West Virginia heads back home next week for another Big 12 matchup, and the early betting market has already made one thing clear: this one should be tight.
According to FanDuel, WVU opened as a 4.5-point favorite against Kansas before the number quickly settled at 2.5. The over/under sits at 67.5 points.
The Mountaineers have been a profitable team for bettors this season, even if the record has had its bumps. WVU is 5-4 overall and 6-3 against the spread.
The loss in Lubbock hurt the actual record, but the Mountaineers still cashed easily against the number. They also pulled off a straight-up win as 11.5-point underdogs against TCU, then came through as a 1.5-point favorite in a three-point win over Cincinnati.
The Arizona game went the other way, with WVU failing to cover the 3.5-point spread.
There’s been a wide range of results on the spread throughout the year. In Week Five, the line closed at 3.5 points and WVU lost by three, just enough to sneak in the cover.
In Week Four, the Mountaineers were slight favorites against Oklahoma State and lost. They beat UVA while listed as 10.5-point underdogs, covered the 40.5-point number in Week Two, and won in Week One without covering the 20.5-point spread.
The totals have been even more striking. WVU games have gone over eight times in nine tries.
Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Arizona, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Virginia all cleared the number comfortably, and a late fumble return for a touchdown pushed the UT-Martin game over. The opener against Coastal Carolina was the one that came down to the wire: the total opened at 56.5, dropped to 54.5, and the final score landed at 55 points.
The only under came against TCU.
Last season, even with a 4-8 record, West Virginia still went 7-5 against the spread. The Mountaineers covered in all four of their wins and also cashed in losses to BYU (+20.5), TCU (+16.5) and Arizona State (+9.5). They did not cover against Ohio as 3.5-point favorites, or in losses to 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).
On the total, the under hit in five, six, seven or eight games depending on when the bets were placed and which sportsbook was used. It stayed under in every case for Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas, Ohio and Robert Morris. Houston, UCF, BYU and Utah all finished over, while the Arizona State, Colorado and Pitt numbers shifted enough that the final result depended on the closing line.
In Other News...
WVU Wasted A Historic Night In A Loss Fans Will Hate
West Virginias trip to Texas Tech turned into one of those maddening Big 12 shootouts that leaves everyone exhausted and none the happier for it. In a game packed with offense and little margin for error, the Mountaineers were part of a first half that produced more than 892 yards of total offense, and Mike Hawkins Jr. still managed to carve out a place in the school record book by setting the program mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season.
Even with that kind of individual milestone, the result is what will sting most. West Virginia fell 53-48 after defensive breakdowns and a handful of critical late plays swung the finish in Texas Techs favor, turning a historic night for Hawkins into a loss the Mountaineers will be replaying for a while. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs PFF Review Shows Who Carried The Offense In Texas Tech Loss
Pro Football Focus review of West Virginias shootout loss to Texas Tech offered a clear snapshot of where the offense held up and where it broke down. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. graded out well thanks to strong passing efficiency, giving the Mountaineers enough production to stay in the game, while the offensive line had a much tougher night trying to keep the pocket clean.
The defensive grades told a similar story of a few bright spots surrounded by too many issues. K.J. Henson and linebacker Isaiah Patterson drew notice for their work, but the secondary came under fire for shaky positioning and an inability to finish plays, leaving West Virginia with more questions than answers as it looks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hawkins Jr. Is Giving West Virginia One Huge Reason To Worry
Mike Hawkins Jr. has already put his name alongside one of the most recognizable figures in West Virginia football, and he did it in a way that keeps changing the conversation around the Mountaineers. With 19 rushing touchdowns through nine games, he broke Pat Whites mark for the most rushing scores by a West Virginia player in a single season, a reminder of just how central he has become to the offense.
The bigger issue for West Virginia is what comes next. Hawkins has a chance to keep climbing the record book and potentially set a standard for a non-service academy quarterback that would draw national attention, but only if he remains in Morgantown. For a program that wants to build real momentum, his future with the Mountaineers may be every bit as important as what he has already done on the field. [Read more 🡒]