Hate defense? Boy, do I have the matchup for you!
West Virginia dominated last week vs. Robert Morris, scoring a total of 45 points. That’s to be expected under Rich Rodriguez. The former WVU head coach is back, hoping to lead his squad to Big 12 glory. To do so, a non-conference win this afternoon is crucial. On the other side, Ohio dropped a tough 34-31 season opener against Rutgers. For the reigning MAC champions, expectations are high. Which of these two teams will earn a victory on Saturday? Below is my prediction and pick for College Football Week 2’s game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Ohio Bobcats.
West Virginia enters this contest as 3.5-point favorites over Ohio, with the over/under set at 58.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
West Virginia vs. Ohio prediction, preview
As previously mentioned, West Virginia is a score first, ask questions later kind of team. The same can be said for Ohio, led by first-year head coach Brian Smith. The defending MAC champs lost a ton of defensive talent to the transfer portal this offseason. However, this squad has a shot due to their budding star under center. Parker Navarro is a legitimate dual-threat, capable of putting up points in a hurry. Last season, he threw for 2,423 yards, ran for 1,046, and recorded 31 total touchdowns. The senior continued his success last week, notching 239 passing yards and three touchdowns vs. Rutgers. A dynamic duo at wideout in Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II can create matchup problems for opposing secondaries.
That’ll be the challenge for Rodriguez’s Mountaineers on Saturday. Keeping Navarro in check means combating him through the air and playing QB contain on the ground. That’s a difficult proposition for anyone, let alone this defense. West Virginia surrendered 31.9 points per game to opponents in 2024, third-worst in the Big 12. However, much like Ohio, this team has what it takes on offense to win a shootout. At quarterback, WVU has first-time starter Nicco Marchiol. Last week vs. Robert Morris, the senior delivered an impressive 224-yard performance with an 85.0% completion percentage. He’s supported on the ground by Jahiem White, currently in his third season at Morgantown. In Week 1, the junior scrambled for 93 yards and a pair of TDs. Worth noting: the defensive line is arguably Ohio’s weakest position group.
West Virginia vs. Ohio pick, best bet
The scoring should start early and often in this Big 12-MAC showdown. However, I’m not necessarily comfortable with taking the over at nearly 60 total points. Instead, my gut is leaning towards the Mountaineers. For starters, they have the more trustworthy head coach in Rodriguez, compared to the inexperienced Smith. In addition, West Virginia’s defense appears marginally better than Ohio’s. After all, the Bobcats are replacing practically everyone in their front seven. Their performance against a Big 10 offense in Rutgers wasn’t exactly inspiring. A stellar WVU scoring attack should find success in this one.
