The Alabama Crimson Tide will begin their pursuit of this season's national championship as heavy 25.5-point favorites against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Alabama vs. West Virginia betting guide, from spread to season props
Alabama starts its climb back to the top of college football while laying nearly four TDs at West Virginia. See the betting odds preview.
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Perched at No. 2 in the preseason national rankings, the Tide are second only to the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles, with 5/1 odds of emerging as the best team in the nation.
It appeared that Alabama were destined for a date at last season's national championship game after opening the season with 11 straight wins, eight by 25+ points. However, following a devastating 34-28 overtime loss to the SEC rival Auburn Tigers in the annual Iron Bowl game, the Crimson Tide were denied both the SEC title and a shot at the national championship.
Alabama followed up their loss to Auburn with a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, dropping their season record to 11-2 SU and a middling 8-5 ATS. But with three players pegged as Heisman Trophy candidates, the Crimson Tide look to have the necessary weapons to live up to their strong betting odds.
They are 4-1 ATS in their past five openers, according to the Week 1 betting trends report.
Running back Derrick Henry saw action in 12 games in 2013, carrying the ball just 35 times for 382 yards. However, it is his breakthrough performance in the Sugar Bowl that defines his freshman campaign. Henry ran for 100 yards and one TD on eight carries, while adding 63 receiving yards and another TD on a single catch to provide Alabama with their sole bright spot of the day.
Henry owns 20/1 odds in Heisman Trophy betting, alongside backfield partner T.J. Yeldon, who ran for 1,235 yards in 2013. Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker is also in the Heisman Trophy betting mix with odds of 50/1.
It is expected to be a long season for the Mountaineers following a difficult 4-8 campaign in 2013. West Virginia were also a betting weakling in 2013, finishing 3-9 ATS, including SU losses in their final two games, which they were both favored to win by 6+ points.
With a 2014 regular season win total pegged at 4.5, with the UNDER a slight 5/6 favorite, the Mountaineers are once again longshots in the Big Ten, sporting distant 66/1 odds of emerging as conference champs.
OddsShark computer prediction: 48-19 Alabama
