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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) visit the Sam Houston Bearkats (5-1, 2-0) Wednesday at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Hilltoppers got the job done in a mid-week game against UTEP last Thursday, winning 44-17 as an 18.5-point favorite as the Over (56) cashed. The Over-Under is 3-3, but Western Kentucky is a healthy 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 games since getting walloped by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the opener on Aug. 31.
The Bearkats also got the job done in a 41-21 win at UTEP on Oct. 3 prior to the bye. The Sam Houston State offense has scored 31 or more points in 4 in a row, including a wild 40-39 win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against Texas State on Sept. 28. The Bearkats have covered 4 in a row, and 5 of the 6 outings this season. The Over has hit in the past 2 outings.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Western Kentucky at Sam Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7:01 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Western Kentucky +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Sam Houston -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Western Kentucky +2.5 (-105) | Sam Houston -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Western Kentucky at Sam Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Sam Houston 36, Western Kentucky 31
All eyes will be on Huntsville on Wednesday night, as SAM HOUSTON (-145) gets a primetime game in its place. That hasn’t happened a lot over the history of Bearkats football, so you can expect the place to be wild.
Western Kentucky (+120) comes in on a winning streak, too, so this won’t be easy. These teams are vying for the top spot in the Sun Belt, and this should be an excellent football game, unlike the undercard of SBC games on Tuesday.
Western Kentucky has posted a 1-2 SU mark in 3 road games, but 2 of those losses came at Alabama and at Boston College, and the loss to the Eagles was by a single point.
Sam Houston has won 4 in a row, including 2 victories at home. The Bearkats are averaging 31.0 PPG at home, while allowing just 12.0 PPG.
Against the spread
SAM HOUSTON -2.5 (-115) is a better play than the moneyline, unless you strongly believe Western Kentucky +2.5 (-105) will lose, but only by 1 or 2 points. It isn’t a terrible thought, as both of these teams are explosive, and it could very well come down to a 2-point conversion at the end.
Sam has covered 4 in a row, WKU has covered 5 straight, so it’s a tough call either way. But, again, the Bearkats are hosting a nationally-televised game in front of a raucous crowd in a reasonably important game. Expect the Bearkats to show out.
Over/Under
OVER 55.5 (-105) is easily the best play on the board.
Western Kentucky’s offense has been a little choppy at times, but it seems to have found its stride against UTEP. Of course, everyone seems to abuse the Miners these days. Anyway, Western is good for 26 or more points in 4 of the past 5 games, while allowing 21 or more points in 3 of the previous 4 outings.
For Sam Houston, it keeps it foot on the gas for the full 60. It has averaged 40.5 PPG in the past 2 Sun Belt games, while allowing 30.0 PPG. The Bearkats are good for 31 or more points in 4 straight, and 5 of 6 outings this season.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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