The Kansas Jayhawks and No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers are set to collide on the turf at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. This conference showdown starts at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPN2. When these two programs met last year, West Virginia knocked off Kansas easily 56-34.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview
Kansas is a big road underdog here and is currently getting 29 points from bookmakers. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 61 points, and if one side can find paydirt early, it will likely create a worthy live betting opportunity.
The line opened at -28 while the over/under has yet to move since it was set initially at 61.
The less-than-stellar Jayhawks are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) and are down 3.4 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 2-2. The Mountaineers have been a pleasant surprise for moneyline bettors this season, gaining 3.0 units. The team is 4-0 ATS and also has an even O/U record of 2-2.
The Jayhawks are 2-3 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Mountaineers are 4-0 SU overall and are also 2-0 SU in conference play.
The Jayhawks are most-recently on the rebound after a 48-28 defeat to Oklahoma State last week. Carter Stanley completed 24 passes on 32 attempts for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Pooka Williams Jr. (97 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Stanley (-1 yards on 13 carries) led the ground attack. Steven Sims Jr. (10 receptions, 89 yards, one TD) and Williams Jr. (six catches, 60 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
West Virginia just earned a 42-34 win over Texas Tech. The defense allowed the Red Raiders to run for 168 yards on 42 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Antoine Wesley had a good showing in the loss for Texas Tech, recording 110 yards and a score on eight catches. For West Virginia, Will Grier completed 27-of-41 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Kennedy McKoy (77 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) handled the running game while Marcus Simms (nine receptions, 138 yards, one TD) and Gary Jennings Jr. (seven catches, 70 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Kansas has run the ball on 55.7 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 50.4 percent across possessions in conference play. West Virginia has an overall rush percentage of 48.7 percent, and has run the ball 43.8 percent of the time when playing Big 12 opponents. The Jayhawks have run for 184 yards/game (including 122 per game against Big 12 opponents) and have seven touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mountaineers are averaging 159 rushing yards per game (114 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.
It seems like the Mountaineers might be the more disruptive team in the trenches. Their offensive line has allowed only six sacks while their D-line has logged eight sacks. The Jayhawks offensive line has allowed 16 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just five occasions.
The Jayhawks offensive scheme has averaged 176 yards in the air overall (198 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Mountaineers have recorded a superb 373 pass yards per contest (363.0 against Big 12 foes) and have 17 total pass scores.
Defensively, Kansas has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 177 yards and throw for 202 yards per game. The West Virginia D has allowed 212.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 131.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Jayhawks have given up an ANY/A of 5.52 to opposing QBs, while the Mountaineers are allowing an ANY/A of 5.30.
Offensively, Stanley has put up 252 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 76 percent of his 33 attempts with three scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Stanley has a 7.50 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.07 over the last two outings.
For the home team, Will Grier has connected on 73-of-101 passes for 1,131 yards, 12 TDs and one INT. Grier’s ANY/A stands at 12.27 for the year and 9.81 over his last two games.
RELATED: Week 6 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Kansas Jayhawks at West Virginia Mountaineers
SU Winner – West Virginia, ATS Winner – Kansas, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Jayhawks offense has yet to produce a pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Mountaineers have accounted for six such plays.
Both teams have allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Kansas defense has given up eight pass plays of 30+ yards while West Virginia has given up seven such plays.
The Kansas offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while West Virginia has created six such runs.
The Jayhawks defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Mountaineers have given up four such runs.
The West Virginia D has sacked opposing QBs eight times this season. Kansas has recorded five sacks.
As a team, Kansas has rushed for 5.94495412844037 yards per attempt across its last three contests and 4.0 over its last two.
West Virginia has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.8 over its past two.
In its last three games, West Virginia is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Kansas was getting 17 points in its previous game and the Over/Under going into it was 56. The over cashed and Kansas failed to cover in the 48-28 loss to Oklahoma State.
In its last three games, Kansas is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
West Virginia was the underdog by 4 points in its last match and the O/U was set at 75.5. The over cashed and West Virginia covered in the 42-34 win over Texas Tech.
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