Picking West Virginia to Win 10 Games, Thomas Castellanos to Texas Tech, Scandal at Baylor

Despite being pegged by many preseason prognosticators as a lower-tier team in the expanded Big 12, West Virginia has all the quiet ingredients necessary to pull off a stunning campaign in 2026. Armed with an influx of new talent and a revamped identity, the Mountaineers are uniquely positioned to turn heads. The primary catalyst for this potential surge is an aggressive offseason roster overhaul. Head coach Rich Rodriguez aggressively worked the transfer portal, bringing in dozens of impactful players to address the offensive anemia that plagued last year's squad. The injection of high-ceiling playmakers—highlighted by dynamic quarterback play and a revamped ground game anchored by productive runner Cam Cook—gives West Virginia the explosive offensive capabilities needed to catch traditional conference heavyweights off guard. Furthermore, the trenches have been completely recalibrated. With an imposing offensive line featuring heavy-importers alongside returning experience in junior guard Nick Krahe, the Mountaineers are built to impose their physical will. Defensively, while replacing substantial production is always a gamble, relying on seasoned portal acquisitions provides an immediate floor of veteran leadership that can disrupt opponents accustomed to softer schemes. While the schedule features a rigorous gauntlet, early momentum at home in Morgantown can quickly change the narrative. If the new-look roster gels faster than expected, West Virginia will flip from being an overlooked underdog into the conference's ultimate spoiler. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. . Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. LARINECO Give Larine a try. Right now, Larine Co is offering our listeners up to 50% off at https://BUYLARINE.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 5-Hour ENERGY Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at https:/5hourENERGY.com or on Amazon. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.