Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky Prediction, Betting Odds & Expert Picks: College Football Week 0

The college football season begins on Saturday, and we’re making the best Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky prediction for a key Conference USA matchup.

Philip Wood

Last Updated: August 22, 2025 10:55 AM EDT • 5 minute read

I'm breaking down my Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky prediction, as two of the best college football teams in Conference USA meet on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN) at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. The Hilltoppers are favored by 10 or 10.5, depending on which of the best sports betting apps you use.

Below, I explain why the Bearkats covering the spread in this game is one of the best college football Week 0 predictions. Additionally, I get into why Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson could be in for a career day against his conference rival.

📊 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky odds: Week 0

Live updated odds from our best college football betting sites. Follow the latest college football scores for line history and matchup info.

🏈 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky expert picks

College football picks made Friday; odds subject to change.

✅ Moneyline pick: Western Kentucky (-375 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Against the spread pick: Sam Houston +10.5 (-108 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Over 61 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

🔮 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky prediction & best bet

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

🐻 Sam Houston +10.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Earlier this week, I explained why I love the Bearkats to cover 10 points when dissecting the Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky early odds. Now, they’re 10.5-point underdogs, which makes this bet even more enticing.

The Hilltoppers have 16 new starters this season, which is one of the main reasons you can’t give too much weight to the Hilltoppers' 31-14 win at Sam Houston last season. The other reason is that Bearkats’ starting quarterback, Hunter Watson, got hurt in that game. When he left, his team trailed just 17-14.

With Watson back, I’m surprised the spread has consistently moved in favor of Western Kentucky. FanDuel is one of two major sportsbooks offering this spread at 10.5. The sportsbooks’ price of -108 implies a 51.92% chance the Bearkats cover. A $10 bet would win $9.26.

Our Mike Spector even has Sam Houston winning outright in his college football upset picks for Week 0.

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💰 Best Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky player prop bet

🔥 Hunter Watson Over 180.5 passing yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last season, Watson was inconsistent. He threw for fewer than 100 yards four times, while topping 200 the same number of times. But it’s his performance against the same Hilltoppers that he’ll face Saturday that stood out to me.

Despite playing less than a half of football, Watson threw for 128 yards and two touchdowns, in what was setting up to be a back-and-forth game. With the total set at 61.5 on Saturday, and the Hilltoppers heavily favored, I expect Watson to rely heavily on his arm in this game. Against a defense with eight transfers starting, he has the clear advantage.

Right now, FanDuel is the only sportsbook offering this prop. They’re asking -114 for the Over, which implies a 53.27% chance Watson hits this mark. A $10 bet would win $8.77.

🚑 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky injuries

📺 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky game info

When: Saturday, Aug. 23
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium (Bowling Green, Ky.)
How to watch: CBSSN

❓Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky FAQs

Who is the favorite to win Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky?

Western Kentucky is favored by 10 or 10.5 points, depending on the sportsbook, for Saturday’s game.

How do college football spread odds work?

When betting on college football, the favorite needs to win by a certain number of points to cover the "point spread" - also known as the betting line. Conversely, the underdog needs to lose by fewer than the points displayed in the spread or win outright to cash. For example, a 3-point favorite would need to win by more than a field goal to reward bettors.

How do college football moneyline odds work?

When betting on college football, the underdog will have the "longer" odds and is typically priced at "plus-money" odds that indicate the profit on a $100 bet. For example, a team with +150 odds would turn a $100 bet into a $150 profit - or a $10 bet into a $15 profit - according to our odds converter.

Where can I find the best college football betting odds?

Shop around our best college football betting sites to find the best odds for your college football picks. Our best sports betting sites for all sports include BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings.

🏆 College football betting odds

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Written by:
Philip Wood

Phil has covered sports betting since 2016 and has been sharing his NFL experience with SportsBook Review since 2022. He previously hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast for CanesInsight.com. He is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is that if a line doesn't make sense just assume oddsmakers know something you don't. He also loves in-season futures. There is so much value to be had as the public overreacts weekly. Bettors tend to forget just how long NFL and college football seasons are. After all, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5 in 2023 and they made it to the Divisional Round. When deciding where to bet, it comes down to value over everything. +100 is always better than -110. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. He is also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and is willing to forgive Dan Campbell for forgetting that a kicker can be useful.