MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Oddsmakers were spot-on in 2017 by forecasting West Virginia’s regular-season win total at seven. Now BetDSI unveiled the same projection for the Mountaineers in 2018.
On Saturday the sportsbook released its over/unders for Big 12 teams with Oklahoma the runaway leader and Kansas in its perpetual residence at the bottom. West Virginia sits in the middle of the pack, tied with Texas and Kansas State.
That over/under probably looks enticing to Mountaineers fans who are cautiously optimistic their team could reach the conference championship next season. An assumption based upon All-American hopeful Will Grier filling the void created by Baker Mayfield and Mason Rudolph departing.
From a starved-for-football perspective in May, the over/under sparks several ponderances:
— Could West Virginia follow TCU’s template? The Frogs clearly were undervalued at eight projected wins last season, going 11-1 against teams not named Oklahoma.
— Would another seven-win season put Dana Holgorsen in peril? After saving his job by winning 10 games in 2016, Holgorsen received a five-year extension through 2021. The school’s buyout after next season falls to $6.9 million, still a significant number even in this era of soaring athletic budgets.
— If the Mountaineers can stay afloat in the Big 12 race until November, what a finishing kick that would present, with TCU, Oklahoma State and the Sooners aligned in consecutive weeks.
BetDSI previously released its win-total odds for the SEC and Big Ten, placing Tennessee at 5.5. The Vols open the season against West Virginia on Sept. 1 in Charlotte.
Big 12 football regular-season win totals for 2018 (BetDSI)
| Wins O/U | Team | 2017 record | 2017 O/U |
| 10.5 |
Oklahoma | 12-2 | 9.5 |
| 8.5 | Oklahoma State | 10-3 | 9 |
| 8 | TCU | 11-3 | 7.5 |
| 7 |
Texas | 7-6 | 7.5 |
| 7 |
West Virginia | 7-6 | 7 |
| 7 |
Kansas State | 8-5 | 8 |
| 6 | Iowa State | 8-5 | 5.5 |
| 5.5 |
Texas Tech | 6-7 | 5.5 |
| 5 |
Baylor |
1-11 | 7.5 |
| 3 |
Kansas | 1-11 | 3 |