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West Virginia will deliver a homecoming win: staff picks

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The No. 9 Mountaineers look to go 5-0, while the Big 12 Conference looks toward Dallas for a pivotal Oklahoma-Texas matchup.

Here are the spreads:

Kansas at West Virginia (-29)
Texas vs. Oklahoma (-7.5)
LSU (-2.5) at Florida
Notre Dame (-4.5) at Virginia Tech
Middle Tennessee State at Marshall (-7.5)

And here are the predictions:

Allan Taylor: West Virginia 49, Kansas 17

The betting line grew from 24 points at the outset to 29 points as of Thursday, and spread-watchers know WVU has covered in all four games this season. This one might seem trickier, if you watch tape of KU rolling over Rutgers. Watch film of Kansas vs. Nicholls State, however, and you’ll feel more comfy about WVU hitting the number. Kansas will lose its 42nd straight Big 12 road game — by a bunch.

Allan’s other picks:

Oklahoma 30, Texas 23
LSU 18, Florida 15
Virginia Tech 30, Notre Dame 23
Marshall 37, Middle Tennessee 24

Goose Gyorko: West Virginia 59, Kansas 17

Combine last season’s mini-scare and last week’s near-collapse, I’d expect the Mountaineers to give Kansas their full attention. This would not bode well for the Jayhawks. No team that WVU has yet to have an answer for the Mountaineers air attack, and I don’t imagine lowly Kansas will be the one to figure it out. Look for WVU to replicate the first half we saw in Lubbock, without the second-half repeat. Eers win big.

Goose’s other picks:

Oklahoma 34, Texas 27
LSU 20, Florida 16
Virginia Tech 28, Notre Dame 24
Marshall 44, Middle Tennessee 30

Brad Howe: West Virginia 45, Kansas 17

With the exception of 2013 upset in Lawrence, no game in this series has been close. It shouldn’t be again this time. Kansas has a star running back in Pooka Williams, but he can’t help slow down Will Grier and the Mountaineers offense. Expect a happy homecoming at WVU.

Brad’s other picks:

Oklahoma 35 Texas 24
LSU 23, Florida 17
Notre Dame 31, Virginia Tech 24
Marshall 30, Middle Tennessee 20

Hoppy Kercheval: West Virginia 55, Kansas 17

The Mountaineers will come out angry and wanting to make a point that the second half in Lubbock was the exception not the rule. This might be Will Grier’s best opportunity to put up massive numbers, and the defense will continue it’s good fortune with a few more takeaways. Another perfect football Saturday in Morgantown will lead to a perfect 5-0 for the home team.

Hoppy’s other picks:

Texas 31, Oklahoma 30
Florida 24, LSU 20
Notre Dame 24, Virginia Tech 17
Marshall 34, Middle Tennessee 28

Kyle Wiggs: West Virginia 48, Kansas 17

The Kansas defense was no match for Oklahoma State’s offense last week. Will Grier
and the No. 9-ranked Mountaineers should have another big day. Big plays early and then the Mountaineers will look to best the 256 rushing yards Oklahoma State piled up against the Jayhawks. Did we really all independently pick KU to score 17 points? That’s the echo chamber, for ya

Kyle’s other picks:

Oklahoma 31, Texas 20
LSU 23, Florida 14
Notre Dame 24, Virginia Tech 21
Marshall 28, Middle Tennessee 20