Entering year six of the Neal Brown era, the West Virginia Mountaineers are coming off a season the program can be proud of, having secured nine wins, including a dominant 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. With a powerful ground game and a defense that excelled at stopping the run and pressuring opposing quarterbacks, the Mountaineers finally surpassed the six-win barrier that had plagued the program the previous four years. With 13 starters returning for the 2024-25 College Football betting season, WVU appears poised to churn out another competitive campaign. Key contributors from last year's success are back, eager to see if the team can take another step forward in the newly expanded Big 12. Last year, the Mountaineers significantly exceeded expectations, with oddsmakers setting their win total at just 4.5 games—a number they easily surpassed by winning eight. Although the upcoming schedule looks tougher on paper, the sportsbook has set their win total odds at 6.5-games, with the over carrying higher vig. Let’s break down what WVU has in store for CFB bettors to help make an informed decision on how to best go about betting into the win total.
College Football Season Wins Odds
West Virginia Mountaineers 2024-25 Regular Season Win Total Odds
West Virginia Over 6.5 Wins -133
West Virginia Under 6.5 Wins +113
A Case for the Over: The Mountaineers showcased one of the nation’s most potent ground attacks last season, averaging 228.9 yards per game (No. 5) and 5.2 yards per carry (No. 13). This success was largely thanks to the dynamic duo of Jaheim White and C.J. Donaldson, who combined for over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns. Running behind one of the best offensive lines in the Big 12, which returns fully intact, they’re poised to build upon last year’s success and improve their stock for the upcoming NFL Draft. West Virginia leaned heavily on its ground game, running the ball nearly 50 percent of the time (No. 34), which allowed them to dominate time of possession (No. 8). With all the key pieces back, bettors can expect the Mountaineers to continue to shorten games and keep tougher opponents' offenses on the sidelines. If this strategy succeeds again, West Virginia could not only win the games they’re expected to but also pull off a few upsets, putting them in a strong position to exceed their win total for the second consecutive year.
A Case for the Under: Statistically, the Mountaineers' defense was solid but didn’t excel in any particular area. They ranked No. 68 overall, allowing over 380 yards per game and just over 26 points per game (No. 64), with the unit being most vulnerable through the air (No. 86). However, one area where they did shine was in generating pressure, recording 2.5 sacks per game (No. 29). This season, the defense returns six starters, but the secondary has been almost entirely retooled, with safeties Aubrey Burks and Anthony Wilson representing the only holdovers. The remainder of the pass D will rely on transfer portal additions, with the hope that these new faces can help improve upon last year's underwhelming performance. With standout linebacker Lee Kpogba no longer in the mix, someone else will need to step up as the defense's vocal leader. LB Ben Cutter is a strong candidate for that role, but DE Sean Martin could also elevate his game after contributing 53 tackles and two sacks last season. With several potent offensive attacks on the docket, West Virginia's defense—particularly the secondary—will need to perform at a higher level if the team is to exceed its win total expectations once again.
2024-25 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule
DATE | OPPONENT |
Aug 31 | vs. Penn State |
Sep 7 | vs. U Albany |
Sep 14 | at Pittsburgh |
Sep 21 | vs. Kansas |
Sep 28 | OFF |
Oct 5 | at Oklahoma State |
Oct 12 | vs. Iowa State |
Oct 19 | vs. Kansas State |
Oct 26 | at Arizona |
Nov 2 | OFF |
Nov 9 | at Cincinnati |
Nov 16 | vs. Baylor |
Nov 23 | vs. UCF |
Nov 30 | at Texas Tech |
WVU will be tested right from the start as they head to Happy Valley to face the No. 8-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, where they’re currently 9.5-point underdogs per current CFB odds. A win is expected the following week against Albany, and the Mountaineers are 5-point road favorites at Pitt the week after. Securing a victory in that game is crucial if they hope to surpass their win total for the season, especially with a challenging stretch starting on September 21 at home against Kansas. This game marks the beginning of five tough matchups, including road games at Oklahoma State and Arizona, as well as home games against Iowa State and Kansas State. While I’m skeptical about WVU’s chances against the Jayhawks, I wouldn’t be surprised if they upset Oklahoma State in Stillwater, as both teams are near mirror images of one another. First to 20 wins that one! I predict a split against Iowa State and Kansas State, but the trip to Tucson to face Arizona will be a tough one. This would leave the Mountaineers at 4-4 with four games remaining: at Cincinnati, Baylor, UCF, and at Texas Tech. WVU will likely be favored against Cincinnati and Baylor but will be underdogs against UCF and Texas Tech. Despite these challenges, there may be more opportunities for wins than I initially accounted for, so I’m willing to gamble on the Mountaineers exceeding expectations for the second time in as many seasons.
College Football Win Total Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers Over 6.5 Wins
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