UTEP Miners (13-11) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (17-7)
February 15, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -6.5; Over/Under: +153.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UTEP Miners will play the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a C-USA game on Thursday night at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky. UTEP has won two of their last three games, while Western Kentucky has won three games in a row. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the UTEP vs Western Kentucky prediction.
UTEP Preview
The UTEP Miners are 13-11 (4-5) this year after they defeated New Mexico State by a score of 74-49 in their last game. UTEP led 35-27 at halftime and they held NMSU to only 22 points in the second half in the win. The Miners shot 41.3% from the field and made 10 three pointers in the game. UTEP lost to Liberty by a score of 67-65 in the game prior to New Mexico State, but did beat Jacksonville State before that. The Miners are scoring 73.5 points per game with 33.5 rebounds per game and 13 assists per game, while allowing 68.4 points against per game this year. Tae Hardy is averaging 15.3 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game. UTEP is shooting 44.8% from the field, 68.9% on free throws, and 31.2% on three pointers this season.
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Western Kentucky Preview
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 17-7 (6-4) this season after they defeated Jacksonville State by a score of 70-59 in their last game. Western Kentucky trailed 29-28 at the half, but they out scored Jacksonville State 42-30 in the second half in the win. The Hilltoppers shot 41.5% from the field and recorded 42 rebounds in the game. Western Kentucky defeated Louisiana Tech by a score of 81-76 and Middle Tennessee by a score of 88-65 in the two games prior to Jacksonville State. The Hilltoppers are scoring 80.3 points per game with 40.1 rebounds per game and 13.5 assists per game, while giving up 74.2 points against per game this season. Don McHenry is averaging 16 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 2.6 assists per game. Western Kentucky is shooting 46.6% from the field, 70.1% on free throws, and 34% on three pointers this year.
UTEP vs Western Kentucky Betting Prediction
Western Kentucky comes into this matchup on a three game winning streak and they are right in the middle of the race for first place in the C-USA standings. UTEP is 4-5 in conference play and while they have won two of their last three games, they have been terrible on the road. The Miners have scored 56, 54, 68, and 53 points in their last four road games and that type of effort won’t cut it against this WKU team. The Hilltoppers are a very good offensive team and I like them to run away with this game.
