Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Sam Houston State Bearkats Betting Pick & Prediction 1/10/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Hilltoppers and Bearkats. The game is starting at 7:30 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Bearkats at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, TX. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Conference USA conference contest is set at 153.5 points, with the Bearkats being the favored team playing at home against the Hilltoppers.

WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS VS SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Sam Houston State Bearkats -2

This game will be played at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum at 7:30 ET on Wednesday, January 10th.

WHY BET THE SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-70 in favor of the Bearkats.
• Not only will Sam Houston State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 153.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 144 points.

Will the Hilltoppers Defense Show Up in Huntsville?

Western Kentucky enters this game with a 12-3 record, including a 1-0 mark in Conference USA play. They have won seven straight games, including a 70-68 victory over Liberty in their most recent game. On the road this season, the Hilltoppers are 5-1, and they have won their last five games away from home.

For the year, Western Kentucky has been an underdog in five of their 15 games, going 4-1 in those contests. They are 5-2 when favored, and their average scoring margin on the road is +4.8 points per game. This season, they have gone 11-3 in non-conference games.

As the underdog this season, Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 4-1 and they have gone 3-0 vs. the spread in their last three road games. Overall, the Hilltoppers have an ATS mark of 7-5 this season.

Western Kentucky’s over/under record for the season is 4-8 and the average scoring total in their games is 149.3 points. So far, 8 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s line of 153.5. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 150 points and their over/under record during that stretch is 1-2.

In their latest game, Western Kentucky offense put up 70 points against Liberty. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 46.3% and made 7 threes. In terms of offense, the Hilltoppers have a season-long field goal percentage of 44%, putting them 194th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 348th in percentage and 279th in three-pointers made.

On the defensive side, Western Kentucky is currently hovering around the NCAA’s average for points allowed, conceding an average of 73.3 points per game. Western Kentucky’s three-point defense is currently 34th in the country at 5.3 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 37.5% of their shots vs. Western Kentucky.

Can Sam Houston State Grab a Win at Home?

Sam Houston State has been a different team at home compared to on the road this season. They are 4-2 at home compared to 3-6 on the road. The Bearkats have also won two straight games and are 6-2 when favored this season.

So far, Sam Houston State has an overall record of 8-8, including a 1-0 record in Conference USA games. They have gone 7-8 in non-conference games.

As the favorite this season, Sam Houston State has gone 4-4 against the spread. Their home ATS mark is just 2-4 and they have gone 1-2 ATS in their last three home games. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Bearkats are 5-5 vs. the spread.

Sam Houston State’s over/under record this season is 10-5 and their games have averaged 145.3 points. Today’s over/under line of 153.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games (139.5) and their games have finished with more points than today’s OU line in six of their 16 games. Over their last three games, their over/under record is 3-0 and the average scoring total in those games is 153 points.

Sam Houston State recently showcased a strong offensive performance, scoring 81 points against Louisiana Tech. This output exceeded their season average of 72.4 points per game. Davon Barnes is leading the team in scoring at 14.3 points per contest. Lamar Wilkerson has also been a key contributor with a PPG average of 13.7 going into the game.

The Bearkats’ defense is presently ranked 175th nationally, allowing an average of 72.5 points per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 6.4 threes per game vs. Western Kentucky. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 29.2%.