West Virginia looks like a mighty good pick tonight

Kirk Herbstreit made an interesting point during the Holiday Bowl with Texas and Arizona State. He said that it really isn't surprising to see a team coming off a loss in their last game of the season (which is usually against the team's arch rival) come into a bowl and really be motivated and fight a little harder for a win after taking a punch in the gut from a rival and play hard, if not beat, an opponent who had a nice victory over a rival that last week. I decided to do a little research on this. This bowl season, teams that lost in their final game of the regular season are 10-5 SU and 10-5 ATS. West Virginia falls into this category as they lost to Pitt last game of their regular season and Oklahoma knocked off title-contender Missouri. I think on the surface and in the public's eye Oklahoma is the sure fire bet because sure, Pitt knocked off West Virginia in Morgantown that last week and Pat White's health is in question. But I also think that 7.5 points is a lot of points to give a team that maybe got caught looking ahead and booking tickets to New Orleans. This team was a game away from the National Title game. This is not Boise State trying to knock off Oklahoma, this is a legit West Virginia team that was in the top ten if not top five most of the year. I think if anything they come out more focused than ever and while maybe not openly saying it try and prove that Coach Rod made a mistake in abandoning them. Also, as the public, we may be underestimating how important the absence of three defensive starters for Oklahoma is. A suspect secondary that got lit up by Texas Tech took a major hit with Reggie Smith and Lendy Holmes out and now with Granger being sent home, suddenly that defensive line may be a bit weaker and worn down come the late third quarter and fourth quarter after Slaton and Devine and White have been grinding away. Three yard gains turn into six, six yard gains turn into 10, and ten yard gains turn into TD runs. From a gambling perspective, the most recent games have been covered by the favorite, the books aren't going to keep getting beat, what better time than now with 81% of the public hollering Boomer Sooner! Remember, West Virginia doesn't have to win to cover. They can lose 31-24 and the Mountaineers make money. Let's stop trying to think about the outright winner and ask, can WVU and that quietly stout defense keep it close? I'd say absolutely. I'll take West Virginia with the cover.

Other side for me..Good Luck. There is more offensive balance with Oklahoma, as the team is churning out 451.2 total yards, with steady gains both on the ground (191.8 ypg) and through the air (259.5 ypg).||Peace_5.gif' border=0>

Simple answer is NO. As in no way WV can keep up with the Sooners. This team is going to be extremly focused and stoops will see to that. Yes they had some distractions, but hell, what team hasn't this year. Atleast they HAVE their head coach. And I think that is key! You do make a valid point, but you really have to look at how these two teams approach the game. WV is built around the QB. His finger is still a question if you ask me. If he is not 100%, then I think that is a bigger loos than the guys missing from the Sooners. He is there motivator and leader. Look back on the last game with Pitt. Late in the game the entire team's attitude changed. Heads were down, arguing with each other and toward the end, kind of gave up. I see the samething happening here. Let's just start with no head coach. ANd he was VERY good at preparing his team for this game. Motivation and focus. He ruled with a heavy hand. That is gone. And the other coaches are unsure of thier position and are busy looking for other options and oh yeah...trying to prepare for Oklahoma. Just to much distraction in that team and I question there real motivation here. If they get down early, it will be over. THey will do exactly what they did against Pitt....quit. Maybe I am wrong, but that is how I see it. I love the OVER in this game more than a side. But I will still play Oklahoma for a small wager. But good luck to you. Uniden

They don't call them Choklahoma for nothing. They have been horrible in big bowl games as of late. Remember 03, coming off a loss in the Big 12 Championship game, LSU whipped them again. 04 got smoked by USC in a route. They did win by 3 against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl in 05 and we all know what happenned with Boise in 06. I think WVU becomes the next team to beat them in a bowl.

||thumbs_down.gif' border=0> Crimson and cream!||moneybag.gif' border=0>