In Week 8 of the 2025 regular season, the UTEP Miners will travel to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, TX to compete against the Sam Houston Bearkats. Scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM, the game will be aired on CBSS. Both teams are members of Conference USA.
The UTEP Miners enter the game with a 1-5 record this season, struggling particularly on the road with a 0-2 mark. Their recent performances have seen them fall short against Liberty and Louisiana Tech, highlighting challenges in both the passing and rushing games.
The Sam Houston Bearkats, on the other hand, are still seeking their first win of the season, standing at 0-6. Despite a tight contest against Jacksonville State last week, the Bearkats have faced difficulties, evident in their previous defeats such as the 55-0 loss against Texas Longhorns.
Sam Houston vs UTEP At a Glance
- Game Location: Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, TX
- Game Time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
- TV Broadcast: CBSS
- UTEP Miners Current Record: 1-5
- Sam Houston Bearkats Current Record: 0-6
- Consensus Odds: UTEP -147, Sam Houston +123
Sam Houston Bearkats: Gearing Up for the Next Challenge
Offensive Challenges
The Bearkats have encountered significant hurdles on offense this season. They rank 89th in points scored with only 102 points on the board. Their passing and rushing game both need improvement, with rankings of 108th and 113th respectively.
First downs have been a moderate bright spot, as they hold the 59th rank. However, to compete effectively, the team must elevate their offensive output across the board.
Defensive Struggles
On the defensive side, the Bearkats are struggling to contain their opponents. They have allowed 237 points, ranking them 126th in points against. Despite these challenges, the team has been successful in creating turnovers, ranking 3rd in interceptions and 4th in fumbles recovered.
The defense is also ranked 18th in sacks, showing a promising ability to pressure quarterbacks. Improving defensive consistency will be crucial for future success.
Recent Game Performances
Sam Houston’s recent games have highlighted their struggles. They lost narrowly to Jacksonville State 29-27, showing a close contest that could have gone either way. Prior to that, they faced a 37-10 defeat against New Mexico State, indicating room for growth on both sides of the ball.
A 55-0 loss to Texas further emphasized the gap the Bearkats need to close against high-caliber teams. The team showed resilience in other games but ultimately fell short.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Hunter Watson leads the team with 754 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. His performance remains pivotal for Sam Houston’s offensive success. Running back Landan Brown, with 132 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, also plays a crucial role in the ground game.
Chris Reed stands out among the receivers, amassing 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. These players will need to deliver standout performances in upcoming games.
Betting Trends
- O/U – Totals ≤ 42: Last 5 Games (2023) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Underdog: Last 3 Games (2025) → 3-0 (100.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 9 Games (2023–2025) → 7-2 (77.8%)
- SU – Home Games: Last 10 Games (2023–2025) → 7-3 (70.0%)
- ATS – Home Games: Last 9 Games (2023–2025) → 6-3 (66.7%)
As they prepare for their next opponent, UTEP Miners, the Bearkats will need to focus on both offensive improvements and defensive stability. Addressing these areas will be vital for turning their season around.
UTEP Miners Prepare for Showdown Against Sam Houston Bearkats
Team Overview
The UTEP Miners are heading into their matchup against the Sam Houston Bearkats looking to bounce back from a recent 19-8 loss to the Liberty Flames. Despite a challenging start to the season, UTEP’s offensive unit has managed to accumulate 1,335 passing yards, which places them 70th in the nation. However, their rushing game has struggled, ranking 122nd with just 562 yards.
On the defensive side, UTEP has shown strength in creating turnovers, ranking 3rd in interceptions with 2 and 5th in fumbles recovered with 4. Their defense, however, has given up 152 points, positioning them 87th in points against. With the game against Sam Houston on the horizon, UTEP will aim to tighten up both ends of the field.
Key Players
Quarterback Malachi Nelson has been a standout for the Miners, throwing for 1,163 yards and ranking 80th nationally in passing yards. He has also contributed 8 passing touchdowns, tying for 67th in the country. Nelson’s performance will be crucial as the Miners look to capitalize on their passing game.
Running back Hahsaun Wilson leads the rushing attack with 208 yards, ranking 234th nationally. With only one rushing touchdown to his name, Wilson will look to break through Sam Houston’s defense for a more impactful performance.
Recent Performances
UTEP has faced a challenging stretch, losing four of their last five games. Their sole victory came against UT Martin Skyhawks, with a convincing 42-17 scoreline. Despite this win, the Miners have struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in their ground game.
In their recent loss to Liberty, UTEP managed only 56 rushing yards and 111 passing yards, highlighting areas for improvement. With Sam Houston next on the schedule, the Miners need to address these offensive shortcomings.
Betting Trends
- O/U – As Favorite: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 3-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – After Loss: Last 10 Games (2024–2025) → 7-3 (70.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 21 Games (2020–2025) → 13-8 (61.9%)
- O/U – Away Games: Last 30 Games (2020–2025) → 16-13-1 (53.3%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: Last 6 Games (2024–2025) → 4-2 (66.7%)
Injury Concerns
The Miners have been plagued by injuries this season, with several key players ruled out for the year. Notably, wide receiver Jaden Smith and running back Kam Thomas are both sidelined, impacting UTEP’s offensive options.
Additionally, linebacker Nate Dyman and defensive lineman Derek Burns are out, affecting the team’s defensive depth. These absences will challenge UTEP’s ability to field a competitive lineup against Sam Houston.
Sam Houston vs UTEP Prediction: Sam Houston +3.0
Looking into the records, Sam Houston is currently 0-6 while UTEP stands at 1-5. Both teams have struggled throughout the season, but Sam Houston has shown resilience at home in the past, especially against the spread (ATS). Sam Houston’s recent ATS trends suggest they have a 66.7% success rate at home over the last nine games. Given that they are playing at home, they have a reasonable chance to cover the +3 spread against UTEP.
UTEP has yet to secure a win on the road this season, holding a 0-2 road record. While their defense has shown strength in sacks and turnovers, their inability to convert these advantages into wins on the road raises doubts. This inability to capitalize, combined with Sam Houston’s home ATS record, makes Sam Houston an appealing choice with the points.
Additionally, Sam Houston’s offensive stats are close to UTEP’s, and when considering their performance as underdogs, they have excelled in over totals, hitting 100% in their last three games. This statistic indicates that they tend to outperform expectations when not favored, further supporting the value in taking them with the points.
Given the matchup, the prediction leans towards Sam Houston covering the +3.0 spread, with a projected final score of Sam Houston 24 – UTEP 21. This suggests a tight game where the Bearkats can stay competitive and possibly win outright.
- Sam Houston vs UTEP Prediction: Sam Houston +3.0
- Sam Houston vs UTEP Score: Sam Houston 24 – UTEP 21
