West Virginia seems to have found its quarterback in Georgia transfer JT Daniels. The West Virginia Mountaineers gave a ranked Pittsburgh team all it could handle last Thursday before allowing 14 consecutive points to end the game and losing by seven.
West Virginia vs. Kansas best bets will now see the Mountaineers take on a Jayhawks team that they only beat by seven points in Lawrence, Kan., last season.
Kansas opened up this season by rolling over FCS Tennessee Tech 56-10. The Jayhawks are coming off another last-place finish in the Big 12 and are hoping an upset over West Virginia could put this season on a positive trajectory.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Current Odds
The Jayhawks are 13.5-point underdogs in their matchup for West Virginia. Kansas is +400 on the moneyline.
West Virginia Current Odds
The Mountaineers are a 13.5-point favorite. West Virginia is -590 on the moneyline.
Kansas Jayhawks
Strengths
Judging Kansas standings after Week 1 is difficult to do. Playing Tennessee Tech didn’t provide a good insight into how the Jayhawks will handle the tougher competition.
However, what Kansas did show is a dedication to running the football. Devin Neal carried the ball four times for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Sevion Morrison also carried the ball eight times for 70 yards, and Daniel Hishaw Jr. went five carries for 56 yards.
Kansas didn’t have to throw the ball much, but when Jalon Daniels aired it out, he was efficient for the most part. Daniels completed 15-of-18 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Weaknesses
Defensively, the Kansas Jayhawks limited Tennessee Tech to 190 total yards and only an average of 2.8 yards per play.
Kansas does have some weak spots in its defense that will be exploited by bigger schools. The Jayhawks will get a solid look at that this week when they visit the Mountaineers.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Strengths
Looking at West Virginia odds will show the Mountaineers ran the ball against a Pitt defensive front that has high expectations for this season.
During a season-opener that featured a big crowd in the opener, West Virginia piled up 190 rushing yards on 33 carries.
The Mountaineers were led by CJ Donaldson, who averaged 17.9 yards per carry, racking up 125 yards and a score.
When it comes to West Virginia vs Kansas best bets, it is fair to expect big things from Daniels this season. While he was a bit inefficient, Daniels completed 23-of-40 passes against Pitt for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Weaknesses
Playing against a stout Panthers defense made it difficult for the Mountaineers to protect Daniels.
As Daniels settles into the offense, and West Virginia sees defenses with a weaker pass rush, it is fair to expect Daniels to put up bigger numbers.
Bryce Wheaton-Ford made a major impact at wide receiver, catching nine passes for 97 yards and two scores.
Team Season Forecast
Season Forecast for Kansas
The Jayhawks were once again selected last in the Big 12 media preseason poll. However, a win over West Virginia may change how Kansas is viewed.
The Jayhawks will follow up the game with the Mountaineers by taking on a Houston team that may still be ranked.
Non-conference Matchup
Kansas will also have a non-conference game against Duke that may be winnable, considering the Blue Devils have a first-year coach.
The Jayhawks, who finished 2-10 overall and 1-8 in the conference last season, still need to prove they are on the upward swing. Anyone making West Virginia vs Kansas best bets knows this will likely be another tough year for Kansas.
Season Forecast for West Virginia
The Mountaineers missed a major opportunity to build momentum under coach Neal Brown, who has been mostly mediocre during his time with the program.
West Virginia is 17-19 and under his leadership. Winning the Backyard Brawl over a ranked Pitt team following an 11-year stoppage to the series would have been a big boost.
Bottom of the Big 12
However, it doesn’t mean the Mountaineers, who were also picked to finish toward the bottom of the Big 12, will have a bad season.
West Virginia showed enough where it can surprise people in the conference and challenge for a bowl game. People looking at West Virginia odds should be optimistic.
What To Expect From the Matchup?
Both NCAAF teams would like a victory out of this game, but West Virginia can’t let this game slip by if Brown wants to keep his job and the Mountaineers want to climb closer to a bowl game. West Virginia vs Kansas best bets show that this is a game the Mountaineers should cruise in.
Kansas vs. West Virginia Predictions and Best Bets
NCAAF Pick: West Virginia -13.5
NCAAF Pick: Over 60.5 points
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