West Virginia Mountaineers Odds - West Virginia climbs the mountain, wins first Big East crown
Sportsbook players are familiar with the West Virginia football team, but there could be a new squad in Morgantown to follow. This year’s Mountaineers have enough talent, experience and coaching to live up to the hype, but they’ll have to shoulder big expectations. The smart bet here is that they’ll do so to win their first Big East title.
West Virginia Mountaineers odds: +350 to win Big East; +1500 to win Championship
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West Virginia Mountaineers odds maker breakdown: THE COACHING
Bob Huggins heads into his third season at his alma mater, and his Mountaineers regressed a bit last year, falling to seventh in the Big East and a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Outside of his lone year at Kansas State in 2007, Huggins’ teams have made the Tournament every year since 1992, and his tough and aggressive style of coaching reflects on the way his teams play.
West Virginia Mountaineers odds maker breakdown: THE STARS
The Mountaineers’ online sports betting odds are tied directly to their forward pair of Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks, and the senior/sophomore duo is as good as anyone in the country. Point guard will be handed by Darryl “Truck” Bryant, who was suspended in the offseason briefly, and center Wellington Smith is healthy after last year’s stress fracture in his leg. The x-factor will be junior college transfer Casey Mitchell, whom Huggins recruited while at Cincinnati. Mitchell was the best junior college player of last year, and his ability to score in many different ways can only open up the West Virginia offense.
West Virginia Mountaineers odds maker breakdown: THE SCHEDULE
For the Mountaineers, who are ranked eighth in preseason polls, it’s probably enough that they play in the Big East, arguably the toughest conference in the nation. Their biggest non-conference games are a trip to Purdue on New Year’s Day, and then a visit from Ohio State on January 23rd, before they get into the conference part of their schedule. The home stretch could be tough: they visit Connecticut on February 22nd, followed by home games against Huggins’ old team, Cincinnati and Georgetown before their finale at Villanova.
West Virginia Mountaineers odds maker breakdown: THE OUTLOOK
The Mountaineers aren’t used to being college basketball betting favorites, and that will be the biggest thing in their way. Expectations are a huge thing (ask the 2007 West Virginia football team), but this team has experience in all the right places, and the freshmen are talented enough to get by. Of course, they have one of the nation’s best coaches in Huggins, who would love to lead his alma mater to the promised land. Look for the Mountaineers atop the Big East for the first time in their history, followed by a deep run into March.
To get you ready for the upcoming college hoops season, the Betting Edge at betonline.com has comprehensive sports betting previews of all the major squads to watch for. Washington Tucker is betonline.com's college basketball expert.
