50% Deposit and Reload Bonus
At WagerWeb you can cash in on an amazing 50% deposit and reload bonus when you sign up for a new account!

BetUS $500 Match Bonus
Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more to get a $500 match bonus.

Cincinnati v. West Virginia Football Betting Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on November 10, 2009

The No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers (7-2) meet the No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats (9-0) at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio for a Big East on ESPN showdown under the Friday night lights. The Mountaineers will be looking to spoil Cincy’s undefeated season while the Bearcats will be playing for their first 10-0 star in school history. Football odds makers are confident that the Bearcats will remain unbeaten, listing Cincinnati as a 9.5-point favorite.

Are you ready to bet on NCAA football Friday night? Bet your football picks at Sportsbook.com where our readers get a special 50% sign up bonus as well as a $25 free bet!

Backup QB Zach Collaros has played extremely well while filling in for the injured Tony Pike, but head coach Brian Kelly has announced that Pike will return to the starting lineup Friday. It was a tough call for Kelly as he just watched Collaros lead the Cats to a school-record 711 total yards of offense. But ultimately, he has decided to go with the guy that led the Cats to a Big East title and the Orange Bowl last season. In six starts this season, Pike has thrown 15 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. He appeared to be well on his way to finishing as a Heisman finalist before reinjuring his non-throwing arm against South Florida about a month ago. But don’t think for a minute that coach Kelly won’t send Collaros right in there if Pike struggles. In three starts, the backup QB has thrown for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. In last week’s game against UConn, he threw for 480 yards and ran for 75 more with three touchdowns in all.

The Bearcats boast the nation’s third-ranked offense so scoring the football shouldn’t be an issue whether it is Pike or Collaros back there. The issue could be the defense, which is coming off its worst game of the season. UConn’s 45 points were more than Cincinnati allowed its three previous opponents to score combined. The defense was especially soft late, allowing 21 points in the fourth quarter. The biggest cause for concern is the run defense, which allowed the Huskies to rack up 201 yards. It gets no easier against star running back Noel Devine and West Virginia’s potent rushing attack. But, perhaps, the good news is that the Bearcats are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. If you like the Cats to remain undefeated and cover the number in the process, bet Cincinnati at -9.5 at Sportsbook.com.

In order for West Virginia to pull off the upset, it is going to have to keep the quick strike Cincinnati offense off the field by controlling the clock with its strong running game. Both Noel Devine and QB Jarrett Brown suffered ankle injuries against Louisville last week, but coach Bill Stewart expects both to play. It is absolutely vital that they do for the Mountaineers to have a shot. Devine is one of the premier running backs in the country, one of just 16 players in the nation who have already cracked 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

The Mountaineers are 3-0 straight up and 2-0-1 against the spread in their last three games at Cincinnati and pulling off the upset is an absolute must if they want to stay in the Big East title picture. It certainly will be no easy task, as Cincy has won 11 straight at home, but the Mountaineers were the last team to win at Nippert Stadium, earning a 28-23 victory back on November 17th, 2007. The Bearcats won 26-23 at West Virginia a season ago, but the Mountaineers should feel pretty good about that effort since they held Cincy’s high-powered attack to just 260 yards of offense. It will likely take another defensive performance like that to have a shot Friday. It is worth noting that the underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings. If you think the Mountaineers can keep this one within the number, bet West Virginia at +9.5 at Sportsbook.com.

Dominate your book under the Friday night lights with expert football picks from World Champion Handicapper Jimmy Boyd!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: