The Sam Houston Bearkats open their 2025 season against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a Week 0 Conference USA matchup Saturday on CBS Sports Network. This will be the debut of Sam Houston coach Phil Longo. The Bearkats (10-3 in 2024), who tied for second with Western Kentucky in CUSA at 6-2, were 4-2 on the road last season. The Hilltoppers (8-6 in 2024), who outscored conference opponents by 82 points, were 5-1 on their home field in 2024.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky, where WKU has won seven of its last eight home openers. Western Kentucky is 2-0 all-time against Sam Houston. The Hilltoppers are 10-point favorites in the latest Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 60.5. WKU is at -380 on the money line (risk $380 to win $100), while Sam Houston is the +298 underdog (risk $100 to win $298).

Before making any Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky picks or college football predictions, you NEED to hear what SportsLine college football expert Mike Tierney has to say.

A veteran sportswriter whose work appears periodically in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Mike Tierney had a tremendous 2024 college football season in which he finished 62-41 (plus $1,649 for $100 players). He is also 12-3 (+874) in his last 15 picks involving Western Kentucky. Anyone who has followed him could be WAY up!

Now, Tierney has analyzed Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky from every angle and just locked in his picks and predictions.

We can tell you he's leaning Under on the point total, but he knows a crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a MUST-BACK! You ABSOLUTELY need to see what it is before locking in any picks of your own.

Who wins Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? ... Join SportsLine right now to see which side of the Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky spread to jump on, all from the football expert who was 12-3 in his last 15 Western Kentucky picks!