March Madness Team Betting Preview: WVU Mountaineers
The WVU Mountaineers will enter this season’s March Madness as the No. 3 seed in the South bracket, having drawn in-state foe No. 14 seed, Morehead State. Though the days of “Press Virginia†are behind them, head coach Bob Huggins has a team that can shoot the lights out when hot.
With a load of talent from top to bottom, Mountaineers fans have plenty to be excited about heading into what’s a very handful of games leading up to the Elite 8.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2021 West Virginia Mountaineers and their chances in this year’s Big Dance.
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Betting Preview: WVU Mountaineers
- Record: 18-9 overall, 11-6 Big 12 Conference
- ATS: 13-13-0
- O/U: 18-8-0
- Points Scored/Game: 77.3 (35th overall)
- Points Allowed/Game: 72.1 (212th overall)
- Outright Odds: +5000 (BettingPros Consensus)
Team Strengths
Offense. Though this team under Huggins has been largely known for their suffocating defense, this year’s squad has one of the best offenses in the Big 12. Their free throw percentage of 71% leads the division, while their three-point percentage of 36% puts them behind only Baylor.
Team Weaknesses
For as good as WVU has been from three and the stripe, their overall field goal percentage has gone through runs of mediocrity. Finishing the season with a FG% of just 43%, the Mountaineers rank near the bottom of the Big 12 in that category.
If they go through another cold shooting streak, it could be a quick weekend in Indianapolis.
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Why They’ll Win it All
Beyond having arguably the best backcourt in the Big 12 in Miles McBride, Sean McNeil, and Taz Sherman, the Mountaineers also have one of the best big men in the country in Derek Culver. The future NBA big man leads the conference in 9.8 boards per game and ranks near the top of the entire nation.
Why They Won’t Win it All
While West Virginia’s offense is as prolific as it has been in years, their defense has definitely paid the price. Also, they come into the tournament having lost three of their last four, including consecutive losses to Oklahoma State.
They also face an uphill battle almost immediately, as they may have to face a Syracuse team that can shoot threes with the best of them in the Round of 32.
WVU Mountaineers March Madness Prediction
Led by Huggins, Culver, and guard Mile McBride, I’m betting that this team has can make some real noise this month. The first real test should likely come against Houston in the Sweet 16, which I think they will pass by a narrow margin.
Beyond that, I think they run into an Illinois team that’s Final Four bound, and the Mountaineers’ run ends in the Elite 8.
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.