As Week 9 of the 2025 Regular Season approaches, TCU Horned Frogs prepare to visit the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. Scheduled for a night game on Saturday, October 25, 2025, this Big 12 conference showdown will be televised on ESPN+. TCU holds a 5-2 record, with a solid 4-0 at home but a less impressive 1-2 on the road. West Virginia, with a 2-5 season record, looks to improve their 2-1 home record. However, their conference struggles persist with a 0-4 record. Coming off a tough 45-13 loss to UCF Knights, the Mountaineers aim to use their home advantage to rebound against TCU. TCU enters the game as the favorite with a moneyline of -659, while West Virginia stands at +470. The spread is set at -15 for TCU and +15 for West Virginia, with the total over/under at 57.5. This game will test TCU’s ability to perform on the road against a Mountaineers team eager to turn their season around.
West Virginia vs TCU At a Glance
- Game Venue: Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV
- Game Time: Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM
- Television Broadcast: ESPN+
- TCU Record: 5-2 for the season
- West Virginia Record: 2-5 for the season
- Game Odds: TCU Moneyline -659, Spread -15.0 (-110)
West Virginia Mountaineers: An In-Depth Analysis Ahead of Their Next Battle
Offensive Performance
The West Virginia Mountaineers have struggled offensively this season, ranking 72nd in points scored with 147 points. Their passing game has been notably weak, ranked 118th with only 1,111 passing yards. However, they have shown strength in the rushing game, accumulating 1,387 yards, placing them 30th in the nation.
Last season, the Mountaineers had a more balanced offensive attack, finishing 42nd in points scored. They had 2,734 passing yards and 2,570 rushing yards, ranking 80th and 24th respectively. This past performance indicates that they have the potential to improve their passing game.
Defensive Struggles
Defensively, the Mountaineers have allowed 216 points against them, which ranks them 116th. Despite this, they have excelled in creating turnovers, with 8 interceptions ranking them 9th, and 4 fumbles recovered ranking them 6th.
In the previous season, their defense was less effective, allowing 415 points and only achieving 20 sacks. However, their ability to recover fumbles and intercept passes remained strong, ranking 8th in both categories.
Recent Game Performances
The Mountaineers are coming off a difficult 45-13 loss to UCF Knights, where their passing game was limited to just 79 yards. Their rushing game was slightly more effective with 150 yards, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
In their prior game against BYU Cougars, they lost 38-24, managing only 135 passing yards. Their running game was consistent, achieving 156 yards, showing some potential for improvement in future games.
Injury Concerns
West Virginia is dealing with several injuries that could impact their performance. Notably, key players like Jahiem White (RB) are out for the season, and Nicco Marchiol (QB) is questionable due to a foot injury.
These injuries could affect the team’s offensive dynamics, particularly in the rushing department where White’s absence will be felt. The uncertainty around Marchiol’s availability also adds pressure on their passing game.
Team Betting Trends
- O/U – After Loss: 11-2-1 (78.6%) over the last 14 games.
- O/U – All Games: 3-0 (100.0%) in the last 3 games.
- O/U – As Underdog: 3-0 (100.0%) in the last 3 games.
- O/U – Away Games: 10-3 (76.9%) over the last 13 games.
- SU – As Favorite: 18-8 (69.2%) over the last 26 games.
- SU – Home Games: 19-11 (63.3%) over the last 30 games.
TCU Horned Frogs Set to Compete: What to Expect from Their Performance
Offensive Performance
The TCU Horned Frogs have demonstrated a potent offensive game this season, ranking 8th in passing yards with 2,165. Josh Hoover leads their offense, delivering a noteworthy 2,124 passing yards, placing him 5th in the league. With 21 passing touchdowns, Hoover has been a critical component of TCU’s offensive success.
However, the rushing game has been less effective, sitting at 91st with 903 yards. Kevorian Barnes has been a key player, contributing 391 rushing yards over five games, making him the top rusher for TCU.
Defensive Overview
On the defensive side, TCU ranks 100th in points against, conceding 184 points this season. Despite this, their ability to pressure the quarterback is commendable, with 18 sacks that rank them 11th overall. The secondary has been effective, securing 9 interceptions, which also places them 10th in the rankings.
Additionally, their defense has been opportunistic, recovering 5 fumbles, ranking 5th in the league. This ability to force turnovers could be a decisive factor in their upcoming game.
Recent Game Performances
In recent weeks, TCU has shown a mixed performance, winning 42-36 against Baylor. Their passing game was strong, with 231 passing yards, while they also managed 197 rushing yards. This balanced offensive display was crucial in securing their victory.
Contrastingly, in their game against Kansas State, TCU fell short, losing 41-28. Despite Hoover’s impressive 376 passing yards, the team was unable to overcome Kansas State’s balanced attack.
Key Players to Watch
Josh Hoover is undoubtedly the player to watch, given his commanding presence in the passing game. He will be essential in navigating TCU’s offensive strategy. Additionally, Eric McAlister has been a standout receiver, with 603 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, marking him as a critical target.
On defense, the performance of their defensive line will be vital, particularly in maintaining their impressive sack rate. The pressure they can apply could disrupt the opposing offense significantly.
Betting Trends
- SU – Home Games: Last 7 Games (2024–2025) → 7-0 (100.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 30 Games (2022–2025) → 23-7 (76.7%)
- SU – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2024–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2024–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Home Games: Last 3 Games (2025) → 3-0 (100.0%)
- SU – After Win: Last 29 Games (2022–2025) → 20-9 (69.0%)
- SU – All Games: Last 13 Games (2024–2025) → 10-3 (76.9%)
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: Last 13 Games (2024–2025) → 10-3 (76.9%)
- ATS – As Favorite: Last 9 Games (2024–2025) → 7-2 (77.8%)
- O/U – Away Games: Last 11 Games (2023–2025) → 8-3 (72.7%)
- ATS – All Games: Last 10 Games (2024–2025) → 7-3 (70.0%)
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: Last 10 Games (2024–2025) → 7-3 (70.0%)
- O/U – All Games: Last 20 Games (2023–2025) → 12-8 (60.0%)
- SU – Away Games: Last 20 Games (2022–2025) → 12-8 (60.0%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: Last 20 Games (2023–2025) → 12-8 (60.0%)
- O/U – After Win: Last 9 Games (2024–2025) → 6-3 (66.7%)
- O/U – As Favorite: Last 13 Games (2024–2025) → 8-5 (61.5%)
- O/U – As Underdog: Last 7 Games (2023–2025) → 4-2-1 (57.1%)
- O/U – After Loss: Last 11 Games (2023–2025) → 6-4-1 (54.5%)
- O/U – Home Games: Last 24 Games (2022–2025) → 12-11-1 (50.0%)
West Virginia vs TCU Prediction: West Virginia +15.0
TCU has had a solid start to the season with a 5-2 record, but their performance on the road has been less impressive at 1-2. On the other hand, West Virginia has a strong home record of 2-1, which suggests they can hold their ground in Morgantown. With West Virginia being 15-point underdogs, the spread seems too wide given their home advantage and the betting trends in their favor.
West Virginia has managed to cover the spread in 66.7% of their games after a loss over the last two seasons. This indicates their ability to bounce back and perform well in challenging circumstances. Despite their current losing streak, their performance at home and resilience against the spread make them a compelling pick.
Moreover, West Virginia’s recent trend of going over in all their games this season as underdogs further supports the prediction of a closer contest. This suggests they have the offensive capacity to keep pace with TCU, even if they might not secure a win. Given these factors, West Virginia covering +15.0 appears to be a solid choice.
For the projected score, TCU’s overall stronger performance might edge them out, but not by a large margin. This could result in a final scoreline of TCU 38 – West Virginia 28, where West Virginia covers the spread.
- West Virginia vs TCU Prediction: West Virginia +15.0
- West Virginia vs TCU Score: TCU 38 – West Virginia 28
