West Virginia Mountaineers (7-4) vs. Baylor Bears (3-8)
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Baylor Bears 11/25/23 – As the NCAAF regular season nears its close, Week 13’s match between West Virginia Mountaineers and Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium has garnered much interest among daily NCAAF picks. Mountaineers boasts an impressive 7-4 record against Baylor who has struggled this year and currently hold a 3-8 standing; both sides hope that Saturday night under lights promises to be an exciting contest as both look to make their mark before season’s end.
This season, the West Virginia Mountaineers have proven themselves a formidable foe. A key to their success has been CJ Donaldson Jr and Devin Carter’s standout performances as dynamic running back Donaldson Jr has amassed 775 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns at an average 4.7 yards per rush rate while Carter has provided steady targets on offense amassing 501 reception yards and 2 touchdowns while making key plays downfield.
At Baylor Bears, despite their disappointing record, Dominic Richardson and Monaray Baldwin have stood out. Richardson has amassed 494 rushing yards despite an ineffective offensive line; Baldwin has become an invaluable member of their air attack with 623 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions under her belt.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Baylor Bears 11/25/23 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | McLane Stadium |
| TV: | FS1 |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Garrett Greene QB vs. Blake Shapen QB
Garrett Greene has had an up and down season as the Mountaineers quarterback. Completing 52% of passes attempted for 1909 yards with 13 touchdowns at 52% completion rate has given Greene plenty of opportunity for success but also left him susceptible to inconsistency. At 8.3 yards per pass attempt and 4 interceptions and 18 sack yards lost, however, areas for improvement exist; his style can often combine risk-taking with athleticism which creates havoc for opposing defenses.
Blake Shapen of Baylor has been more reliable. Amassing 2188 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and an overall completion rate of 61.7%, Shapen has been an assured presence at center. Even under significant pressure resulting in 25 sacks against him, his decision-making and ability to deliver under duress have been outstanding – qualities that could prove pivotal in this matchup.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: West Virginia Mountaineers -400, Total Odds: 54.5
The betting odds are heavily favoring the Mountaineers, reflected in their -400 moneyline. The point spread is set at -11 for West Virginia, indicating expectations of a dominant performance. The total odds for the game are pegged at 54.5, suggesting a high-scoring affair is anticipated by the bookmakers.
West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends
West Virginia’s recent betting trends reveal a team who have been consistently reliable against the spread, winning seven of 10 games at 7-3 against the spread and totalling 5 of their last 6 total over/under games, indicative of high scoring encounters. Notable as well is their four-1 against Baylor since their last meeting – further solidifying them as favorites.
Baylor Bears Betting Trends
Baylor’s betting trends indicate an inability to cover the spread. They have gone just 1-5 ATS over their past six games, including going winless at home during this stretch (they went 0-5). Furthermore, against Big 12 opponents Baylor has done poorly; posting an awful 0-6 record overall. These trends suggest Baylor may struggle against West Virginia in this matchup.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Baylor Bears 11/25/23 Betting Picks
Under consideration of data and trends, our final verdict leans toward West Virginia winning. They’ve shown greater consistency while possessing enough offensive firepower to cover an -11 point spread with ease; their recent ATS record also gives confidence that they can outwit odds.
For those looking at prop bets and over/under, the Handicapper’s Choices would be to consider the over on the total points. Given both teams’ tendencies to be involved in high-scoring games and West Virginia’s offensive prowess, it seems likely the total will exceed 54.5 points. Baylor’s defensive struggles could be further exploited by the Mountaineers, setting the stage for a game where points could come in abundance.
Free Pick and Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers 38, Baylor Bears 24