The Sam Houston State Bearkats will take on the UTEP Miners on Thursday in a battle of teams going in opposite directions this college football season. Sam Houston enters this matchup as 10.5 point favorites, while the total for the game has been set at an even 50 points. To get our college football picks for Sam Houston State vs UTEP, continue reading our preview of the game here.
Sam Houston State Riding Winning Streak
Through five weeks, the Sam Houston State Bearkats are 4-1 this college football season. Their lone loss of the season came in their second game of the campaign against UCF of the Big 12. Since then, the Bearkats have rattled off three wins in a row, including their Conference USA opener against the New Mexico State Aggies. Here, the Bearkats will aim to keep things rolling behind their potent offense.
During their three-game winning streak, the Bearkats have scored 31 points or more in all three games. That includes a 40-point performance in a win over Texas State in their last outing, who has been one of the better Group of Five schools in the country in 2024. If Sam Houston’s offense can deliver in a similar fashion this week, they could run away with this contest in El Paso.
UTEP Still Looking For First Win
The UTEP Miners are 0-4 coming into Thursday’s Sam Houston State vs UTEP matchup from Texas. The Miners have played three of their four games on the road, including games against Nebraska and Liberty, which has not been easy for them. But a home loss to Southern Utah out of the FCS has erased some of their early-season excuses, as the Miners will look to get a win in just their second road game of the season so far.
UTEP’s offense has been dreadful to start the year, as they have scored just 14.5 points per game through four games in 2024. While some of that has to do with playing on the road against good teams, the Miners are playing another good team here in Sam Houston. They will not be able to rely on their offense waking up just because they are at home here and will need to find a way to generate some offense.
Sam Houston State vs UTEP Best Bet
Going into this week’s Sam Houston State vs UTEP matchup, we have very little choice but to lay the points with the favored Sam Houston State Bearkats. This game is an offensive mismatch, judging by the recent offensive performances of both teams. Look for the road team to get a win that will move them to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in Conference USA competition.
