The No. 11 Texas Longhorns (-11) and West Virginia Mountaineers are ready to collide on the turf at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Kickoff for this key conference game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ABC.
Betting Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Longhorns
In this Saturday Big 12 game, Texas is getting picked as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 11 points. The Longhorns are also receiving -450 moneyline odds while the Mountaineers are +325. If one program can create a bunch of points early it would generate a worthy betting scenario in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 59 points.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the Longhorns, as the opening line was 10. The total has not moved after it was initially set at 59.
The Longhorns have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 2-2 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 3-1.
The Mountaineers have gained 3.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-1-1 ATS and have an even O/U record of 2-2.
The Longhorns are 3-1 straight up (SU), including 1-0 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Mountaineers are 3-1 SU overall and are also 1-0 SU in conference play.
When these two squads faced each other last year, West Virginia earned the win 42-41.
Each team enters this matchup on a two-game winning streak. The Longhorns made it two in a row after a 36-30 win over Oklahoma State on September 21. Sam Ehlinger completed 20-of-28 passes for 281 yards, four scores and one interception. Keaontay Ingram (114 yards on 21 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Ehlinger (70 yards on 10 carries) led the running attack. Devin Duvernay (12 receptions, 108 yards, one TD) and Jake Smith (two catches, 24 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
West Virginia is coming off of a 29-24 win over Kansas. Austin Kendall completed 25-of-37 passes for 202 yards. Kennedy McKoy (73 yards on 20 rush attempts, one TD) and Leddie Brown (70 yards on 12 carries) mounted the running game while Sam James (six receptions, 41 yards) and McKoy (five catches, 44 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Texas has run the ball on 48.8 percent of its offensive possessions while West Virginia has an overall rush percentage of 47.5. The Longhorns have produced 165.5 rush yards per game and have six touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mountaineers are logging 107.3 rush yards per game and have six total rushing TDs.
Judging by the early season results, it appears that the Longhorns ought to hold an advantage in terms of RB efficiency, as their running backs has logged 4.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Mountaineers have ran for 3.3 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.2 to opponents.
The Longhorns offense has averaged 332.3 yards through the air overall and has 15 passing scores so far. The Mountaineers have produced 218.8 pass yards per contest and have six total pass TDs.
Texas has allowed opponents to run for an average of 122 yards and throw for 314.5 yards per game. The West Virginia D has allowed 201.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 172.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The Mountaineers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.03 to opponents, while the Longhorns have given up a 7.15 ANY/A.
Ehlinger probably has the advantage over Kendall in this matchup, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 9.40for the year and 11.91 over the last two outings. Kendall’s ANY/A is 4.68 for the season and 5.69 over his past two games.
Texas Longhorns at West Virginia Mountaineers Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Texas, ATS Winner: Texas, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- The West Virginia defensive unit has produced 11 sacks on the year while Texas has 10.
- West Virginia has lost zero fumbles this season while Texas has let three get away.
- The Longhorns offense has registered four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Mountaineers have put up three such plays.
- The Texas defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while West Virginia has given up one such play.
- The Texas offense has created two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while West Virginia has created five such runs.
- Both defenses have allowed two rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Longhorns have given up 15 running plays of 10+ yards while the Mountaineers have given up 22 such plays.
- The Over/Under for West Virginia’s previous game was set at 49. The over cashed in that 29-24 win over Kansas.
- Over its last three games, West Virginia is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three matches, Texas is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Texas’ last game was set at 72.5. The under cashed in the team’s 36-30 victory over Oklahoma State.
- As a team, Texas has rushed for 4.4 yards per attempt across its past three outings and 4.9 over its last two.
- West Virginia has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.8 over its last two.
