It's rare when a single number elicits so much response.
Yet one included in this space last week did.
The number was seven. It was the opening over/under win total set for WVU's 2017-18 football season by Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology.
Mountaineer fans seemed ready to jump all over that, especially with quarterback Will Grier apparently poised to start. Especially on the heels of a 10-win 2016 season.
Bookies, though, don't tend to be uninformed. So I did a little research of my own. I took a closer look at the upcoming West Virginia football schedule, and I thought I'd share my notes.
n Sept. 3, Virginia Tech at Landover, Maryland - Obviously this is a huge game for WVU. The Hokies finished 10-4 last season and lost just 42-35 to Clemson in the ACC championship game after winning the Coastal Division. Yet there is doubt coach Justin Fuente's team will continue surging - at least this coming season. QB Jerod Evans, who set the school's single season record for total offense, left for the NFL. (He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia and waived 11 days later.) Through spring, no QB had clearly established himself as the starter. That's a bit of good news for WVU.
n Sept. 9, East Carolina - Normally one would say West Virginia has scheduled a trap game here. And, well, the Pirates did beat North Carolina State last September. But rather than use that as a springboard to AAC success, the schedule-makers followed that with games against South Carolina and Virginia Tech. It didn't go well. ECU went 1-9 over the rest of the season. And now standout Zay Jones is a wide receiver with the Buffalo Bills. If WVU doesn't win the Tech game, this is a very good opportunity for victory No. 1.
n Sept. 16, Delaware State - I'm not even going to say this is also a good opportunity. It's a WVU win plain and simple. The FCS team - note it's not even Delaware, it's Delaware State - was winless last season in 11 games. The only thing more ridiculous than this game is the fact the Hornets play at Florida State in November. Talk about a future stinging.
n Sept. 23, at Kansas - This should be a good way for WVU to start the road portion of its Big 12 schedule. Already David Beaty is feeling heat with his 2-22 record, although improvement was shown via last season's victory over Texas that sealed Charlie Strong's fate as the Longhorns coach. Expect Washington State transfer Peyton Bender to take over at QB for Ryan Willis, who transferred to Virginia Tech. The Jayhawks' secondary - now without my man Fish Smithson - should be easy pickins for Grier.
n Oct. 7, at TCU - If a team has to have back-to-back away games, it could be worse. Remember, WVU whipped the Horned Frogs decisively last season. Also, TCU finished 6-7. Do I expect Gary Patterson's team to again have a losing record? No. He's too good of a coach. But QB Kenny Hill lost his swagger in 2016 because of interceptions. So this is, at least, the fourth opportunity for Mountaineer wins.
n Oct. 14, Texas Tech - Considering Texas Tech's pass defense woes, this is the perfect Homecoming game for West Virginia. Take a good look at coach Kliff Kingsbury because it might be his last stop in Morgantown. Oh, and did I mention QB Patrick Mahomes is now with the Kansas City Chiefs? And remember Tech was 5-7 WITH him.
n Oct. 21, at Baylor - New Bears coach Matt Rhule has done wonders fiddling while his school burns around him. He pulled off a nice recruiting class, and his team's run game should be above average. Standout receiver KD Cannon though is gone. (He was cut by the San Francisco 49ers and picked up by the New York Jets.)
n Oct. 28, Oklahoma State - Whereas Tech is the perfect Homecoming game, WVU might want to rethink making OSU its Mountaineer Week game. OSU, armed with QB Mason Rudolph and standout receiver James Washington, has every intention of taking down Oklahoma as the Big 12's king. The Cowboys might not have much defense, but did you see how they reduced Colorado to ash in the Alamo Bowl?
n Nov. 4, Iowa State - What are we up to in opportunities for WVU? Six? Well, here's your seventh. The Cyclones began to perk up toward the end of last season, losing close to Oklahoma and beating Kansas and Texas Tech. But the Mountaineers whipped them 49-19 to close their season. ISU, which finished 3-9, does return nice wideout Allen Lazard and an above-average offense.
n Nov. 11, at Kansas State - K-State will certainly try to make hay here. It's the Wildcats' only home game over a four-game stretch. And it will be tough for WVU, even though the Mountaineers won last season. QB Jesse Ertz will lead a nice rushing attack for the hosts.
n Nov. 18, Texas - Don't be surprised if Texas has a nice season. This was supposed to be the year Charlie Strong was building toward. New coach Tom Herman might end up sending him a thank you card. Back D'Onta Foreman is indeed gone, but the Longhorns have a lot of veterans back. What's nice for WVU is the game is in Morgantown.
n Nov. 25, at Oklahoma - You know those Mountaineer opportunities we've been counting? Unless West Virginia suffers little to no injuries along the way, this probably isn't one of them. The Sooners crushed WVU last season en route to an 11-2 year that included a win over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Gone are backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, but returning (the law willin') is QB Baker Mayfield for a Heisman Trophy run. The Sooners are loaded.
So WVU's season seems to be back-loaded a bit, but there are at least eight glaring opportunities for Mountaineer wins. I'd indeed jump on the seven number.
If, that is, Grier starts and is healthy for every single Mountaineer game. Big if.
Enjoy your holiday.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.