Posted on 1/2/2008 3:47:23 PM

Bet on the Fiesta Bowl - West Virginia vs. Oklahoma

By Russell Edward

Those of us who like to bet on college football know that West Virginia has a run-heavy offense that has the potential to be very explosive. It starts with an offensive line that, while not the biggest, is composed of players who are extremely mobile and technically sound. Behind the line stands quarterback Pat While who is one of the best dual-threat players in the country when he is healthy. Hopefully for Mountaineers fans, an injury suffered a month ago in their regular season finale loss to rival Pitt will be totally healed.

West Virginia Mountaineers +7.5 vs. Oklahoma Sooners –7.5

The break between games should give fresh legs to starting running back Steve Slaton, who did not put up as high of numbers as in the past this season. Slaton will be spelled by backup speedster, the exciting Noel Devine, whose role has recently been expanded as he has impressed everyone with his open field skills.

The seventh-ranked Sooners defense should match up well against this run-first attack the Mountaineers have installed. They get good pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but they maintain their discipline in covering run gaps when doing so. Their tackling skills are exemplary and their safeties play like linebackers, making them a seeming perfect fit going up against an offense that runs the ball so much more than they pass. In the twelve regular season games of 2007, the Mountaineers ran the ball a stunning 343 times more than they passed the ball.

Fiesta Bowl – January 2, 2008 in Glendale, Arizona at 8 p.m. EST

If West Virginia is going to stay in this game, it will have to do something against the grain of what they have been doing all season: pass. White’s main target downfield will be wide receiver Darius Reynaud and the Mountaineers will likely try to get him a big play early on, trying to take advantage of a Sooners secondary that will be missing all star corner Reggie Smith due to an injury. Taking the proper shots at the right time will be up to the coaching staff and White will have to pull it off perfectly.

This area of the field will be where it is decided whether or not West Virginia has what it takes to not only cover this 7.5-point NCAA football betting spread, but to win this game outright.

NCAA football betting is coming to an end, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Bowl Game odds and NCAA football lines available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!