AAA's VERY EARLY BIG 12 TOP TOTAL (WON 7 OF 8 NCAAF SATURDAYS!)
(NCAAF) West Virginia vs. Iowa State,
Total: 62.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
This is an 8* BIG 12 TOP TOTAL on the OVER between WVU and Iowa State.

When taking into account a number of different factors, I believe that all signs point to the OVER as the savvy move here. WVU is coming in off a three-game losing streak but head coach Dana Holgorsen says his team will be coming to play today: "Effort has never been the problem," Holgorsen said. "These guys played with effort. They're not going to quit. We're not going to quit." Iowa State is not eligible for a bowl game despite a win today, but the team is looking to avoid going 0-fer in conference play; the Cyclones come in on a four-game losing streak. And just like WVU, coach Paul Rhoads insists his team hasn't given up on the season: "I think that if that would have been the case, it would have shown in the past game," Rhoads assessed earlier in the week. "It would have shown, especially when we were down 14-0 but it didn't and it would have shown in their attitudes around the dining hall in the last day and the training room." There is a possibility that the Mountaineers will be without the services of starting QB Clint Trickett who suffered a concussion in last week's 26-20 home loss to No. 11 K-State, which would mean that junior Skyler Howard would get the nod; note that Howard would come in in relief of Trickett and throw for 198 yards and a pair of second-half TD's to rally the Mountaineers from a 14-point halftime deficit last week. The Cyclones would get over 300 yards from the arm of Sam B. Richardson for the third time in his last four starts in last week's 34-31 loss, however, Iowa State's issue isn't on the offensive side of the ball, clearly it's the defense which lacks, a unit which is giving up a whopping 37.4 PPG and has yet to hold a conference foe to fewer than 32 points. And if history is any precedence, then buckle up, the last time these teams played, Iowa State would outlast WVU 52-44 in three OT's last year. Note that West Virginia has seen the total go OVER the number in five of its last eight after two or more consecutive SU losses, while Iowa State has seen the total eclipse the number in four of six home games this year and in three of its last four when playing against a team with a winning record. Play on the OVER.

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