
WVU displayed a glimpse of vitality in the first half, but unfortunately, that was the closest they would come to success until the last few minutes.
Out of their initial seven possessions, the Mountaineers either punted or failed to convert on downs six times. Despite accumulating a commendable 300+ yards of offense, a significant portion of 140 yards was generated during the last two drives when victory was almost assured.
However, the defense continued to struggle on the other side. It allowed nearly 450 yards in total and failed to generate any turnovers.
In this game, Quarterback JT Daniels had a less efficient connection with his receivers. He completed 29 of 48 passes for a total of 253 yards and managed to score one touchdown.
In terms of the rushing attack, sophomore Justin Johnson Jr. took charge during the game against Texas. He accumulated a total of 42 yards on 10 carries, while Tony Mathis Jr. also made a contribution of 24 yards. Both running backs successfully scored touchdowns.
Regrettably, CJ Donaldson, the running back, endured a concussion during the third quarter, significantly reducing his involvement. He concluded the game with a mere four carries for nine yards and has already been declared unfit to participate in the upcoming match against Baylor.
Junior Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned to his dominant form, securing eight catches for 93 yards. This impressive performance allowed him to further solidify his team-leading position in both categories for the season, with a total of 35 receptions for 412 yards. Notably, three other Mountaineer receivers also had notable performances, each catching at least seven passes.
Once again, linebacker Lee Kpogba showcased his defensive prowess by leading all other Mountaineers with seven total tackles and a sack.
WVU football vs. Baylor preview
Naturally, the one-sided loss brought disappointment to WVU supporters at WV sportsbooks. Prior to the game, the Mountaineers had a point spread of approximately +7.5. With this defeat, their record against the spread for the season falls to 3-2.
On Thursday night, WVU will have the chance to alter this storyline when they face Baylor. According to DraftKings Sportsbook WV, the Mountaineers are given +3.5 points at home, with a moneyline of +135, while Baylor is favored to win the game with a -155.
The Bears enter this game with a 3-2 overall record, with a 1-1 record in conference play. They secured a seven-point victory over Iowa State on the road but suffered an 11-point loss to Oklahoma State in their most recent outing.
It is important to mention that Baylor’s sole other defeat was against BYU, a team that was previously ranked as high as No. 12 this season. Therefore, even though Baylor may not be receiving much attention currently, they are a skilled team that WVU must be ready to face.
At the start of the year, Baylor gained significant recognition and was ranked 10th overall. Following its initial victory, the team climbed to the 9th position. However, Baylor’s recent performance, marked by two losses, has caused it to fall outside the top 25 rankings.
In 2022, the Baylor offense is spearheaded by Blake Shapen, a talented sophomore quarterback. Shapen has been exceptional, completing over 69% of his passes and accumulating more than 1,100 yards. Impressively, he has also contributed to 11 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions.
Freshman Richard Reese is the vital force behind the Baylor ground game, accumulating a total of 400 yards and seven rushing touchdowns this season. His impressive average of 5.6 yards per carry has been consistent throughout five games.
Despite ranking third on the team in receptions, sophomore Monaray Baldwin leads the Bears’ offense with the highest yardage (261) and touchdowns (3). The wide receiving corps is notably strong.
Both Ben Sims, the tight end, and Hal Presley, the wideout, frequently make valuable contributions.
Al Walcott leads Baylor defensively, being the sole player to have accumulated a minimum of 30 tackles.
WVU football odds at West Virginia betting apps
Every week, WV sportsbooks provide numerous opportunities for betting on the WVU football game.
The halftime line is a well-liked option instead of the traditional point spread. Currently, DraftKings has set the spread at Baylor -2.5, accompanied by a moneyline of -145. Alternatively, the online sportsbook is offering WVU odds of +125 to be in the lead after the first half.
The total number of points expected in this week’s game is 54.5 points, which is nearly eight points less than the previous game against Texas. DraftKings has set the total for the first half of the game at 27 points.
As Thursday approaches, there will be an increase in odds, including various game and player props.
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