Albany vs West Virginia Prediction, Pick, Odds for NCAAF Week 2

The Albany Great Danes (1-0) travel to Morgantown, WV to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers (0-1) at 6:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 7 live on ESPN+.

While there is no line on this game as of writing WVU is projected as a favorite of 24.5 points with a total of 53.5 projected.

Here's my Albany vs. West Virginia prediction and pick.

Albany vs West Virginia Prediction

• Pick: West Virginia -33.5 or Better

My Albany vs. West Virginia best bet is on the Mountaineers on the spread, with the best line currently available at BetRivers, according to our live NCAAF odds page.

Saturday, September 7

6 p.m. ET

ESPN+

Albany Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+37 -110	53.5 -112o / -108u	+5000

West Virginia Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-37 -110	53.5 -112o / -108u	-100000

Odds via DraftKings . Get up-to-the-minute NCAAF odds here.

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Albany vs West Virginia Preview

Albany Great Danes Betting Preview: What to Make of Last Week's Comeback

Albany is coming off a season-opening come-from-behind victory at home over Long Island. The Great Danes pulled ahead with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a closely contested battle.

This result was surprising and quite telling about where Albany is currently at as a team. Last year, the Danes made the FCS playoffs and went on a deep run before losing to eventual National Champion, South Dakota State.

This year only six starters return in total, all on offense. Quarterback Myles Burkett took over after Reese Poffenbarger transferred to Miami (FL) and left a major offensive void. Albany has a solid running game it can lean into along with a veteran offensive line.

All 11 starters from last year's defense are gone and there lies major needs on all three defensive levels.

The D-line loses three All-Conference performers, all three starting linebackers are gone including an FCS All-American in Dylan Kelly and the secondary is filled with new faces. The secondary will have to battle a weaker pass rush in addition to a lack of continuity.

The massive overhaul showed against LIU — who is a bottom-20 FCS program — where the Danes were outgained by 103 yards. The offense struggled with only 12 first downs and went 3/13 on third down.

They also only rushed for 90 yards and the defense gave up 5.8 yards per rush along with a completion percentage of 65%.

West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview: Grass is Greener

West Virginia opened the year with a disappointing (for fans and bettors) 34-12 home loss to Penn State. A scoreless first quarter was the result of both teams gambling on fourth down and some sloppy turnovers.

There were two points in the first half that WVU certainly wishes it could have back. The Mountaineers had the ball for 13 plays and took 7:40 off the clock — only to fail to convert a 4^th and 1. Penn State then scored on its next two possessions.

In response, WVU hit a pair of field goals to regroup at half, only down a touchdown. But it didn't last long. Penn State went three plays for 73 yards and scored with 20 seconds left in the first half — an ultimate back-breaker for the Mountaineers.

After a two-hour severe weather delay, Penn State controlled the second half after scoring on the opening possession of the third quarter. The game never felt close.

Looking forward to WVU, I like the left side of its offensive line and the running back room is electric. Garrett Greene's dual-threat ability will boost the complexion of the offense and add an element to Big 12 play so long as wide receivers can emerge.

The defense isn't elite, but the transfers that it added at linebacker and in the secondary should backfill nicely.

Albany vs West Virginia Pick & Prediction

West Virginia has massive edges in this matchup against Albany. The Mountaineer offensive line will have its way with an overmatched FCS replacement-level defensive line. The run game this week will look a lot different than it did against an elite Penn State D-Line.

Albany's linebackers and secondary units won't be able to step up in run defense effectively. As a result, WVU should be able to play-action pass off of the run action and have tremendous success in passing situations.

I look for WVU running backs CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White to feast in this game. Greene should also have much improved numbers in the passing department.

While not an elite defense, WVU will have a much easier time defending an Albany offense that struggled mightily against a woeful LIU team.

The last thing I considered in this handicap was how WVU has performed against FCS competition under Neal Brown.

We have tangible schedule consistency and situational consistency that shows WVU runs it up hard against outmatched FCS foes especially off of a loss:

• In 2021 WVU beat LIU 66-0 at -48.5.
• In 2022 they defeated Towson 65-7 at -39.
• In 2023 they defeated Duquesne 56-17 at -38.

This line might still reflect the formidable rock-solid Albany squad that we saw last year, but the Great Danes have certainly taken a major step in the wrong direction.

At -24.5 West Virginia would be a sizeable strong play for me. I would play this one up to -33.5.

Pick: West Virginia -33.5 or Better

• West Virginia is 0-1 against the spread.
• Albany is 0-1 against the spread.
• The under hit for both teams in Week 1.