College Football Free Betting Prediction: Baylor Bears at West Virginia Mountaineers

The Baylor Bears and No. 13 West Virginia Mountaineers will square off on the turf at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. This key Thursday game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET and spectators can tune in to the action on FS1.

Betting Preview: Baylor Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

Baylor is a live dog in this Thursday matchup and is currently getting 14 points. The Bears are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Mountaineers are -735. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 65 points, and if one team can get out in front early, it would probably create a worthy betting opportunity in-game.

The game’s total has moved upward after opening at 62. The original spread of -14 hasn’t shifted.

The Bears have gained 0.7 units so far in 2018 and are 3-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-2.

The Mountaineers are up 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-2 ATS and own an O/U record of 2-4.

The Bears are 4-3 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against conference opponents. The Mountaineers are 5-1 SU overall and are also 3-1 SU in conference play.

When these two programs faced each other last year, West Virginia earned the win 38-36.

The Bears are hoping to get back in stride after a 23-17 defeat to Texas on October 13Their defense allowed the Longhorns to rush for 170 yards on 41 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Collin Johnson posted a good day for the Longhorns in that one with 132 yards and a score on 11 catches. On the offensive side, Charlie Brewer completed just 20-of-39 passes for 240 yards, along with a TD and an interception. Jalen Hurd (five receptions, 72 yards) and Chris Platt (five catches, 26 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.

Back on October 13, Iowa State knocked off this West Virginia crew by a score of 30-14. The Mountaineers defense let the Cyclones run for 244 yards on 47 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. David Montgomery was on a different level for Iowa State, putting up 189 rushing yards and a score on 29 attempts. For West Virginia, Will Grier completed 11-of-15 passes for 100 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Grier (-33 rushing yards on 10 attempts) and Kennedy McKoy (55 yards on nine carries) handled the running game while Gary Jennings Jr. (four receptions, 38 yards) and Marcus Simms (two catches, eight yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.

Baylor’s run the ball on 47.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while West Virginia has an overall rush percentage of 50.4 percent. The Bears have run for 161.7 yards/game (including 154.0 per game versus Big 12 opponents) and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Mountaineers are logging 143.8 rush yards per game (114.0 in conference) and have six total rushing TDs.

The Bears offense has tallied 313.3 yards/game through the air overall (302.3 per game against conference opposition) and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Mountaineers have recorded 320.5 pass yards per contest (290 against Big 12 competition) and have 22 total pass scores.

Baylor has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 189.9 yards and throw for 218.0 yards per game. The West Virginia D has allowed 218.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 141.3 yards per game on the ground. The Mountaineers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.67 to opponents, while the Bears have allowed a 6.40 ANY/A.

Grier has completed 109-of-151 passes for 1,587 yards, 18 TDs and four INTs for West Virginia. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 10.23 for the season and 3.84 over his last two outings. In the other locker room, Brewer is up to 1,502 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 122-of-201 attempts with nine passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. Brewer has a 7.01 ANY/A for the year, although that number is 5.00 over the last two outings.

Baylor Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers NCAA Pick

SU Winner: West Virginia, ATS Winner: West Virginia, O/U: Under

Team Betting Notes,

The Over/Under for Baylor’s previous game was set at 59. The under cashed in the team’s 23-17 defeat to Texas.

Baylor, as a team, has averaged 3.5 yards per rush attempt over its past three outings and 4.3 over its last two.

West Virginia has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 3.5 over its last two.

Both teams have lost three fumbles this season.

In its last three matchups, Baylor is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.

The Over/Under for West Virginia’s last outing was set at 54.5. The under cashed in the team’s 30-14 defeat to Iowa State.

Over its last three matches, West Virginia is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.

The Bears offense has created four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Mountaineers have put up six such plays.

The Baylor defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while West Virginia has given up four such plays.

The Baylor offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while West Virginia has created eight such runs.

The Bears defense has allowed 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Mountaineers have given up nine such runs.

The Baylor defensive unit has 14 sacks on the year while West Virginia has 11.