WVU Football Mentioned as Possible Dark Horse Big 12 Champion

Neal Brown recently pointed to the media doubting WVU again as motivation for West Virginia in 2024, but there are some analyst who do believe in the Mountaineers.

In fact, WVU was mentioned as a sleeper pick to win one of the Power Four conference titles on an episode of CBS Sports’ “The Cover 3 Podcast” with hosts Chip Patterson and Tom Fornelli. The pair were asked which teams with 15-1 odds or worse have the best chance to win a conference title and reach the College Football Playoff.

The conversation then turned to the Big 12, and while Arizona was mentioned first, the conversation then turned to West Virginia.

“You know what, West Virginia is a team I think is getting a little slept on too,” said Fornelli. “I’m not picking them (to win the league), but I just think WV might be a beneficiary of this new look Big 12 where it’s going to be kind of coin flippy and a couple plays can decide games.”

Patterson brought up the change in the atmosphere around the WVU program throughout the last year and how that could lead to success this fall.

“There’s a quiet confidence building inside that program, from the way that last season started, the way that last season finished, they got a lot of those pieces back for this year,” he said. “I never have thought in recent years that West Virginia was a pushover.”

But while Patterson and Fornelli aren’t willing to actually pick WVU, Ari Temkin, a host for the college sports side of Sirius XM, is actually buying in so much that he’s predicting the Mountaineers will win the Big 12.

WVU quarterback Garrett Greene after beating UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 27, 2023. (Mitchell Northam / WV Sports Now)

“The reason I am picking West Virginia to win the Big 12 Conference is because I believe they are as good up front on the line of scrimmage as anybody. They’ve got the best quarterback, arguably, in the conference in Garrett Greene who just scratched the surface of his potential,” said Temkin while appearing on a show with Andy Staples of On3 Sports.

Temkin then continued. “I’m really high on Garrett Greene, I’m really high on their offensive and defensive lines. We’ve heard all the right things out of Morgantown this offseason and I like their schedule too,” he added.

However, WVU’s place in the preseason Big 12 media poll suggests those predicting a Big 12 title are in the minority.

Despite the increased expectations from fans and the surprise success of 2023, the ESPN FPI is projecting WVU to struggle to even reach bowl eligibility. Major sportsbooks also have West Virginia’s over/under win total only set at 6.5 and view the Mountaineers as a heavy underdog in their season opening game to Penn State.

Early Win Total Projections Suggest WVU Football to Decline in 2024

Fans may argue the Mountaineers are being disrespected by some while others may feel talk of winning a conference title is premature, but one thing is certain – Brown and the rest of the coaching staff prefer to be the underdog. However, any of the low projections are interesting, taking into account most of the key players are returning and the schedule is arguably similar to last year.

After a 9-4 (6-3) season and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, West Virginia is hungry to start the 2024 season getting revenge on the Nittany Lions. Penn State beat WVU in the 2023 season opener at Beaver Stadium 38-15. Penn State would finish the year at 10-3 (7-2), losing to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.