Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston prediction, odds, line: 2024 college football Week 8 Wednesday model picks

SportsLine's model simulated Wednesday's Sam Houston Bearkats vs. WKU Hilltoppers matchup 10,000 times

Teams looking to keep pace atop the Conference USA standings clash on Wednesday when the Sam Houston Bearkats face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Both teams are perfect in league play and are coming off wins. Western Kentucky defeated UTEP 44-17 on Thursday, while Sam Houston beat UTEP 41-21 on Oct. 3. The Hilltoppers (4-2, 2-0 C-USA), who are 1-2 on the road, have outscored their opponents 170-143 on the season. The Bearkats (5-1, 2-0 C-USA), who are 2-0 on their home field, have won four in a row.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. The all-time series is tied 1-1 with WKU earning a 28-23 win last year. The Bearkats are 3-point favorites in the latest Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 55.5. Before making any Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky picks, check out the college football predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a betting profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread football picks, and it is a sizzling 12-5 on all top-rated picks over the past three weeks of this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.

The model has set its sights on WKU vs. Sam Houston. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college football betting lines and trends for Sam Houston vs. WKU:

• Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston spread: Sam Houston -3     
• Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston over/under: 55.5 points
• Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston money line: Sam Houston -146, WKU +121
• WKY: The Hilltoppers have hit the first-quarter money line in 7 of their last 11 games (+6.10 units)
• SH: The Bearkats are 5-1 ATS this season 
• Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston picks: See picks at SportsLine
• Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)

Why you should back Sam Houston

Junior quarterback Hunter Watson is a dual threat on offense and is coming off a solid outing in the win at UTEP. He completed 19 of 29 passes (65.5%) for 224 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 32 yards. His other big passing game came in a 34-14 win at Rice on Aug. 31. In that contest, he completed 16 of 27 passes (59.3%) for 229 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he has completed 78 of 132 attempts (59.1%) for 859 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions, and has carried 84 times for 370 yards and four TDs. He has two 100-plus rushing games.

Also helping power the rushing attack are senior running back Jay Ducker and freshman back D.J. McKinney. Ducker has carried 66 times for 348 yards (5.3 average) and five touchdowns, including a long run of 86 yards, while McKinney has rushed for 348 yards on 57 carries (6.1 average) and two scores. Ducker's best game was against Hawaii in a 31-13 win on Sept. 14. In that game, he rushed 15 times for 148 yards (9.9 average), including the 86-yarder. McKinney surpassed 100 yards in the win at UTEP, carrying 14 times for 138 yards (9.9 average) and two TDs. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back Western Kentucky

Sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp helps power the offense. He leads the team in passing and is fourth in rushing. For the year, he has completed 94 of 135 passes (69.6%) for 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions for a rating of 160.5. He has carried 44 times for 71 yards (1.6 average) and four touchdowns. In the win over UTEP, he completed 18 of 27 passes (66.7%) for 264 yards and three touchdowns with one pick. He also carried 13 times for 29 yards and a score.

Veltkamp's favorite target has been senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson. Johnson has had two 100-plus-yard games already this season, including an eight-catch, 129-yard and two-touchdown effort in a 49-21 win at Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 14. He caught six passes for 119 yards (19.8 average) in a 31-0 win over Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 7. For the season, he has 34 receptions for 474 yards (13.9 average) and four touchdowns. See which team to pick here.

How to make Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 55 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $2,000 on its FBS college football picks since its inception, and find out.