WVU football probably won't be viewed as a betting favorite many more times this season.
The Mountaineers haven't been in that position since a Week 2 trip to Ohio, which they ended up losing. They won the Pitt game despite entering as an underdog by more than a touchdown, and have entered the past five games as an underdog of at least more than a touchdown each time – and they haven't won a single one of those.
The trend of entering as an underdog by more than one score continues this week, as the Mountaineers will likely enter their second straight game as an underdog by more than two touchdowns. That's because the Vegas oddsmakers have released the opening odds for the Houston game this coming weekend, and the Mountaineers are listed as a 15.5-point underdog to the Cougars. The over/under for the game is set at 50.5 points.
Last week, the oddsmakers had it wrong for the Mountaineers, as WVU covered the spread in a close 23-17 loss to the Horned Frogs, in the first game that the Mountaineers have covered the spread since the Backyard Brawl win over Pitt.
But WVU still did lose to TCU, and in doing so is now 2-6 overall and still winless in Big 12 play. Meanwhile, Houston is coming off a 24-16 win over an Arizona State program that has been in contention for a Big 12 title, and the Cougars are now 7-1 overall this season following the victory. The Mountaineers will hope to beat the odds and pull out a win, but there are legitimate reasons for the opening line favoring Houston this heavily.