FiveDimes recently released over/under regular season win totals for college football teams.
Here is an early season look at the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Big 12
Over/under
FiveDimes has West Virginia at eight regular season wins. Last year, the Mountaineers went 7-5 in the regular season. The line features a better return on the over at +140, while the under is set at -180.
The upside
The season’s first two games against Georgia Southern and Liberty should be no-brainers. That’s about the only good thing to come from the Mountaineers schedule.
To help offset that schedule, West Virginia will rely on head coach Dana Holgorsen to keep the offense in the top echelon of the nation.
The offense finished No. 12 nationally in total offense last season, and with Holgorsen, it doesn’t usually matter who he has because his scheme usually can mold any personnel into a quality offense. During Holgorsen’s tenure, it’s been the defense with the majority of question marks.
However, this year the defense may actually be better than the offense, at least according to defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who hasn’t shied away from expectations. The defense improved steadily last season, with solid performances down the stretch, including quality showings against Baylor, Oklahoma State and TCU.
Several starters return, including leading tackler Nick Kwiatkoski.
The downside
Can the defense make up for pretty much no one returning on offense and a difficult schedule?
Holgorsen is good. But the Mountaineers must replace their starting quarterback, several starters on the offensive line and NFL wide receiver Kevin White. That’s a lot of production from last year’s team that is now either playing in the NFL or not on the roster.
If breaking in an entirely new offense wasn’t enough, the Mountaineers will start its 2015 journey in their third game against Maryland at home. And while West Virginia should be favored, this match-up is usually a toss-up, and is the precursor to a brutal Big 12 slate.
The Mountaineers will travel to Oklahoma, Baylor, TCU, Kansas and Kansas State. Don’t expect West Virginia to be favored in any of those match-ups except against the Jayhawks.
The home slate should be more manageable, with games against Iowa State, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
The verdict
Oddsmakers have pretty much already given this over/under away. That is a major discrepancy between the over (+140) and the under (-180). Oddsmakers are going to make you pay for the under, and for good reason.
The Mountaineers will be heavily favored in four games and will be major underdogs in at least three games. That leaves five games, in which the Mountaineers must win all five to satisfy the over. That’s a tall task and shouldn’t be something for bettors to believe will happen.
Taking the under is a pain in this instance based on the return, but it’s the only option.
