West Virginia’s Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State is already turning into a line swing that tells its own story.
The Mountaineers opened as 2.5-point underdogs, but that number has moved all the way to WVU laying 1.5 points at FanDuel. The total has also crept up, climbing from 57.5 to 58.5 by the time of publishing.
That movement comes with West Virginia sitting at 3-0 on the season, though the Mountaineers are only 2-1 against the spread. Their biggest ATS punch so far came against UVA, when they cashed as 10.5-point underdogs in a game that sailed over the 54.5-point total after opening at 50.5. In Week Two, WVU covered the 40.5-point spread, and a late fumble return for a touchdown helped push that game over in a 52-7 win.
Week One was a different kind of result. West Virginia won, but didn’t cover the 20.5-point spread. The total finished at 55 points, which went under the 56.5 line - though bettors who waited until right before kickoff saw the number dip to 54.5.
Last year’s Mountaineers were a strange team from a betting standpoint. They finished 4-8 overall but went 7-5 against the spread.
Every West Virginia win also came with a cover, and they added covers in losses to BYU (+20.5), TCU (+16.5) and Arizona State (+9.5). Their non-covers came against Ohio, when they were 3.5-point favorites, plus Kansas (+12.5 but lost by 31), Utah (+13.5 but lost by 34), UCF (+6.5 but lost by 32) and Texas Tech (+24.5 but lost by 49).
The total played a little differently depending on the number and the book. The under hit in five, six, seven or eight games, based on when the bet was made and which sportsbook was involved.
It was under no matter what against Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas, Ohio and Robert Morris. It went over cleanly in games against Houston, UCF, BYU and Utah.
And in Arizona State, Colorado and Pitt, the line moved around enough that the final result crossed the total at different points.
In Other News...
WVU's Biggest Home Night In Years Comes With Real Stakes
West Virginia is getting one of those home nights that can define a season, and there is more riding on it than atmosphere alone. Milan Puskar Stadium is set for a major prime-time setting, and the Mountaineers are trying to turn a strong start into something bigger by staying perfect through the opening stretch and putting themselves back into the AP Top 25 conversation.
Rich Rodriguez has pointed to the energy around the program and the value of protecting home field, which makes this one feel less like just another September game and more like a measuring stick. For a team still trying to prove its early momentum is real, a night game in front of that crowd offers a chance to keep building and a reminder that the next step has to happen where West Virginia is supposed to be toughest to beat. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Injury Outlook Suddenly Looks Better Heading Into Oklahoma State
West Virginias injury picture is starting to clear up just in time for a trip to Oklahoma State, and that matters for a team that took a few hits in the recent game against Virginia. Rich Rodriguez said Nick Krahe will be limited in practice but is expected to play, while Jaden Bray is dealing with a hip bruise and should be back soon. The outlook is also encouraging for Ball, who is expected to play after being knocked out, giving the Mountaineers a little more stability as they try to manage the week.
There is even more room for optimism at running back, where Martavious Boswell and Talley are expected to be available. On the perimeter, Prince Strachan should see his role grow after being used sparingly last week, which could give West Virginia another option as it heads into a matchup that can use every healthy body it can get. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Knows Exactly What Awaits West Virginia Under The Lights
Oklahoma State is heading into one of the more charged environments in the Big 12, with Eric Morris already framing the trip to Morgantown as the kind of test that can turn a game on its head after dark. Morris had plenty of respect for what Rich Rodriguez is building at West Virginia, and he singled out quarterback Mike Hawkins as a dynamic presence in an offense that has grown noticeably since last season. For the Mountaineers, that is the sort of public praise that usually comes with a warning label.
The challenge for the Cowboys, Morris said, is not just the crowd or the setting, but staying clean with communication and tackling against a run game that can punish any lapse. West Virginia has shown enough improvement to make opponents prepare differently, and under the lights at home the margin for error gets even thinner. It is the kind of matchup where the details matter from the first snap, and Oklahoma State clearly knows it is walking into a place that rewards precision more than bravado. [Read more 🡒]