UTEP Miners vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our UTEP vs Western Kentucky NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Bowling Green.

UTEP vs Western Kentucky Prediction

The Miners and Hilltoppers are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Hilltoppers will host the game at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. The odds for this Conference USA conference game currently have Western Kentucky as the -3.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 148 points.

UTEP vs. Western Kentucky Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: UTEP Miners at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Where: Bowling Green at E. A. Diddle Arena
Date: Thursday, January 30th
Betting Odds WKENT -3.5, UTEP +134 | WKENT -162 O/U 148

Miners Preview: Can the UTEP Offense Score Enough on the Road?

UTEP Miners Recent Game/Games

UTEP improved to 12-5 on the season with a 73-71 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday. The Miners, who were -5 favorites, didn’t cover the spread, but they got the win at home. The total points for the game were 144, just under the O/U line of 148.5.

UTEP trailed 41-37 at halftime but tightened up their defense in the 2nd half, holding Kennesaw State to 30 points while scoring 36 themselves.

Miners Offense Breakdown

UTEP's offense put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 41.3% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc, connecting on 5 of 17 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.4%, and they hit 69.6% of their free throws, going 16 for 23 from the line.

Simeon Cottle led the way with 19 points, hitting 4 of 9 threes and adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Otis Frazier III contributed 17 points, while Kevin Kalu and Braedan Lue each added 14, with Kalu shooting 6 of 7 from the field.

Miners Team Defense

UTEP’s defense gave up 71 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 41% from the field. They allowed 21 two-point baskets on 46 attempts, a 45% success rate.

From beyond the arc, UTEP held their opponents to 5 threes on 17 attempts, a 29% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the line 23 times, where they hit 16 free throws for 69%. UTEP gave up 9 offensive rebounds.

Hilltoppers Preview: Can Western Kentucky Grab a Win at Home?

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recent Game/Games

Western Kentucky improved to 10-8 on the season with a 75-66 road win over Sam Houston on Saturday. The Hilltoppers entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the win.

Leading 36-34 at halftime, WKU held Sam Houston to 32 points in the 2nd half while scoring 39. The game’s total points of 141 fell short of the 153.5 O/U line.

Hilltoppers Offense Breakdown

Western Kentucky put up 75 points in their last game, shooting 44.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They connected on 56.2% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 29.6% of their threes (8/27). At the free-throw line, they were efficient, making 15 of 18 attempts for an 83.3% success rate.

Don McHenry led the Hilltoppers with 20 points, despite shooting 35.3% overall and 25.0% from three. Braxton Bayless contributed 16 points, hitting 66.7% of his shots, including 2 of 3 from deep. Cameron Huefner added 15 points and 13 rebounds, though he shot just 33.3% from the field.

Hilltoppers Team Defense

Western Kentucky's defense held their opponent to 66 points, allowing just 37% shooting from the field. They limited two-point attempts to 42% (17/40).

From beyond the arc, their opponent shot 29% (7/24). Western Kentucky also sent them to the line 18 times, where they converted 11 free throws (61%).

Miners vs Hilltoppers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

The Miners are 3-0 ATS in their three last road games and 2-1 straight-up.
Although Western Kentucky has a straight up record of 3-7 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-5. The team averaged 68 points per game in these games.
The last ten games that UTEP was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 8-2 while going 7-3 straight up.
Although the Hilltoppers have a strong straight up record in their last five games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 2-3.