The Baylor Bears (18-6) travel to face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers (8-16) on Saturday, February 17th. This game will be played at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown and televised on ESPN2. Baylor is coming off a win in their previous game, while West Virginia is looking to get back on track from a loss to the TCU. Tip-off is set for 6:00 ET.
Baylor Bears vs West Virginia Mountaineers
The Baylor Bears Are Coming Off A Win
After winning their last game against Oklahoma by a score of 79-62, Baylor has an overall record of 18-6 and a 7-4 record in Big 12 play. The Bears have been much better at home this season, going 14-1 compared to just 3-5 on the road. They are also 16-2 when favored.
On the year, Baylor has an average scoring margin of +18.8 at home, but that number drops to -1.5 on the road. Over their last 10 games away from home, the Bears have gone 4-6.
When looking at Baylor’s ATS record this season, they have gone 14-8-1. On the road, the Bears are 4-4 vs. the spread. In their last three road games, they have gone 3-0 ATS. As the favorite, Baylor has gone 11-6-1 vs. the spread this year. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, they have gone 6-3-1 ATS.
So far this season, the over/under record in Baylor games is 12-11. The average scoring total in their games is 152.3 points, which is higher than the average OU line of 148. Today’s OU line is 146.5. In their last three games, the over/under record is 1-2 with an average scoring total of 139 points.
The West Virginia Mountaineers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
West Virginia will look to snap a three-game losing streak when they host Baylor on Saturday. The Mountaineers have struggled on the road this season, going 0-7 with an average scoring margin of -17.0 points per game.
Overall, West Virginia is 8-16, including an 8-9 record at home. In their last game, the Mountaineers fell to TCU, 81-65. Over their last 10 games at home, West Virginia is 5-5.
As the underdog this season, West Virginia has an ATS record of just 5-11. Their overall ATS mark for the year is 9-15. At home, the Mountaineers are 8-9 vs. the spread this season. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, WVU is just 3-7.
West Virginia’s over/under record sits at 12-12 this season. The average scoring total in their games is 142 points, which is slightly lower than the average over/under line of 141.8. So far, 15 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s line of 146.5. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average of 152 points.
Baylor Offense Breakdown
Baylor’s offense is coming off a good game, putting up 79 points vs. Oklahoma. Overall, they hit 54.9% of their shots from the field and went 12/16 from the free-throw line. The top scorer for the Bears was Jayden Nunn with 27 points, while Jalen Bridges also chipped in with 14 points.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja’Kobe Walter (G) | 14.1 | 4.8 | 1.7 |
| RayJ Dennis (G) | 13.2 | 3.9 | 6.5 |
| Jalen Bridges (F) | 10.8 | 4.6 | 1.7 |
West Virginia Offense Breakdown
In their most recent game, the Mountaineers’ offense tallied 65 points, consistent with their ongoing season average of 67.9 points per game. In terms of offense, the Mountaineers have a season-long field goal percentage of 41%, putting them 356th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 254th in percentage and 244th in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinn Slazinski (F) | 13.0 | 4.3 | 2.0 |
| Raequan Battle (G) | 15.6 | 4.3 | 0.6 |
| Jesse Edwards (C) | 14.4 | 8.1 | 1.0 |
Baylor Team Defense
On the defensive side, Baylor is currently hovering around the NCAA’s average for points allowed, conceding an average of 70.2 points per game. In their previous game vs. Oklahoma, the Sooners finished with a field goal percentage of 54% and a total of 62 points vs. Baylor.
West Virginia Team Defense
Currently, the Mountaineers’ defense holds the 221st rank in the nation, allowing 74.0 points per game. The West Virginia defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 81 points and allowed TCU to connect on 6 threes.
Bears vs Mountaineers Trends
- Baylor has a 2-3 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 70 points per game while allowing 69. The team also performed well vs the spread at 4-1.
- Although West Virginia has a straight up record of 0-3 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 0-3. The team averaged 63 points per game in these games.
- As the betting underdog, the Mountaineers have an ATS mark of just 3-7 in their last ten games. West Virginia posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
- As the betting favorite, the Bears have an ATS mark of just 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Baylor posted a straight up mark of 9-1 in these matchups.
Bears vs Mountaineers Prediction
The Mountaineers come in as the underdog at +6.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 146.5, and our model predicts the Bears and Mountaineers to score a combined 143 points. We recommend betting on the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:February 17, 2024 Baylor Bears, West Virginia Mountaineers