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Sam Houston State Bearkats quarterback Hunter Watson (10) passes the ball as we offer our Sam Houston vs. UTEP prediction, odds, and picks for tonight's Conference USA matchup.
Sam Houston State Bearkats quarterback Hunter Watson (10) passes the ball. Photo by Mike Watters / Imagn Images.

Sam Houston (4-1) looks to extend a winless start for UTEP (0-4) when it travels to El Paso for tonight's Conference USA matchup, which kicks off from the Sun Bowl at 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

  • Sam Houston is favored by 10.5 points across our best college football betting sites
  • UTEP has lost all three matchups with FBS opponents by double digits
  • The favored Bearkats have three victories by 18-plus points

Here's a look at our Sam Houston vs. UTEP prediction and picks for tonight as part of our Week 6 college football predictions.

Sam Houston vs. UTEP odds movement

Sam Houston opened as high as -11.5 across our best sports betting sites, but we've seen the line move in UTEP's favor as kickoff approaches.

That comes even with the Miners struggling to stay within two scores against their first three FBS opponents, which is why we favor the Bearkats in our prediction this week.

The betting total has also seen some movement, bouncing around between 48.5 and 50.5 before settling around a near-consensus of 50. You can still bet Over 49.5 at -112 odds via DraftKings, while you can grab Under 50.5 with -118 odds at FanDuel.

Best Sam Houston vs. UTEP picks

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

Sam Houston vs. UTEP against the spread prediction: Week 6

Sam Houston to cover the spread: -10.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐

Sam Houston vs. UTEP opening odds:

  • Sam Houston: -10.5 (-110)
  • UTEP: +10.5 (-110)

When it comes to running the ball the Bearkats are one of the best, they rank 14th in the country in rushing yards per game (216.2). That should give them an advantage in this matchup, considering the Miners allow 211.3 rushing yards per game. 

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The only time the Bearkats struggled to run the ball was when they played UCF. They also trailed for the majority of that game, so it makes sense that they were out of their typical rhythm.

It’s unlikely they ever trail in this game, as the Miners have only led one game by more than three points this season.

Good offense vs. bad defense

What’s been most impressive about the Bearkats’ rushing attack is how easily they’re able to score with it. They don’t just put together long drives, and then settle for field goals.

They’ve scored more than 30 points in four of their five games this season. Meanwhile, the Miners have allowed at least 27 points in each of their games, and they’ve scored more than 20 just once. 

There isn’t much discrepancy between sportsbooks, but DraftKings is offering a slightly better price at the moment. Even with the Bearkats potentially hungover, there is nothing to like about the Miners tonight.

Best odds: -108 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 51.92%

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Sam Houston vs. UTEP prop pick for Week 6

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Hunter Watson Over 108.5 rushing yards (-109) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hunter Watson has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and he’s about to face one of the worst run defenses in the nation.

In every win this season, he’s rushed for at least 45 yards and he’s topped 50 yards on three different occasions. Watson leads the team in carries and yards, and he’s averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.

Jay Ducker and DJ McKinney will steal some rushes from him, but Watson will still see the lion’s share of carries, and against this defense, he’ll do plenty with them. If he tops this number, a $10 bet pays a $9.17 profit.

Best odds: -109 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.15%

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Sam Houston vs. UTEP odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Sam Houston vs. UTEP game info

  • When: Thursday, Oct. 3
  • Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
  • Where: Sun Bowl (El Paso, Tex.)
  • How to watch: CBSSN
  • Weather: 84 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 6 mph winds
  • Favorite: Sam Houston -10.5 (-108 via DraftKings)

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

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