Over/under: Oddsmakers set WVU’s wins total among Big 12’s best

With Skyler Howard having a grip on West Virginia’s quarterback job, oddsmakers set the Mountaineers’ over/under at eight wins in 2015.

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — What’s the surest way for an offshore sportsbook to generate web traffic in May? How about releasing its over/under win totals the 2015 college football regular season.

The oddsmakers at 5Dimes did so Tuesday, and not surprisingly, they prop up TCU and Baylor as the Big 12 favorites for next fall. Each is listed at 10 regular-season wins, though the Frogs are more heavily favored to hit that mark.

More interesting is the love 5Dimes gives to West Virginia, its fourth-highest O/U in the conference at eight wins. These are the Mountaineers who haven’t won eight games in any of their three Big 12 seasons. The Mountaineers who must replace their best two receivers, their best two offensive linemen and quarterback Clint Trickett (though Skyler Howard made some late-season hay).

Here’s the complete rundown for the conference, with editorial comments dished out like free drinks at a casino:

TCU
Over 10 -115
Under 10 -125
Complimentary cocktail: Under (though 10 looks spot-on). Trevone Boykin and Co.’s only nonleague notable is a Thursday night opener at Minnesota, but the Frogs play five Big 12 road games.

Baylor
Over 10 +120
Under 10 -160
Complimentary cocktail: Over. The challenge for Art Briles is keeping his team awake through September games against SMU, Lamar and Rice.

Oklahoma
Over 9 -110
Under 9 -130
Complimentary cocktail: Over. Conventional wisdom says the Sooners will bounce back from 8-5 campaign, provided they survive a thorny trip to Knoxville in Week 2.

West Virginia
Over 8 +140
Under 8 -180
Complimentary cocktail: Under, though risking $180 for a $100 return makes me jumpy. After three nonconference gimmies, the Mountaineers face five Big 12 road games, including Oklahoma, Baylor and TCU.

Oklahoma State
Over 7 -130
Under 7 -110
Complimentary cocktail: Over. Good Lord, over. The Cowboys have 18 starters returning, a laughable nonleague slate and later get TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma at home.

Kansas State
Over 7 -130
Under 7 -110
Complimentary cocktail: Under. The O-line is experienced, but QB and D-line are iffy, and the Wildcats must find another playmaker now that Tyler Lockett’s 12-year college career has ended.

Texas
Over 6½ +160
Under 6½ -210
Complimentary cocktail: Over, as in seven-wins over. Not exactly parade-worthy for the Charlie Strong Reconstruction Tour, which figures to fall flat on visits to Notre Dame, TCU and Baylor.

Texas Tech
Over 6 -105
Under 6 -135
Complimentary cocktail: Under. The heat heightens on local favorite Kliff Kingsbury for overseeing back-to-back losing seasons, when Red Raiders had only one sub.-500 record in previous 21 years.

Iowa State
Over 3 -140
Under 3 +100
Complimentary cocktail: Over. In fact, (BONUS PICK!) the Cyclones will start 4-0 before dropping their final eight. Fans may be too distraught over Bulls luring away Fred Hoiberg to care.

Kansas
Over 1½ -260
Under 1½ +180
Complimentary cocktail: Under. David Beaty last resided in Lawrence in 2011 when the Jayhawks went 2-10. Not much has changed. (He missed two conference wins in his three-year absence.)

Other regular-season win lines for schools of regional, emotional and historic importance:

Marshall
Over 10 -120
Under 10 -120

Maryland
Over 4½ -120
Under 4½ -120

Pitt
Over 6 -120
Under 6 -120

Alabama
Over 9½ -145
Under 9½ +105

Arizona
Over 7 -140
Under 7 +100

Ohio State
Over 11 +100
Under 11 -140

Oregon
Over 9½ -165
Under 9½ +125

Virginia Tech
Over 8 +105
Under 8 -145





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