For head coach Neal Brown and his West Virginia Mountaineers, the 2024 season has been a major letdown. Brown earned himself an extension after a successful 2023 NCAA Football Betting campaign. Hence, West Virginia fans are not happy about it. Despite winning, Brown had failed to win the trust of Mountaineer fans. The Mounties are coming off a bye week that followed a desperation road win against the Arizona Wildcats. The Cincinnati Bearcats are coming off a loss at Colorado and a bye week. Now, Cincinnati hosts West Virginia on Saturday.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, November 9, 2024, noon ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| TV Coverage: | FS1 |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | +5 -110 | 57 -110 | +170 |  |
| Cincinnati | -5 -110 | 57 -110 | -200 | |
| ||||
West Virginia Mountaineers Team Overview
Last game, the West Virginia Mountaineers won 31-26 against the Arizona Wildcats as 5.5-point road dogs. The game went over the offshore betting total of 51.5. West Virginia has a record of 4-4 straight up, 3-5 against the spread, and 5-3 over/under the total. West Virginia ranks 53rd for total offense, 89th for passing, 22nd for rushing and 67th for scoring. Defensively they rank 82nd overall, 115th against the pass, 39th against the rush, and 95th for points allowed. Also, West Virginia ranks 78th for fewest turnovers lost and 126th for takeaways.
West Virginia scored three times on fourth downs – one on a fake field goal – and held off a late Arizona rally to win.
“We felt like this was a critical game for us, and we needed to win,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. “As I told the guys: we were going to empty the tank.”
Following two double-digit losses to ranked opponents, West Virginia arrived in the desert missing three captains, including quarterback Garrett Greene, who was hurt against Kansas State. Instead, Nicco Marchiol was sharp in his place, throwing for 198 yards on 18-of-22 passing. The Mountaineers complemented his performance with a pounding run game, rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Also, West Virginia converted all four of its fourth-down chances. Including its first three touchdowns and was 7 for 16 on third downs to end a two-game losing streak.
Arizona All-American Tetairoa McMillan bounced back from a quiet game against Colorado last week. Correlate that he had 10 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown. He caught a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. And then quarterback Noah Fifita added a 3-yard TD run to pull the Wildcats within 31-26 after trailing by 18.
The Mountaineers never gave Arizona a chance to complete the rally. To illuminate, the Mounties converted two key third downs to grind out the clock and send the Wildcats to their fourth straight loss.
Cincinnati Bearcats Team Overview
Last game, the Cincinnati Bearcats lost 34-23 against the Colorado Buffaloes as 6-point road dogs. The game went to a push on the total of 57. Cincinnati has a record of 5-3 straight up, 4-3-1 against the spread, and 2-5-1 over/under the total. Cincinnati ranks 29th for total offense, 29th for passing, 54th for rushing and 63rd for scoring. Defensively they rank 102nd overall, 101st against the pass, 89th against the rush, and 34th for points allowed. Also, Cincinnati ranks 49th for fewest turnovers lost and 122nd for takeaways.
West Virginia at Cincinnati SBG Free Picks
Neither side has won over the NCAA Football Betting community this year. West Virginia may offer more value as the road team gets the enhanced price.
West Virginia at Cincinnati SBG Best Bet: West Virginia Mountaineers.