NCAA FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - KANSAS JAYHAWKS @ WEST VIRGINIA

NCAA Football

2012-12-01 - Kansas Jayhawks at West Virginia

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Kansas Jayhawks @ West Virginia Mountaineers
United States: NCAA Football
Saturday 1 December 2012 - Kick Off 2:30pm
7:30pm (British Time)

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Preview

The Kansas Jayhawks (1-10) can at least focus on their basketball team as they are already out of the post-season and get to finish off what has been a rough season for Charlie Weis. They finish off at the West Virginia Mountaineers (6-5) who booked their Bowl berth last weekend with a win over Iowa State.

Kansas have been awful as they have lost 10 games in a row and I am not sure how they would have responded to having a two week break to have this all come to mind. The Jayhawks will be the only team in the Big 12 that will not be playing in a Bowl game this season.

It will be interesting how Kansas work out playing against the most porous Defense in the nation, but that is what we will be seeing this week. Charlie Weis has admitted that his team have focused too much in their running game, but that has been an area that the Mountaineers have surprisingly been pretty stout in.

West Virginia are allowing just 3.5 yards per carry, although they are allowing almost 150 yards per game on the ground. However, it is their passing game that has been torched repeatedly, where they have allowed almost 350 yards per game through the air. That means Dayne Crist could have one of his more productive games of the season, although he has struggled all season with 4 touchdowns and 8 interceptions on the year and only averaging 150 yards per game through the air.

On the other side of the ball, I can't imagine how Kansas are going to stop the West Virginia Offense no matter what they do in this one. Tavon Austin has been playing at Running Back in recent weeks and he is likely to have yet another strong game whether he lines up there or at receiver. The Mountaineers have been moving the ball on the ground at 4.9 yards per clip and should gash a Defense that has allowed almost 200 yards per game on the ground.

Geno Smith will also want another big game on his resume before he is expected to enter the NFL Draft next April with many anticipating him as the overall Number 1 pick. I fully expect Smith to be able to showcase his talent as Kansas allow almost 275 yards per game through the air and get little pass rush pressure.

With Smith having time, I just think it becomes a tough day for Kansas to keep up as long as West Virginia don't shoot themselves in their own foot.

Head to Head

These schools have only met once back in 1941- on that occasion, West Virginia beat Kansas 21-0.

Prediction

This could be closer than some would think, but I am backing West Virginia to cover the spread as they have a balanced Offense and should be able to pull away as Geno Smith shows off what the NFL will be looking forward to see in 2013.

The Pick :