Missouri Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NCAA Football Week One Betting Preview – September 3, 2016

Missouri Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview

Where: Mountaineer Field, Morgan Town, WV

When: Saturday, September 3, 12:00 PM ET

Line: Missouri Tigers (+10) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (-10); total: 50.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines

TV Broadcast: FS1

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Betting on the Missouri Tigers (+10)

With new head coach Barry Odom and a new offensive coordinator in Josh Heupel, the Missouri Tigers are hoping that they can finally provide the answers to their offense, which ranked among the lowest in the nation in terms of total offense last season.

The Tigers, however, are going to have to do so against a powerhouse program in the shape of the West Virginia Mountaineers, who boast a solid defensive line that features a pair of intimidating bodies in Noble Nwachukwu and Darrien Howard.

Quarterback Drew Lock is determined to outdo his lackluster performance in 2015, a year in which he threw for 1,332 yards and delivered just four touchdowns with eight interceptions. The sophomore should have a relatively easier time this season with a much more experienced receiving group at his side.

Along with J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown, who both led the Missouri in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns last year, Alabama graduate transfer and former blue-chip player Chris Black could fit in nicely and eventually turn out to be their main go-to pass-catcher by the end of the season.

If things don’t work out offensively in this Saturday’s season-opener, the Tigers are going to impose their will on the defensive side, particularly through junior defensive end Charles Harris, who anchored the team’s defense last year with seven sacks and was on the leader boards in tackles-for-loss (18.5).

Missouri is a long shot at +25,000 to win it all this season.

Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (-10)

It’s going to be very fun to see how the West Virginia Mountaineers’ explosive offense will generate some scores against the Tigers.

Quarterback Skyler Howard was phenomenal last season, finishing with 3,974 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also ended that year on a strong note, throwing for 532 yards and five TDs in the Cactus Bowl win over Arizona State. Howard’s versatility is also something to watch out for, as the senior managed to put up six games with at least 40 rushing yards, which included 127 yards in a game versus Kansas.

Besides him, West Virginia’s ground game should cause a lot of discomfort for Missouri. Running back Rushel Shell appears primed to have a breakout season. Last year, he was second in the team in rushing yards (708) behind Wendel Smallwood. With the latter out of the picture, Shell is definitely going to do everything he can to seize the limelight this year.

Meanwhile, the Mountaineers’ defense looks pretty respectable, too. Sure, it doesn’t appear as solid as Missouri’s, but they should be able to have a fairly easy time in limiting the still-unproven offense of their SEC East opponents. West Virginia ranked No. 43 in the nation in scoring defense (24.6 PPG) last season.

West Virginia is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 home games overall.

Writer’s Prediction

West Virginia wins and covers the -10 spread.

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