LSU West Virginia Betting – LSU Faces Tricky But Not Overwhelming Road Test
LSU has already conquered a neutral-field challenge this season by beating the Oregon Ducks. Now, LSU must play a true road game against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
LSU Tigers @ West Virginia Mountaineers - Saturday, September 24
Sports betting line: LSU -4.5
Why LSU Will Win
The community of MLB baseball betting experts in the Deep South is currently watching the Atlanta Braves’ steady decline due to injuries in the team’s starting rotation. For the LSU Tiger football team, there wasn’t an injury at the quarterback spot, but it’s still true that coach Les Miles had to change pitchers, in a manner of speaking. When Jordan Jefferson got involved in a fight and dealt a few blows to another person just before the regular season began, Miles had to suspend his number one choice under center. He had to turn to Jarrett Lee, a decidedly unproven quarterback who had struggled to a degree that was beyond reasonable. Lee could barely find his own receivers and looked flatly lost when he took live gameday reps for the Tigers. The LSU fan base was clearly worried before the season opener against defending national runner-up Oregon. Would Lee be able to step into the seat of responsibility and become an effective, poised game manager for an LSU team that can play defense and run the ball?
Through three games, the answer is a resounding yes. Lee has been magnificent for the Tigers, not because he’s lighting up the night sky, but because he isn’t making any significant mistakes. Lee is throwing a lot of safe and short passes, but he’s not committing the turnovers that can change the course of a game and take leverage away from a defense-first LSU team. Lee completed 21 of his first 26 passes at Mississippi State on September 15. He took what the defensive gave him, and he engineered a clutch, game-sealing touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. As long as Lee continues to avoid the big mistake and continue on the trajectory he’s established for himself, the Tigers should definitely win on the road in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Why West Virginia Will Win
When you consider your sports bet in this game, you might initially think that LSU has a primrose path to victory, especially when you look at the physically overwhelming nature of LSU’s front seven, with the fast linemen and ruthless linebackers typical of a top-notch SEC defense. However, the question that LSU fans have to ask themselves, even after a brilliant start, is if Jarrett Lee can remain (relatively) turnover-free. LSU’s offense has to exhibit ball security 12 times this season (and 13 in the SEC Championship Game), not just three or four times. Lee has to display the consistency that has eluded him in his collegiate career up to this point. This game is not about West Virginia and quarterback Geno Smith. LSU’s defense should be too tough for the Mountaineers. This contest comes down to the mistakes LSU does or doesn’t make on offense. If the Tigers gift points to WVU, the Mountaineers can win. If LSU gives nothing away, West Virginia is in trouble. The path to an upset for the Big East Conference favorite is to get three or four turnovers from the Tigers’ offense.
Who Will Win
LSU will commit only two turnovers, neither one in a particularly important situation or at a spot on the field where West Virginia can cash the mistake into points. Take LSU on the road.
College Football Betting Pick: LSU -4.5
