Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky Picks & Predictions (8/23)

Now that we have the major Week 0 games covered, it’s time to dive into some of the smaller, perhaps messier, matchups on Saturday’s slate. We’re headed to Bowling Green for some Saturday evening action, as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers host the Sam Houston Bearkats. You don’t always start off the College Football season with a conference matchup, but we’ve got two to begin Week 0, as these Conference USA rivals battle it out, as well as Farmageddon between two Big 12 Goliath’s in Ireland. Let’s get into our favorite picks in this matchup.

Check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks. Plus, you’ve still got some time to add more futures to your portfolio so be sure to check out our Power Four Conference Previews below.

Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers NCAA Football Insights

Hunter Watson led the Bearkats to a 10 win season last year

These were two of the best teams in the C-USA last season, and this year I expect nothing less. Both teams went 6-2 in conference play, with Sam Houston beating Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl last year to cap off a 10-3 season.

The Hilltoppers ended up going 8-6 overall. Now, they beat Sam Houston 31-14 in their meeting, thus edging them out of the C-USA Championship game. However, WKU lost that matchup to Jacksonville State, and went on to lose to James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Sam Houston will certainly come into this contest with an extra chip on their shoulder. I’m sure they feel like they were the better team overall last season compared to the Hilltoppers, but they didn’t get a shot at the conference title because of their head to head loss. Thus, the Bearkats will be gunning to beat them, refusing to let WKU get in the way of a conference championship two years in a row.

Matchup Information – Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky – August 23

Venue & Location: L.T. Smith Stadium (Bowling Green, KY)
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Kick Off: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network

Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of August 21, 2025 at 3:05 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.

Spread

Sam Houston +10.5 (-115)
Western Kentucky -10.5 (-105)

Moneyline

Sam Houston +327
Western Kentucky -415

Total

Over 60 (-124)
Under 60 (+104)

Maverick McIvor starts for the Hilltoppers this season

This total seems a bit high for me. Now, I know Western Kentucky loves their high-flying, air raid, passing game, but they will be relying on FCS-transfer, Maverick McIvor to lead the offense.

He was a three year starter at Abilene Christian, throwing for over 3,800 yards last season, along with 30 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. McIvor isn’t known for his legs, but boy can he sling the pill. His style will certainly fit in with the Hilltoppers offense, but again, Sam Houston is hungry.

They were 9-4 to the under last season, mainly thanks to their defensive efforts. They ranked top 20 in scoring defense last season, holding opponents to just 20.5 points per contest. Seeing this line tick down is giving me a bit of pause, but I still think the Bearkats defense will be able to hold strong.

Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky NCAA Football Picks and Predictions

Sam Houston’s defense ranked top 20 last season in points allowed

Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky Prediction: WKU Wins, Sam Houston Covers, Under 61

Best Bet: Under 61 (-110) Bovada

As always, do your line shopping and get the best number you can as this continues to move around before Saturday’s kickoff.

I mentioned above that Sam Houston was 9-4 to the under last season. Well Western Kentucky was 8-6 to their under as well. Both allowed less than 27 points to their opponents last season, and I still see plenty of question marks surrounding the Hilltoppers’ offense.

Sure, McIvor can sling it… at the FCS level. Now he gets his first test in Week 0 against a formidable conference opponent, who has had this game circled since losing in the regular season last year. The Bearkats watched the Hilltoppers get mauled by Jacksonville State in the C-USA Championship, and they had to be thinking “That should be us”.

Well now is there chance to show WKU they are a force to be reckoned with this season. On the road, as double digit underdogs, you don’t have much to lose. Go out there, make your hosts life hell, and maybe pull off a huge road upset to start the season.

I see the Sam Houston defense keeping this one well under 61, and I don’t think the Hilltoppers put up more than 30, which I imagine they’ll need to get over the total. Give me a 28-24 Hilltopper victory at home, with a sweat free under for us.

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Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky Picks and Predictions (8/23): Back Defenses in Week 0