West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium – Austin, TX
When: Sunday, November 12, 2016 – 12:00 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers (+2) vs. Texas Longhorns (-2); total: 64.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
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Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (+2)
The jury is still out on whether this West Virginia team is for real. The Mountaineers are yet to defeat a ranked opponent this year, with their only loss being against a No. 22-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Either way, this team is doing what they’re supposed to do on both ends. It is probably safe to say that outside of their fans and families, no one saw the team sitting with a 7-1 record at this point of the season.
Sixth-year head coach Dana Holgorsen has had a rather underwhelming record prior to this year (36-28), but has turned an average group into having a very efficient and balanced offense and defense. West Virginia is currently 43rd in points per game (33.2) and 22nd in points allowed per game (20.6).
Skyler Howard (286.6 passing yards per game, 16-6 TD-INT) and primary targets Shelton Gibson and Daikiel Shorts, whom the QB has connected with for 10 touchdowns this season, should have a typically productive day against a weak Longhorns secondary, which is allowing 273 yards per game with a 63-percent completion rate.
Defensively, there’s no question as to which man should be the focus. Everyone on D is sure to be challenged by D’Onta Foreman, one of the nation’s best running backs. West Virginia is currently giving up 148.2 yards on four yards per carry.
West Virginia is 3-2 SU (2-3 ATS) in its last five games on the road.
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (-2)
A 5-4 record screams inconsistency, but the Longhorns actually have something going on, as they are winners in three of their last four games. If you are rooting for this team, though, better hope they can be careful. The last time they won back-to-back, they dropped their next three games.
With the visiting Mountaineers likely to load up the box to stop the beast that is D’Onta Foreman, Shane Buechele might be looking at a heavier workload. The could QB to throw more than his average, but don’t expect Foreman to have a quiet game. His last two outputs are crazy, even at the college level, producing 590 rushing yards on nine yards per carry, along with five TDs. The true freshman Buechele, meanwhile, is exceeding expectations with his 250.7 passing yards per game average and 19 touchdown passes this season.
As for the defense, don’t expect much from the Longhorns. They are 106th in points allowed (33.2), 113th in total yards (464.1), and 110th in first downs allowed per game. They are, however, surprisingly recording 3.8 sacks and 7.6 tackles for loss per game, led by linebackers Breckyn Hager and Malik Jefferson, who are leading the team in the two categories.
The Longhorns are 4-1 SU (5-0 ATS) in their last five games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
The Mountaineers (+2) get the upset win, 35-32.
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