Liberty Bowl Betting: West Virginia vs. Texas A&M Odds, Analysis, Pick

West Virginia, back in a bowl after missing out last season, is just 5-6 straight up and 3-8 against the spread over its last 11 bowl appearances. Texas A&M, playing in a bowl for the sixth consecutive season, is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS over its last three bowls.

The 7-5 Aggies take on the team that replaced them in the Big 12, the 7-5 Mountaineers, in the 56th edition of the Liberty Bowl Monday, December 29 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Liberty Bowl point spread: The Mountaineers opened as 3.5-point favorites; the total was 66.5. (Line updates and matchup report)

Odds Shark computer prediction: 34.6-34.5 Aggies

Why the Mountaineers can cover the spread

The Mountaineers lost five games this season, but they gave Alabama a good battle and easily covered as three-touchdown underdogs. They also lost on a field goal at the buzzer to TCU and by a touchdown to a pretty good Kansas State team.

West Virginia also handed Baylor its only defeat of the season, a 41-27 upset in Morgantown in October—and the Bears had a good case to make the College Football Playoff. So the Mountaineers managed to pay out this season against some of the top teams in the entire country.

Why the Aggies can cover the spread

The Aggies bolted out of the gate this season, winning their first five games and putting up some huge offensive numbers in the process. They then lost their way a bit, suffering three straight defeats. Texas A&M then won two straight, including an upset at Auburn as a 23-point underdog, and while the Aggies lost their last two games, the first came by seven points against eventual SEC East champion Missouri, and the second came by six points against LSU.

Texas A&M ranks 33rd in the country in both total offense and scoring (34 points per game), and freshman quarterback Kyle Allen, who took over the starting spot from Kenny Hill, compiled an 8-3 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions in his last three games.

Smart Pick

West Virginia holds edges on both offense and defense, and even though starting quarterback Clint Trickett may not play as he recovers from a concussion, backup Skyler Howard showed what he's capable of when he threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception, in the regular-season finale against Iowa State. So the smart choice here is with the Mountaineers.

Trends

• West Virginia is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games.
• Texas A&M is 2-5 straight up in its last seven games.

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark. Follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.