Miss Valley State vs. West Virginia: Odds & Game Preview | December 22, 2025

I love nothing more than waking up during the week of Festivus and Christmas with the chance to, in some way or another, back a Ross Hodge led basketball team. Coming off a double overtime loss to Ohio State on the 13th, the Mountaineers host the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, who rank dead last in Bart Torvik's ratings. The Delta Devils have one win on the season, which came against a non-division one team on November 5th. Since then, they have not come close to sniffing a victory.

With how massive the spread is this evening, I want no part of sweating out West Virginia potentially covering 41.5. Instead, I will gladly sweat out the Delta Devils not surpassing 47.5 points. That sounds far more fun to me, especially when their offense ranks dead last in nearly every statistical category. Mississippi Valley State sits bottom ten in adjusted offensive efficiency, eFG%, turnover percentage, and three point percentage.

Pray for Bricks

On top of that, they are bottom 15 in points per game, averaging 62. That seasonal average does not concern me due to the fact that Ross Hodge teams love to keep the pace of play slower than your mom when you are trying to show her a toy on the television before the commercial ends. Haslametrics ranks West Virginia as the 14th slowest team in the country, while Mississippi Valley State ranks 162nd fastest. The home team dictates pace, and I fully expect Hodge to have his guys ready to lock down this atrocious offense. Additionally, West Virginia ranks second in the country in points allowed per game at home, giving up just 52.4.

At home this season, the Mountaineers own the 10th best defense in the country. They have shut down opponents on the interior, ranking fourth in two point defense. West Virginia also sits top 50 in turnover percentage and defensive rebounding, so expect plenty of forced turnovers and very few second chance opportunities for the Delta Devils.

Sweating out a team to stay under essentially 50 points is going to be a blast, especially considering they have never finished under this number this season. I fully expect Hodge to have the Mountaineers ready to close out the first half of the season on a high note. After tonight, West Virginia has 11 days off before opening Big 12 play. Lock down the Delta Devils and roll into the holidays feeling good.