The No. 13 West Virginia Mountaineers can build another winning streak with a victory in Norman this coming Saturday, but it may not come as easy as what most think against the Oklahoma Sooners, who won the last time they were at home. The Mountaineers and the Sooners are +2800 and +20000 to win the national title, respectively.
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Betting Preview for the West Virginia Mountaineers vs Oklahoma Sooners NCAA College Basketball Game on February 8 2020
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
When: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 2:00 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers (Odds) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (Odds) – view all 2019-20 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (17-4 Overall / 5-3 Conference)
The Mountaineers prevented what could have been a two-game skid by bouncing back from a loss in Lubbock to the Texas Tech Red Raiders to defeat the Kansas State Wildcats at home last Saturday, 66-57. Although the Mountaineers didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, draining just 42 percent of their shots against Kansas State, they didn’t allow the Wildcats to be better, holding their opponents down to only 36.7 percent shooting while winning the rebounding battle, 39-32. Those have been the cornerstones of West Virginia basketball this season, as Bob Huggins team is second nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency with 85.4 points allowed per 100 possessions and 15th with 61.3 points allowed per game. Also, West Virginia is seventh overall with 41.2 rebounds per game. Big men Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver are averaging 18.2 rebounds together.
The Mountaineers, who will face the Iowa State Cyclones in Morgantown before traveling to Norman, have seen the total hit the over in their last two road games.
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (14-8 Overall / 4-5 Conference)
The Sooners are finding it hard to be consistent in Big 12 play. After opening conference action with two straight wins, the Sooners have gone 2-6 straight-up (SU). After defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys at home on Feb. 1, the Sooners lost to the Red Raiders last Tuesday on the road, 69-61. Sooners junior forward Brady Manek led the Sooners with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field. He did not miss from inside the arc but went just 1 of 6 outside of it. Prior that, though, he exploded for 30 points with seven 3-pointers in the win over Oklahoma State at home. A return to Norman could spark another Buddy Hield-like or Trae Young-esque shooting from long range for Manek, who is averaging 16.0 points per game. However, considering the quality of West Virginia’s defense, the Sooners can’t just rely on Manek to carry them. West Virginia has a target on Manek’s back, so the Sooners will have to get the likes of Austin Reaves and Kristian Doolittle involved in the offense early.
The Sooners, who are averaging 71.0 points per game, are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last three games in Norman.
Writer’s Prediction
West Virginia wins, 74-65.
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