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2011 West Virginia Mountaineers Gambling Odds | Predictions

NCAA football preview guide for the 2011 West Virginia Mountaineers NCAAF betting season. NCAA football gambling guru James Hayes weighs in with his college football picks, and BCS National champion cappers analysis…

2011-2012 Football Previews – Big East Conference – West Virginia Mountaineers

This season has some potential for awkwardness in Morgantown, after sought-after former Oklahoma State offensive co-ordinator Dana Holgorsen comes over and becomes the coach-in-waiting; Stewart will be nudged out after this season.

Big East 2011-12 Football Previews: West Virginia Mountaineers
Coach: Bill Stewart
2010 Record: 9-4
West Virginia Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +2000
WV Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>

If the Mountaineers can keep their eye on the prize, however, they have the talent to win the Big East crown.

West Virginia had a respectable nine-win season in 2010, but despite a pretty tough schedule, it has a chance to improve upon that this season. At least a conference title and a good bowl appearance (the Fiesta Bowl, possibly?) would send Stewart out riding high.

Team Strengths

The bedrock of the offense will be QB Geno Smith. The junior has a myriad of skills including arm strength, accuracy and mobility; he finished with over 200 yards rushing despite playing all of 2010 with a broken foot.

His 2,763 yards and 24-7 TD/INT ratio was also quite impressive.

Smith will be passing the ball to senior Brad Starks and undersized dynamic players like Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. The loss of electric RB Noel Devine hurts, but freshman Andrew Buie should be pretty fast in his own right.

The offensive line is also in great shape with guard Josh Jenkins, C Joe Madsen and cerebral senior tackle Don Barclay.

Defensively, the efforts will be headed by senior D-lineman Julian Miller and CB Keith Tandy, though the “D” must recover from fairly heavy attrition.

Team Weaknesses

In Devine, WVU loses one of the conference’s top playmakers. Other than him, the offense looks good, but the defense has some questions to answer. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Miller and Tandy and senior DE Bruce Irvin are talented, but there are many new faces to plug into the system. The linebacker corps has three new starters and the secondary has a pair.

The Mountaineers typically do a nice job of bringing in some junior college talent (14-sack man Irvin and touted junior LB Josh Francis are both good examples) but it is still a lot to ask to have so many new defensive starters without some growing pains.

2011-12 West Virginia Football Prediction: 10-3

West Virginia has tons of skill and if the defense can congeal like the talent suggests it can, the Mountaineers will be a truly tough customer in the Big East. Smith will lead an effective offense; he’ll be better with a healed foot, a year as a starter under his belt and some speedy young players in the backfield.

The receivers are plenty good enough, especially Tavon Austin. The offensive line will get the job done, which directs the gaze to defensive co-ordinator Jeff Casteel and especially his defensive back seven.

JUCO LB Francis is a great addition; if he and a bunch of other new faces can bring their A-games, go ahead and book WVU for a Big East championship and a Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Holgorsen has orchestrated a fantastic Oklahoma State offense and he will likely shake things up considerably when he takes the reins in Morgantown, but until then Stewart has one last kick at the bucket.

2011 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule

9/4/11 3:30 PM ET MARSH
9/10/11 12:00 PM ET NORST
9/17/11 12:00 PM ET @MD
9/24/11 12:00 PM ET LSU
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET BGREN
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET CONN
10/21/11 8:00 PM ET @SYR
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET @RUTG
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET LOU
11/12/11 12:00 PM ET @CIN
11/25/11 12:00 PM ET PITT
12/1/11 8:00 PM ET @SOFLA

Click here to check out MORE 2011 college football previews for the 2011-2012 NCAA Football Season!

By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!

One reply on “2011 West Virginia Mountaineers Gambling Odds | Predictions”

What do you base that prediction off of? It can’t possibly be from the talent of opposing teams. Three losses? To whome? Not a single team WVU plays has enough returning talent to compete. Possibly LSU, But that is a BIG ‘MAYBE’. Judging by talent, coaching staff, and heart, i would go as far as saying WVU has a shot at a 11-1 season, and even possibly going undefeated. If you believe you can debate this, then by ALL MEANS, please tell me HOW and WHO can compete in regards to WVU’s schedule????

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